Information about internships in Spain

Internship in Spain

I, as an intern within a Spanish company, have experienced how difficult it can be to do an internship in Spain. A lot has to be arranged in advance. In this blog I will explain what steps you have to take to do an internship in Spain.

To be able to (legally) do an internship in Spain, a couple of things need to be arranged in advance. A number of things can be arranged at agencies in the Netherlands, but most things will have to be arranged directly in Spain, preferably before the start of your internship. Below, the things that can be arranged from the Netherlands will be discussed first, and after the matters that need to be arranged in Spain are discussed.

The Netherlands

NIE-number (identification number for foreigners)

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The NIE-number is a unique, personal number, which the main office of the police assigns to foreigners who, for financial, professional or social reasons have an involvement with Spain. As an intern, having this number is required. This is the number with which a European citizen identifies itself in Spain. This number is found on all documents that are issued, all requests which are aimed at public governing bodies, banking institutions and for making an insurance contract.

Without a NIE-number:

• You cannot buy/hire accommodation.
• You cannot register at the municipality as "resident".
• You have no rights to healthcare.
• You have no rights to receiving a registration number with social services.
• You cannot open a bank account.
• You cannot receive an Erasmus grant.

The NIE-number can be requested both in Spain as at the Spanish consulate in the country of origin. The most convenient way of doing this is via the Spanish consulate in Amsterdam. The address of the consulate is:

Frederiksplein 34, 1017 XN Amsterdam.

ATTENTION! The office has limited opening hours from 09. 00h – 14. 00h

Attention! As of 2016 you need to make an appointment (Cita Previa) with the Spanish consulate (and many other organisation within Spain). You can do this via the website of the Spanish consulate (Consulado de España en Amsterdam): http://www.exteriores.gob.es/consulados/amsterdam/es/Paginas/inicio.aspx

You need to bring the following documents to the appointment:

1. The filled out and signed form EX-15 (http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/AMSTERDAM/en/ServiciosConsulares/Pages/NIE.aspx).
2. The filled out and signed form 790-012 (You will receive this form during your appointment at the consulate).
3. Bring the following documents, depending on the nationality of the applicant.

• For people with a Dutch nationality:
• Passport or Identification card plus a copy
• For people with a EU nationality:
• Passport or Identification card plus a copy
• A copy of the residence permit in the Netherlands
• All other (non EU) nationalities:
• Passport plus a copy
• A copy of the residence permit in the Netherlands
• Evidence of the reason of the request (for example inheritance or purchase of a property)

If underage, a parent needs to be present and an additional international extract of the Population Register needs to be brought along as evidence of the relationship between the underage person and the parent.

The costs for the application of a NIE-number, based on 2016, are 7, 05 euro per request.

International health insurance

Request a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) online (https://www.ehic.nl/Aanvraag.aspx). In combination with your NIE-number, the EHIC gives you right to health care in Spain.

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SPAIN

Seguridad Social

The Seguridad Social is social security. The social security includes the social wellbeing and social protection of people. People who have the right to social security in Spain are people who pay payroll tax and autónomos who deduct themselves as self-employed in Spain. The form for the Social Seguridad (http://www.seg-social.es/prdi00/groups/public/documents/binario/365.pdf) dien je samen met een kopie van je paspoort en het NIE formulier in te leveren bij een regionaal kantoor van de Seguridad Social. Op de website van de Seguridad Social (www.seg-social.es) can be found at the nearest office. For this an appointment (Citta prèvia) also has to be made.

Empadronamiento (Registration with the municipality)

You need to register with the municipality in Spain (Oficina de Atención a la Ciudadanía). You will then receive a ´certificado de empadronamiento´. To be able to register with the municipality you need a valid identity document, a NIE-number and a signed lease agreement from the accommodation you are staying at. At the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands you get a lot of ‘extra’s’ with your registration. You get a 50% discount on domestic flights, to promote transportation between the island the main land. With your registration you can also apply for public transport card (Tarjeta de Ciudadana) via the same instance. With this card you will only pay 0, 80 euro for a single bus trip (which would normally cost 1, 50/2 euro for a single trip).

Spanish internship contract

As of 2016 it is required to have a Spanish internship contract if you are doing an internship at a Spanish company. Try to get a Spanish internship contract from your supervisor or your education coordinator.

Open a bank account

Most companies in Spain would like to deposit your internship fee on a Spanish bank account number. This is easier and cheaper for them. Make sure to open your bank account with a well known bank, like ING Direct, Santander or Caixa Bank. To open a bank account you need a NIE-number and a signed internship contract. Of course you will also need to bring your passport/identity card. Attention! In Spain, your driving licence is not a valid identity document!

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