Helpful Websites and Apps
Just as the title says, here are some key websites and apps for a foreigner who just moved to Spain:
Sede Electrónica de la FNMT: This is the website to start with to obtain your Digital Certificate. It is a delicate process, you will first have to sign up and download software to your main computer - whatever computer you will use to complete any government-involved processes. Then, you will make an appointment (there are also some offices who take walk-ins for this! The list of offices in your area is also on the website). You'll take your passport to the office with a printout they send you via EMail, and prove your identity - and lastly, you'll go back to that computer and activate the certificate using an EMail you'll be sent after you leave your appointment.
Agencia Estatal de Administración Tributaria (also called Hacienda or AEAT): This is the tax authority, and you'll be doing a lot of work with them over your years here! They have their website, and also a pretty decent app you can take care of most things with.
Seguridad Social: The Social Security Administration in Spain. If you are a registered autónomo you'll do a lot with this website, but there are other instances where you may be dealing with Social Security. They also have an app.
Cita Previa de Extranjería: To make appointments involving anything to do with immigration. TIE, NIE, Regreso, etc... this is the Immigration office's appointment system.
Some digital tips:
1. Get to know your city's Ayuntamiento (town hall) website! It will have ALL kinds of information you want and need, from what they require for your empadronamiento (every city is different) to all of the fun events and local holidays you get to celebrate now. Google "ayuntamiento" with your city after it, and you'll find it.
2. Follow your city on social media if you can! Even small sized cities here LOVE to be active on socials and as a member of the broadcast group on Instagram for my city, I am sent important information directly from them when it happens! I know about road closures, holidays, parades, and even inclement weather that is headed our way - all from subscribing to their free Broadcast channel! They also use Facebook and sometimes X/Twitter, so go find your city on las redes!
Note on availability of mobile phone apps abroad:Most government agencies have apps, as do grocery stores and other businesses you will want to use (Movistar, Fermax, Glovo) . In order to download these apps, you might need to create a separate account with your phone (ie. a new Apple ID, or whatever it's called for the Google/Andriod App Store) and choose SPAIN as your region for it. Do not change your whole phone over to Spain, as that will change the entire phone's settings - but for example, for iPhone: Create a new Apple ID that has a Spanish region, and then go to your App Store on your iPhone. You DO NOT need to be signed into your whole phone with this new Apple ID, but once in the App Store, sign out and then sign yourself into the App Store with your newly created Apple ID. You will ONLY be signed into the App Store with it and not to your whole phone. Now, you will see the apps in Spain and are able to download them. You can sign into your App store as either account at any time, and once the apps are on the phone, they all will work and show on your home screen together.
Bizum is a money transfer app, much like Venmo, Zelle, or other money transfer apps. It's only available in Spain, and you can have it via their own app, but normally you'll have it as part of your Spanish bank's app and it will be Integrated. Bizum links to your bank account, and when you first set it up you may need to find the "clave" or Bizum Key to get started. The main thing you also need is a Spanish cell phone number, because Bizum will only work tied to that phone number. Once you have that all set up, it's super easy to use! You can send or receive money using only your phone number or the phone number of the person you are sending to. You can use it to pay businesses for their services. You will see it used for things involving your kids' school, and you will even see it on most websites as a means of checkout! It's very handy, it's fast, and it's secure. It also will be able to import your WhatsApp contacts, making it easier to quickly pay friends if you're trying to split the bill at a restaurant or cafe - or for any reason at all. Which brings me to...
WhatsApp. If you aren't familiar with it or only mildly, this is THE messaging app that all of Europe uses to communicate at all times. WhatsApp in Spain will fully replace any other app or phone feature you use to text - and possibly replace your calls and FaceTimes and other video calling too! It does everything. And it's free, safe, and end-to-end encrypted. In Europe, mobile plans are much different than especially the US, and you will find yourself running up large mobile bills if you are sending and receiving texts with friends outside of WhatsApp. Do yourself a huge favor and just switch over now. You can use it to text anyone on Earth who has the app, and even my father who is not the quickest to catch on to new technology was able to download and sign up, and within days he was using it every day with me. Also, you will be amazed at who will be sending you WhatsApp messages. It's linked to your mobile number, so anywhere that has your number will use it to message you. You'll be added to WhatsApp groups at your kids' school. You will be messaged by your delivery couriers when they are looking for you with a delivery, if you don't answer your phone. Your doctor's office will send you messages there. You will be able to contact nearly ANY business in Spain using WhatsApp! Instead of the old "call or EMail" methods you will have a third option to just send them a text via WhatsApp and they will answer in real time (and if your Spanish is not yet perfect, then you have a minute to get assistance from Google Translate if you need to explain something). You will be texting so many more people than you ever thought possible, and it's SO convenient.
