Weather

The weather in Barcelona can vary depending on the season.

Here are some examples of yearly weather forecast:

Due to its location in North of  Spain, Barcelona tends to have a slightly colder temperature and more rainy days in comparison with the Southern cities of Spain. However, the temperatures usually, do not go under 0 °C degrees (32°F).

During the Winter months (November- March) the weather is usually starting from 5 °C (41°F) in the mornings and increasing up to 16 °C (61 °F) during midday and the afternoons.

However, during the Spring and Summertime (April- October) the temperatures rise distinctively starting from 18 °C degrees (64 °F) up to 30 °C degrees (86 °F).

Accommodation

The accommodation costs for Barcelona can vary depending on the location (neighborhood) and type of housing (room/ apartment).

Here are some examples of typical accommodation prices:

A modest room in a shared apartment in Barcelona will typically cost around 350-550€ per month depending on its location.

An apartment in Barcelona will usually cost between 900€-2000€ depending on the area.

After you are approved for an internship position in Barcelona we could also provide you with some tips in order to find the best suitable accommodation for you.

Getting your NIE?

Getting your documents for Barcelona done is an important task!

Here is what you need to do:

Getting NIE in Barcelona for European citizens:

The main office in Barcelona you need to visit, in order to get your NIE is located on Calle Rambla Guipuzcoa 74, their open hours are usually between 09:00- 14:00 from Monday to Friday. Indeed, you can get their using buses 33, B24 or H10, you can also catch the metro line L2, which will stop you on station Bac de Roda. However, if you are living outside the city of Barcelona you can also visit other offices in Catalunya, the full list you can find here.

The most important step to take is to book your appointment (cita previa) beforehand, to do so you can use the following link. After opening the link in the drop-down menu choose Barcelona and then click on Certificados EU. A new window will pop up, where you need to fill in your personal information, right after that the system will show you the available dates and times for an appointment. Due to the high demand for appointments is also possible that you receive the following message:

En este momento no hay citas disponibles. En breve la oficina pondrá a su disponición nuevas citas.

Meaning that at this moment there are no available appointments. In such a case what we recommend is to visit the same website at 08:00 am on Monday morning when new appointments become available. However, if you need your NIE urgently or you are not able to book your appointment at all, you can also visit the office directly (we recommend that you go there around 06:30 in the morning, in order to get your number for appointment and wait if they will be able to proceed your application.

Getting NIE in Barcelona for non-European citizens:

If you are a non- European citizen, but you will be doing a paid internship in Spain it is also mandatory that you get your NIE number. To do so you have to directly visit the Foreign Affairs department (Oficina de extranjeros ) as soon as you arrive in Spain or to apply from your home country in the responsible Spanish embassy. In Barcelona, the office is located on Calle Calle Rambla Guipuzcoa 74. You can use buses 33, B24, H10 or metro line L2, in order to get there. The full list with offices in Catalunya you can also find here.

What document you have to prepare?

Before visiting the Foreign Affairs office in Barcelona you need to prepare the required documents:

• If you are staying in Spain for up to 3 months you need to fill in and sign the standard application- form EX-15 
• If you are staying in Spain for more than 3 months you need to fill in and sign the application form EX-18 
• You have to bring with you original and copy of your passport or identity card (for EU citizens)
• Photos
• Your Training Agreement (Must be translated in Spanish!)
• A confirmation of the paid administration tax. The tax fee is usually €10.60, which you can pay in any bank using this form https://sede.policia.gob.es:38089/Tasa790_012/ImpresoRellenar. Filled it in and mark "Regimen Comunitario" Certificado de Registro / Tarjeta de Residencia.
  
  
  
  

Getting social security?

If your placement in Barcelona is paid, apart from the NIE you are also required to get a Social Security number!

Here is what you need to do:

What is the Social security for?

Número de Seguridad Social or the Social security number is an important arrangement you need to obtain for the period of your internship in Barcelona! The document will give you access to public health care and the opportunity to take a Health card.

Take in mind that in most cases they will not speak English in 99% of the cases, so if you cannot speak a word of Spanish we recommend that you take a piece of a paper with "Necesito número de la seguridad social" written on it. Then, they will create it for you.

All Social security offices in Barcelona you can find here. Use the drop-down menu under "Localozación" and select " Por Provincia", then choose Barcelona, in order to search click on "Aplicar filtros". Find the nearest office and visit them as soon as possible. Usually, your internship company will ask you to have your NIE and Social Security number arranged before or on the first working day of your internship!

They will ask you for:

• Training agreement

• NIE (passport is enough if you are an European Union citizen)

• Rental contract (optional)

• Original and copy of your Passport or ID ( ID only if EU citizen) 

Getting a bank account?

Before making your bank account in Barcelona make sure to investigate the location you will be living and pick a bank office nearby!

Here is what you need to do:

The bank office where you have made your bank account will also be the place that you need to visit in case of issues, questions, credit/ debit card picking or even account cancellation, so make sure that you choose an office that is easily accessible for you. Please note that some banks may even ask you to create an entirely new bank account if you what to change the office where your current account is located into!

In order to open a bank account in Barcelona you need to prepare the following documents:

- NIE number

- Passport or ID (if EU citizen)

-  Training Agreement

- Accommodation contract or any other proof of your address registration in Barcelona

Barcelona Holidays

There will be 11 public holidays in Barcelona for the year 2019.

Here is the full list:

• 1 January (New Year)
• 19 April (Good Friday)
• 22 April (Easter Monday).
• 1 May (International Workers’ Day)
• 15 August (The Assumption day)
• 11 September (Catalan National Day)
• 12 October (Spanish National Holiday)
• 1 November (All Saints’ Day)
• 6 December (Constitution Day)
• 25 December (Christmas)
• 26 December (Boxing Day)