Moving to Madrid as a family can be wonderfully exciting. However, cultural differences can be challenging. Your kids will most likely miss their friends and may feel awkward in an unfamiliar country. This article details some things you should know before your move. As the saying goes, “knowledge is power.”
Not much English is spoken
You will find many people in shops that speak English, particularly in the neighborhood of Salamanca or in the tourist areas in the Center. This can be a little misleading as outside of this not much English is spoken.
Kids tend to pick up new languages relatively quickly. If you send your children to a Spanish school they will likely pick up the language much faster than you will. However, this won’t help you much if you personally don’t speak Spanish. Most daily admin tasks, such as going to the bank or grocery shopping, require a basic knowledge of Spanish. If you chose to send your child to a local school (as opposed to a private international school), you will need to speak Spanish to communicate with their teacher and the rest of the school staff. The bulk of service professionals, such as cleaning ladies and childcare professionals, do not speak English either.
The Spanish spoken in Spain is different from that in Latin America
If you have lived in Latin America or learned Spanish in the US, you might struggle a bit in the beginning of your Madrid move. In Spain they speak Castellano, which is very different than the Spanish spoken in Latin America. Many words are different; Spaniards often use “tu” rather than “usted” and the Spanish verb form “vosotros” is used regularly.
Business hours are different than in the US or UK
Most Spanish businesses still break for lunch, which is typically between 2pm and 5pm. Large international businesses such as Carrefour, Sephora and Lidl remain open all day long. So does the ubiquitous Spanish retailer El Corte Inglés. However, smaller and local businesses still close for lunch. Some re-open at 5pm, some remain closed the rest of the day.
Banks close at 2pm and usually don’t reopen. There are a few small exceptions to this, such as the CaixaBank and Sabadell, which reopen on Thursdays. EXPAT TIP: The CaixaBank, located at Calle de la Princesa, 12, is a great bank for expats as some of the staff speaks good English.
The bureaucracy can be challenging
You will need to deal with the Spanish bureaucracy on a regular basis. As soon as you land in Madrid (or even before) you will need to engage with the bureaucracy to get a visa, a tax ID number, rent or buy an apartment or enroll your children in a public school.
There are three crucial things to know about the Spanish bureaucracy:
- Almost no one speaks English
- It is notoriously slow and complex
- It is very inflexible
Gestors
The good news is there are professionals called gestors that specialize in helping people navigate the Spanish bureaucracy. Almost everyone uses one. Many of them do speak English.
Madrid Estate works with a trusted network of professionals, including English speaking gestors. We can help you connect with one as part of the portfolio of complete real estate and relocation services we offer our clients. You can contact our founder Fabiana Greci directly at fabiana@madrid-estate.com or WhatsApp +34 680 306 337 to learn more.
Getting a Spanish drivers license is very difficult and expensive
If you choose to live in the city center, you will likely not need a car. The public transportation system in Madrid is excellent; if you want to travel outside of Madrid you can take the train most places you want to go. However, if you decide to live in the suburbs, you will likely need a car. Your US/UK drivers license is valid for the first six months. After that, you need a Spanish drivers license.
UK citizens are lucky: they can exchange their UK drivers license for a Spanish one, if done in the first six months of residency.
US citizens are not so lucky. They will need to obtain a Spanish drivers license. This involves taking physical, written and practical tests; all in Spanish. You are required to first take driving lessons, regardless of how long you have held a US license. Then you need to take the written test and the practical test. This is expensive and almost no one passes on the first attempt. We actually know an Australian woman that had to take the practical test 13 times before she passed.
The food can be unfamiliar, especially for kids
Spaniards are very proud of their food and many expats love it. However, it is very different than food in the US and UK. Kids, who are notoriously picky, often find it challenging. If you eat out, breakfast is typically toast with tomatoes on it (similar to an Italian bruschetta) or a Spanish tortilla (eggs, potatoes and maybe onions). Kids that are used to eating ham sandwiches will find Spanish ham to be very different than what they are accustomed to at home. However, they will probably be delighted to learn that Spaniards don’t eat many greens, broccoli or other vegetables, aside from eggplant and bell peppers.
If you want to ease them into Spanish food, the supermarkets in El Corte Inglés offer a good selection of international foods, such as your kid’s favorite breakfast cereal. However, don’t be surprised if you can’t find fresh milk. Most supermarkets only sell UHT milk in boxes. There is also Taste of America which sells a number of US foods not found elsewhere in Spain.
Spain has a very late culture, especially in Madrid
Almost everything in Spain happens much later than it does in the US and UK. As kids typically thrive on regular schedules and routines, this can be challenging, particularly in the beginning. Lunch time is typically around 2pm (you may find a few places open at 1:30pm) and can extend to 4:30 or even 5pm. Dinner is eaten late; typically around 10 or 10:30pm.
Kids are often kept out quite late. It’s not unusual to see them in restaurants, or playing in squares, at 11:30pm.
Different childcare options
Spanish culture is very multi-generational. Grandparents are often in charge of childcare. Moving to Madrid as an expat family likely means your parents will not be there to care for your children while you are at work or otherwise occupied. However, there are plenty of other options.
Young children
First, you should know that Spain’s childcare system consists of public and private care, split into two cycles:
- First cycle (primer ciclo): for ages 0–3, usually taking place in a nursery (guardería)
- Second cycle (segundo ciclo): kindergarten or preschool (escuela infantil) childcare for ages 3–5 before starting primary school at age six
Enrollment for both first and second-cycle childcare is voluntary. Working parents in Spain can register their children in childcare from the age of four months (16 weeks), which is when mandatory parental leave ends.
Public childcare is highly subsidized. You don’t necessarily have to have a residency permit to access childcare in Spain. However, you will need to register with the local municipality and Spanish social security to use public services. Demand for public childcare services can be quite high. If there is a shortage of spaces, childcare centers may use a first-come-first-serve policy or prioritize according to the family’s income.
If you choose private childcare, there are many options. You can even find international care facilities where expat children are taught in their native language. An example of this is the American Liceo Europeo in Madrid. While international childcare options are usually more expensive, they offer several benefits. For example, children can learn and develop in a multicultural environment and mix with other expats. Class sizes are typically smaller and facilities are of a good standard. You can also hire a private nanny or use a professional childminder.
On average, nannies in Spain make about €11 per hour. As in most countries, when you hire a nanny you are their legal employer. That means you must have a signed employment contract and arrange their tax payments, social security and health insurance. A cheaper alternative is an au pair. These are typically foreign students, aged 18–30, who stay with families for limited periods of time, typically six months to two years. Au pairs provide basic childcare and housework duties in exchange for food and accommodation; their minimum salary is €70 a week
Childminders are qualified specialists who look after small numbers of infants (aged 0–3) in their own homes. In Spain, they’re more commonly known as “mothers and fathers of the day.” However, these private childminders can be quite expensive: $300-$600 per day.
School age children
Around 81% of Spanish children regularly participate in before or after-school activities. Many places offer after-school activities until 6pm on Mondays-Thursdays and 4pm on Fridays. These clubs cover a range of activities such as computer science, dance, theater, languages, music, reading and sports.
NOTE: Childcare facilities almost always require your kid(s) to be fully vaccinated.
Discipline is not a strong suit
Children is Spain are cherished and very often indulged by their parents and other family members. Spanish parenting features high levels of affection and parental involvement, while being low in strictness. Children are generally expected to be sociable and are frequently included in adult social scenes (restaurants, late evening gatherings). Discipline often focuses on social behavior rather than strict obedience at home.
Summary
Madrid is a wonderful place to raise children; most expat parents we know wouldn’t want to raise their kids anywhere else. However, as typically happens when one moves to another country, unexpected challenges may arise in the beginning. Once you and your family adjusts, the experience will bring you closer together as you embark upon your new adventure.
Madrid Estate works with a network of experienced professionals to ensure your family’s relocation to Madrid is smooth and seamless. You can contact our founder Fabiana Greci directly at fabiana@madrid-estate.com or WhatsApp +34 680 306 337 to get your Madrid relocation started.
