Getting Work In Lanzarote
Every EU Citizen has the right to work in Lanzarote with full working rights equivalent to that of his Spanish counterpart. In order to work in Lanzarote the first thing you must do is to obtain a tax number known as a NIF or Numero de Identification Fiscal. This number will be used in all taxation dealings.
Secondly you must enrol with the social security system and obtain a social security number which you can quote any time you need to see a Government doctor, free of charge. .
As an employee your social security will be paid by your employer along with tax retention, La Retencion. A specialised agency, known as a Gestoria, can arrange all the paper work and ensure that enrolment is done correctly. However, relocation is a big decision and, needless to say, it’s not a good idea to just pack up your belongings, hop on a plane and hope for the best, especially if you need to earn a living. Good preparation and research, along with the right kind of support and advice are the key ingredients to smooth your path to success in your new life and new career.
There’s plenty to think about before you even leave the UK, remember things like healthcare – before you can be treated in Lanzarote, you’ll need to produce a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC, known in Spain as a Tarjeta Sanitaria Europea) which has replaced the former E111 form and which you can use temporarily until you register with the Spanish Social Security system. You should also open a bank account and, my number-one tip, learn some rudimentary Spanish!” One of the most important things to remember is to bring enough money to live on for several months as it may take a while until you find the right job. It’s important that you’re financially secure so that you can do your job-hunting without any financial pressure.
If you’re wondering what it’s really like working in Spain, well that depends very much on your employer and whether the company is an international one or a Spanish one. If it’s the latter, you’ll usually work from around 9.00 to 1.30pm and then have a long break in the middle of the day, starting again around 4.30pm and working until between 7.00 and 8.00pm.
Jobs in Lanzarote are offered each year to help with the huge tourist demand the island experiences during the summer months. During the peak months of the summer thousands of travelers will venture to this wonderful island and all of the companies that are part of the tourist infrastructure require staff to work in the various summer jobs which need to be filled each year. Most summer jobs in Lanzarote are short term positions closely related to the tourist industry, these include customer service positions, jobs in bars and restaurants, hotel and resort vacancies and also sales positions.
Lanzarote is a popular destination for travelers and is also very popular among season workers who want to take advantage of the fantastic weather and wonderful beaches by working on the island for a full summer season.
If you’re working for an international company you’re more likely to work the kind of hours you’re used to. Salaries aren’t usually as high as in the UK, but the cost of living is comparatively low and so that balances things out. Obviously the tourism sector is the largest employer on the island, and they offer all the jobs you would expect maids to hotel managers and from bar and restaurant staff to tour reps and managers.
Additionally there is the whole supporting infrastructure, which might see you working as a boat hand on a pleasure vessel, a scuba diving instructor or even an entertainer in a hotel or bar. What many people forget is that, as with any economy, there are all the “normal” jobs as well, administrative roles, managerial roles, insurance and banking jobs and so on. But for many of these Spanish language skills are essential. However, there are many businesses on the island owned by English speakers, who will be happy to employ you as well. British owned businesses here include the obvious bars and estate agents, but also printers, pool companies, building firms and even accountants.
