THE COMMUNITY FAQ
A little clarity.
A lot less guessing.
Practical starting points for life in Barcelona.
Find an answer, check the source, or help make it better.
45 helpful starting pointsOne question at a time.
About this guide
↗Does this site read our WhatsApp group, and what does it keep about me?
About this guide
↗This answer is wrong. How do I get it fixed?
Health & community
↗How can I send a balikbayan box, document or parcel from Barcelona to the Philippines?
Health & community
↗How do I check whether a balikbayan-box forwarder is legitimate?
Health & community
↗How do I get a La Meva Salut account?
Health & community
↗How do I get a health card (TSI)? Do I need papers?
Health & community
↗I am a Filipino in trouble in Barcelona. Who do I call?
Health & community
↗I feel ill and it is not an emergency. Who can I call? (061 Salut Respon)
Health & community
↗What number do I call in an emergency?
Getting started
↗Can I drive in Spain on my Philippine driver’s licence?
Getting started
↗Can I get free immigration legal help in Barcelona?
Getting started
↗Can I travel to the Philippines while my TIE is being renewed? (autorización de regreso)
Getting started
↗Changing from a student stay to residence and work: where do I get the certificate that I had no scholarship?
Getting started
↗How do I exchange (canje) my Philippine licence for a Spanish one?
Getting started
↗How do I get a huella (fingerprint) appointment for the TIE in Barcelona?
Getting started
↗How do I get idCAT Mòbil? Can I get it with only a passport?
Getting started
↗How do I register on the padrón? Do I need papers?
Getting started
↗I have just arrived in Barcelona. What do I do first?
Getting started
↗I lost my TIE, or it was stolen. What do I do?
Getting started
↗My Philippine licence cannot be exchanged, or I never had one. How do I get a Spanish licence?
Getting started
↗My Philippine passport was lost or stolen. What do I do?
Getting started
↗My TIE is about to expire. How do I renew it?
Getting started
↗NIE or TIE: which one do I need, and how do I get it?
Getting started
↗Where can I find an English-speaking or Filipino immigration lawyer in Barcelona?
Getting started
↗Where do I get free legal advice on immigration, arraigo or family reunification?
Getting started
↗Where is the Philippine Consulate in Barcelona, and do I need an appointment?
Getting started
↗Which office books which appointment (cita previa)?
Getting started
↗idCAT Mòbil or idCAT Certificat: which one do I need?
Everyday life
↗How do I get rid of an old sofa, mattress or fridge?
Everyday life
↗I have a problem with my landlord, my rent or an eviction. Where do I get free help?
Everyday life
↗We arrived after enrolment closed. How do I get my child into school?
Everyday life
↗What can a landlord legally charge me before I move in, and how do I avoid a rental scam?
Everyday life
↗What is 010, and what can it actually do for me?
Everyday life
↗Where can I buy Filipino food in Barcelona?
Everyday life
↗Where can I get free wifi, a computer and a quiet place to study?
Everyday life
↗Which bin does it go in?
Everyday life
↗Which metro and bus ticket should I buy, and what does it cost?
Work & learning
↗Do I have to file a tax return in Spain, and where do I get free help?
Work & learning
↗How do I get my Philippine degree or diploma recognised in Spain?
Work & learning
↗What are my rights at work in Spain, and what if I clean or care for someone in their home?
Work & learning
↗What should I ask before paying a tax adviser?
Work & learning
↗Where can I find an English-speaking accountant or tax adviser in Barcelona?
Work & learning
↗Where can I get free help finding a job in Barcelona?
Work & learning
↗Where can I learn Catalan, and how much does it cost?
Work & learning
↗Where can I learn Spanish for free in Barcelona?
Know something that could help?
Open any answer and choose “Suggest an edit”. An admin will review your suggestion before it goes live.