ExpatLife in Menorca

First footing in Menorca: Who to see and what to do

Arriving in any new country will entail a number of formalities. For expats setting up home in Menorca here’s a vital checklist. If you get bogged down with the bureaucracy of it all, or just get lost when finding the right department, seek directions from the British Consul in Menorca or check out the vast amount of help and information on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s website about living in Spain.

1. Request a foreigner’s identification number: NIE numero (Numero Identificacion). This number will prove essential for opening a local bank account, dealing with notaries, and other general suppliers such as utility companies.

2. Register the whole family on the census at your local Town Hall (Ayuntamiento). This process is called Empadronamiento. Take along passports for identification. Compliance with this registration process provides you with a Certiticado de Empadronamiento.

3. Apply for a Resident's Card. Whilst this is not a legal requirement, you’ll find it much easier if you hold one. An immediate benefit to the holder is subsidised travel costs. These cards are processed in either the capital Mahon or the old capital (on the other side of the island) in Ciutadella. Two visits are necessary to complete the process. At the first take passports of all family members, your Certificados de Empadronamiento and translated legalised copies of all birth and marriage certificates. You’ll also need photos. After a short while, cards will be issued and there’ll be a small fee covering the administration.

4. S1. Spain has a contributions-based healthcare system, whereas the UK operates on a residency basis. This means that you may have to pay into the Spanish social security system in order for you and your dependants to get state healthcare. However, all UK state pensioners with an S1 (previously E121) form obtained from the Pensions Agency in Newcastle have automatic exchange rights through their affiliation with the NHS to the local Seguridad Social, thereby becoming full members of the healthcare system in Spain. This gives you rights to GP consultations and free prescriptions Younger residents, with either a work contract or the necessary self-employed paperwork, are also eligible for healthcare for all the family. Again, you’ll need to have ready legalised (translated) copies of birth and marriage certificates of any dependent members of the family. 

If you move to Spain to live but not work and do not receive a UK benefit, you may still be eligible for a certain amount of healthcare cover paid for by the UK. In this case, you will need to apply for an S1. However, as a general rule women and men under 65 years of age (who are not working) may not qualify for free medical assistance and should make their own arrangements for private medical insurance. See FCO for more information.

5. Tax. Whether you are classified as resident or no-resident, there’s no escaping your obligation to pay local taxes. If you’re new to all of this, you might want to appoint a tax adviser to help with annual tax returns, and sorting out what wealth and income taxes are payable. All non-residents must contribute to wealth tax. However, Spaniards and residents only pay wealth tax if they have considerable assets in Spain. June is the month when tax affairs must be sorted out.

6. Contract. All working Brits will be helped by formalising employment arrangements. Ask your employer for a formal work contract stating the duration of the contract, the financial agreement and the working hours. Without such a contract, you won’t be entitled to healthcare nor will you be contributing into the state pension scheme. Self employed people must declare their working status and pay monthly stamp (autonomo) which entitles them to health coverage and state pension affiliation. A self employed person must charge IVA (the equivalent of the UK’s VAT) on all bills, must submit his/her books regularly and be ready to pay any outstanding income tax each June. You might find a local tax adviser (Gestoria) could help with the formalities of setting up of a small business.

7. School. If you have children, you’ll need to register them at a school. As in the UK, the academic year starts each September and enrolment takes place in the May before the summer term ends. Children’s passports are required to register as well as their Certificados de Empadronamiento. New students will be asked for a school report from their former school.

Check out more information about living, working and retiring in Menorca opposite.

Further information also available from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO). Also see DirectGov on information regarding receiving state pensions.