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Expatriation to a remote destination: the keys to success It is not difficult to think of an expatriation to the capitals of Europe or America, you can even understand that today the Expats communities located in the large cities of Asia or the Middle East are so large. However, more and more multinational companies from different sectors are venturing to carry out projects in little-known destinations. Globalization opens the doors to new countries, new cities, new cultures and with it, new challenges to contemplate. The mobility of workers is a process that requires proper management, because you have to take into account multiple factors of the reality of the destination country, capital and the human factor is not everything. It is vital to take into account factors such as the social, economic, legal, educational, socio-cultural context of the country that will host the workers. Naturally many destinations do not offer the quality of life or the comforts that the expatriate would like to have, however, this does not mean that the experience has to be negative, on the contrary, the experience can be much more enriching than imagined. For this, a thorough planning is required, the company must take care of its workers thoroughly and the anticipation is the key to align an adequate expatriation policy. What aspects should be taken into account? Imagine an expatriation to Lithgow, Australia, or to Riobamba, Ecuador. Or better yet, to Bijapur, India, or Ziguinchor in Senegal. It is essential to know beyond geographical location, the language spoken or the currency that is used. For the success of the project it is essential to know all the possible characteristics of the new destination, especially in particular cases where the worker is transferred with his family. Advance guidance is essential since the expatriate family must prepare mentally for the process. Some important aspects in relation to the accommodation are: General information of the city and country: Weather Location Language Culture and context; holidays, traditions, food, etc. Transportation; public and private Sites of interest, leisure and tourism Sports or networking clubs Bank System Problems of the community Information and description of the areas: Information and description of the zones: Areas recommended for living Areas not recommended Real-estate market; rental conditions and characteristics of the type of housing available in the market General house prices General information about the education system General characteristics; type of education, school cycles, relevance of public, private or international education List of International, bilingual, public and private schools; degrees and levels that contemplate List of nurseries and universities General education prices General registration conditions General information on the health system Public and private health List of most important hospitals and clinics Numbers and contacts in case of emergencies It is also advisable to contemplate and analyze potential nearby cities, that is to say, if the geographical location of work does not contemplate the minimum comforts that he and his family need, it is possible that there is a nearby city with better guarantees to which the worker can move daily. A good communication policy throughout the process is very well valued and helps the commitment to the project. But the list does not end here. These factors simply contemplate what is related to the accommodation of the worker, in addition it is necessary to take into account factors in legal matters that must be contemplated carefully so that the expatriation policy is defined successfully. Multiple undesirable situations can arise if the legal processes of expatriation are unknown. The complexity consists in that the rights and obligations, administrative procedures, migratory and fiscal processes depend on several changing parameters. That is, the country of destination, the expatriate’s nationality, his or her fees, the nature of the company, are basic factors that determine the legal processes of the worker, but in addition, it must be taken into account that the countries have constant changes in their immigration requirements and procedures. It is essential to be updated, an expatriation that takes place one year, the following year could have a completely different process. In case the company does not have internal legal advice, the ideal is to hire external services from experts in the field, so that the following factors are considered: Fiscal matter: Information related to the protocols to be followed in relation to the fiscal implications derived from the displacement or hiring of the worker Optimal tax determination based on the personal, family and patrimonial situation of the worker Determination of the tax obligations of the worker during the entire duration of the expatriation Analysis of international agreements between countries to avoid double taxation Calculation of the worker’s hypothetical tax, in the event that the company decides to apply a tax equalization mechanism Fiscal reconciliation calculations that come from the company employees protected fiscally, in accordance with the Policy of Displacement Labor and Social Security Matters: Information regarding the protocols to follow in relation to the labor and Social Security implications derived from the displacement Labor and Social Security implications of the displacement or hiring of the worker Analysis of more efficient alternatives in relation to labor relations, between the worker and the company Contract or letter of displacement to the destination legislation Calculations of contributions to the Social Security of the employee Advice on the Social Security legislation to which the worker must be accommodated during his / her journey Application of international treaties on Social Security Social benefits at destination Migratory matter: Advice and information about the process, deadlines and necessary documentation Migratory implications Pros and cons of a displacement vs. local hiring Migratory costs in the country of destination Compensation matter: Calculation of employee compensation package Salary comparisons of the country of origin vs. Destination country Social security plans If the correct measures are contemplated, an expatriation policy may be developed that will respond to expatriate personnel on any issue arising at any time during the process, as well as comply with the tax and labor obligations that arise, both

Activities agenda August 2018 Madrid y BarcelonaOcio y cultura From July 31st to December 31st – Emociones, Teatro Flamenco / Madrid The pure essence of flamenco. Enjoy a magical evening with our artists in the intimate and welcoming atmosphere of a Madrid theater. Experience the grandeur of flamenco, capable of reaching the deepest emotions. Read more August 2nd – C4 Trío / Madrid C4 Trío, winner of the 2014 Latin Grammy Awards and nominated for the same awards for their album Pa Fuera, is considered today one of the most innovative and original musical offerings in the Latin American music scene. Read more. August 2nd – Satori & The Band From Space live / Barcelona Satori is inspired to capture the world’s electronic music, combining endless blends of seductive trance and mind-altering earthy tones. He is not defined by any one genre. Read more. August 3 – Jayme Marques, Bossa Nova Forever / Madrid Marques is a Brazilian guitarist, singer, arranger, and composer, known for introducing Brazilian music through Bossa Nova to Europe in the 1960s, then to Spain and later England, and to Asia through Japan (Copacabana Club, Akasaka, Tokyo) as director of the Orquestra Orfeu Negro (1963-64). Read more. August 7 to August 23 – Gandules 2018 / Barcelona The Gandules 2018 series calls for spiritual enlightenment, which derives from coexistence with currents from the vast field of mysticism and occultism. Film screening focused on magic, lysergy, and occultism. Read more

The Consulates: An unknown tool for the Spanish expatriate The internationalization of companies creates a multidirectional and constant current of workers throughout the world. New global business dynamics and the companies’ willingness to engage in foreign trade, causes not only the arrival of foreign workers in Spain, but also the opportunity for Spanish companies to export their products, services, initiatives and workers abroad.   However, this process entails a series of difficulties; the challenges and difficulties for the workers abroad and their corresponding companies are not only personal or managerial, but also legal and migratory in nature. There are a plethora of legal and personal obstacles derived from the need to comply with the country of destination’s requirements. The employee’s transfer abroad starts months before and ends months after the employee has settled in the country of destination. During that interval of time there can be processes that are unfinished. Fortunately, there are resources within reach of the Spanish expatriate to ease the legally required processes in the country of destination abroad. It is under this context that one must introduce the Spanish Consulate as an entity. This institution can serve as a point of reference for the worker abroad to process and resolve the various migratory proceedings. In a lot of instances the Consulate as an institution and the assistance that it provides is unknown by the Spanish expatriate that has move abroad. It is convenient, that as soon as the Spanish expatriate relocates to a foreign country, he/she enrolls in the Consulate’s Enrollment Registration List that corresponds to the territory in which the workers has his/her domicile. This enrollment offers a series of advantages, like the renewal of documents, the ability to prove that one is resident in the foreign country and gives the worker the ability to participate in the electoral processes that are taking place in Spain during the duration of their stay abroad. It also enables the worker to receive consular assistance if needed. To carry out the enrollment and consequently be able to enjoy the numerous advantages that the Spanish Consulate can offer, the worker must be present at the Consulate that corresponds to his domicile with documents that prove his current residence and demonstrate his Spanish residence. One of the practical benefits that comes from registering in the Consulate, is that when the worker moves back to Spain or changes residence to another foreign country and thus deregisters from the Consulate, he/she can request the certificate of complete period of residence. Said document enables the worker to prove their stay in the foreign country; something that is of importance in countries where the displaced worker has no obligation to carry out a Town Hall registration or is not required to have a residence card issued.  The Consulate also provides assistance in administrative matters, which can be of great use for foreign residents abroad. Among these, one can find the legalization of documents, which validate and legitimize a public document from overseas, and the civil registry. However, these are not the only advantages that the Spanish Consulate provides overseas. One of the notable resources are the Spanish Residents Committees. These committees, created in 1987, are institutions that offer a service that goes above and beyond the administrative and procedural duties mentioned previously, offering recommendations and suggestions to matters of interest for the Spanish community, attending sociocultural issues. The Committee members belong to the area over which the Consulate has jurisdiction and are elected democratically. Their main duty is to advise the Chief of the Consulate office, communicating to him subjects and issues of importance to the Spanish community and suggesting the endorsement of policies that can potentially be developed to improve the attention provided to the Spanish community. The reality is that the Consulate can not only provide the newly arrived worker orientation, but also offers a bridge between the Spanish culture/society, Spanish administration and the foreign country, which can ease the worker’s transition and move not only in terms of the migratory proceedings and local registrations but also can alleviate their relocation at a personal level.

The most useful Apps in your Expat experience Those memorable times in which an expatriate sent a letter home that would take months to arrive, went to a telephone booth to pay an international call or bought maps and books of the city guide themselves are behind us. Thanks to technology #expats do not feel disoriented in their new city, away from their families or without plans in their free time. Beyond Skype, Facebook, WhatsApp, Google Maps, there are a number of tools to use on a day-to-day basis that will give a small boost to your experience as an expatriate. We present them to you here. Duolingo: It is true that thanks to the ease of Copy-Paste, Google Translator is a very useful tool when you have to translate emails or communicate by text messages. But if you are a true Expat, the ideal thing is that you venture into the language, take advantage of the coexistence and encourage yourself to learn and practice the native language. Duolingo is a free tool for learning languages, it is interactive and very easy to use, you can learn a large number of languages at different levels, with short lessons to practice every day. You will be surprised by the fun way you can learn. CityMapper: You can start planning your itineraries. Many times you do not know which is the shortest route, whether by metro, bus, tram or bike. This App unravels how complicated it can be to get around public transport in big cities. Another similar and very popular application in several cities is Moovit. Waze: If you are someone who prefers to drive your own vehicle, we recommend this Traffic and Navigation App. It is true that Google Maps would be a common tool for this, but Waze is based on the information that the whole community is providing in real time, that is, a large number of users around the world reporting the traffic situation, accidents, posts of registration, speed radars, etc. It also uses gamification techniques, it is interactive and dynamic.  Carsharing Apps:  Shared electric vehicles are a growing trend in some cities, due to their accessible price, their benefits with the environment and their ease. Some well-known companies are Emov, Bluemove, Car2go, among others. The best option is that you investigate which company the most used in your city. To register you must identify yourself with your driver’s license. Bikesharing and motosharing Apps: The same previous trend is also adapted for different types of mobility, you can walk quietly through the city on electric bikes. Some of the most famous motosharing companies are Muving, eCooltra, Yugo y Movo. And if you prefer to move by bike, some of the most famous apps are Mobike, Ofo y Obike. Doctoralia: Getting sick in a foreign country can be difficult, especially if you do not speak the local language, if you have not been oriented and you are not sure where the doctor or local pharmacy is. Doctoralia is the world’s leading platform in connecting health professionals with patients. In addition to finding the doctor you need, you find opinions of other patients, you can ask questions, check prices, consult the languages they speak, manage appointments, etc. Pimpampost:  «Collaborative transport of packages» yes, the collaborative trend arrives to become the competition to DLH and Fedex in Europe. Now you can make shipments through private individuals who travel. The system is fast, safe, effective and creates closer links with new people. Time Out: Bars, restaurant, plans, activities, plays, concerts, guides, news, What else do you need? All the plans and activities for your free time are in Time Out. Some other platforms that group the Expat communities to share plans and activities are Evenbrite and Meetup. Currencies Direct:  The transfer of money abroad has never been so simple. This platform manages money transfers abroad easily, simply and safely. GoEuro: If you have to travel for business or simply for leisure, with this App you can compare prices between different types of transport, dates, travel time and destinations. BlaBlacar: It is used in more than 22 countries, travel with local people or groups that go to the same destination as you, coordinate the time and place where you will meet and ready, the rest is simply go talk and meet new people. The trips are usually cheaper and more accessible than the bus or train. Some extra: Spotify & Netflix: A classic, we can not live without our music or our favorite series. A recommendation for our Expat is that you see movies or documentaries from your new city, in the native language, like music, it’s part of the experience! Apps for ordering food: There are days when you do not feel like leaving home. Food delivery apps are becoming more common, some of the most popular are JustEat,  deliveroo & glovo. In the latter, you can also perform all kinds of orders, purchase of medicines the super, etc. Apps of local transport: The most common is Uber, but in some cities you will find alternatives likeCabify o MyTaxi, the latter is to request a taxi service. In all of them you pay with your mobile, it is much simpler and direct. Bank Apps: Depending on the technology used by your new bank, it is very convenient and practical to be able to consult your income, consumption and even be able to make transactions with it. Check with your bank what App they use and how you can get the most out of them. Weather Apps: Your new city may have a climate very different from yours, the seasons may not be the same and there can be days with totally unexpected skies. An App with weather forecasts is a good tool to know if it suits you to go more walking, in public transport or by car to your work. Airline Apps: When traveling by airline, it is convenient and practical to download the official App since you can take air tickets without printing them, you can also check if there are delays or if your flight is on time, among other things.

Leave your language comfort zone When a worker takes the step of accepting an offer abroad, many doubts and concerns may arise, but the concerns are even greater when the expatriate will have to deal with an environment where he does not know the local language, a fundamental part of cultural integration in the new destination. The language barrier is one of the biggest challenges, but at the same time, it is one of the main opportunities. If traveling is an experience that makes you grow, living a season outside your country changes your life. Personal growth and learning is constantly lived. Involving yourself in a new culture is a very big human challenge, but everything you can get out of it makes you a citizen of the world, with new languages, with fewer barriers. Although today there are many tools to translate the language and be able to write or even interact in another language, for an expatriate, speaking the local language helps increase productivity, increases effective communication and trust between the local team and partners commercial. Some tips that can help the linguistic integration of an expatriate are the following: Listen, observe and learn: No more dubbed movies, listen to local music, pay attention to the gestures, expressions and communication of the locals. Dedicate your attention and activate your senses.  Be clear why:  You have to be aware of what you are doing and why you are doing it, whatever the motivation, you have to maintain it, be consistent, dedicated and do not lose hope. Use the language: practice the language, change the language of your phone and your laptop, use mobile applications like Duolingo to practice in your free time, write down the key words and read them every day , use the language with your co-workers or when making purchases, it is important that you start using it daily. Immerse yourself:  Get involved with locals, make a group of friends, try to be participatory, communicate all the time, join a team of your favorite sport, get rid of your old life, Follow and listen to the local youtubers, TV shows, news and comedy.  Have fun: Use the language in any creative way, learn songs, watch movies, enjoy the new language. Learn how a child does, be curious, with innocence, without embarassment and without social predispositions.  Get out of your comfort zone: Attend networking events, talks, cultural exchanges, read books in the new language, any mental and social exercise that makes you leave your language comfort zone , practice it. 

Leave your language comfort zone When a worker takes the step of accepting an offer abroad, many doubts and concerns may arise, but the concerns are even greater when the expatriate will have to deal with an environment where he does not know the local language, a fundamental part of cultural integration in the new destination. The language barrier is one of the biggest challenges, but at the same time, it is one of the main opportunities. If traveling is an experience that makes you grow, living a season outside your country changes your life. Personal growth and learning is constantly lived. Involving yourself in a new culture is a very big human challenge, but everything you can get out of it makes you a citizen of the world, with new languages, with fewer barriers. Although today there are many tools to translate the language and be able to write or even interact in another language, for an expatriate, speaking the local language helps increase productivity, increases effective communication and trust between the local team and partners commercial. Some tips that can help the linguistic integration of an expatriate are the following: Listen, observe and learn: No more dubbed movies, listen to local music, pay attention to the gestures, expressions and communication of the locals. Dedicate your attention and activate your senses.  Be clear why:  You have to be aware of what you are doing and why you are doing it, whatever the motivation, you have to maintain it, be consistent, dedicated and do not lose hope. Use the language: practice the language, change the language of your phone and your laptop, use mobile applications like Duolingo to practice in your free time, write down the key words and read them every day , use the language with your co-workers or when making purchases, it is important that you start using it daily. Immerse yourself:  Get involved with locals, make a group of friends, try to be participatory, communicate all the time, join a team of your favorite sport, get rid of your old life, Follow and listen to the local youtubers, TV shows, news and comedy.  Have fun: Use the language in any creative way, learn songs, watch movies, enjoy the new language. Learn how a child does, be curious, with innocence, without embarassment and without social predispositions.  Get out of your comfort zone: Attend networking events, talks, cultural exchanges, read books in the new language, any mental and social exercise that makes you leave your language comfort zone , practice it. 

Corporate immigration: foreign workers in Spain Given the unstoppable globalization and growing interdependence between the economies of different countries, today it is common for companies not to act only locally, but to develop on a global scale, developing their activities and recruiting their staff throughout of all the world. Spain is part of this reality, the latest report provided by the Ministry of Labor, Migration and Social Security notes that the number of foreign workers in the last year secured to 2,004,062 foreigners. A figure reached for the first time since November 2008. It is common for companies established in the country to open the doors to hire or transfer personnel from other subsidiaries located abroad. Of the total of the previous figure, 1,161,967 million workers come from countries outside the European Union, while 842,095 come from EU countries. Spain is a country of infinite opportunities. In this regard, when dealing with the possible hiring or relocation of workers from abroad to Spain, companies as a first step must evaluate and take into account certain essential and inherent aspects of said processes, since although they are not Simple proper planning and management will greatly facilitate your successful achievement. However, in a preliminary way it should be noted that the Spanish legislation on migration has among its main guidelines that foreign workers who settle in Spain must have a profile of high qualification, come to perform work in a strategic sector or appropriate to occupy those jobs that can not be efficiently satisfied by the Spanish labor market, this is the first and most important aspect that must be taken into account when displacing or hiring a worker, since it constitutes the most important barrier difficult to be raffled and is one of the main reasons for refusal of applications for residence and work permits. Excepted from the above, are the citizens of the Member States of the European Union, of countries party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and of the Swiss Confederation, who have the right to reside freely in Spanish territory. , which means that their transfer to Spanish territory does not require the prior obtaining of a residence permit before the Spanish immigration authorities, being able to be hired or displaced without greater requirements. Having indicated the above, there are other relevant aspects that must be taken into account when facing the possible transfer of employees, in this sense, companies will also have to consider: Nationality of the employee and place of residence, as we noted earlier, the holders of certain nationalities enjoy certain privileges at the time of residence and work in Spain, also, the current place of residence of the worker will have implications in fiscal and social security matters. Place of contract of the worker, it is important to be clear if the worker will have a contract with the Spanish company or will remain hired abroad, based on this choice will vary both the residence and work authorization to apply as well as the social security scheme to which the worker will be welcomed. Estimated time of the duration of the stay in Spain, this is important when determining the social security system that will protect the employee during their stay in Spain. Likewise, it is important to highlight the migratory processes that have a certain complexity, which implies that, in general, their processing involves a minimum of two to three months, which is why it is advisable to undertake them as soon as possible. This will allow adequately addressing the possible delays and unforeseen events that may arise along the way. Although the aforementioned does not include all the elements that must be taken into account during the processing of the transfer of the foreign worker to Spain, they do represent the fundamental aspects that must be considered so that the company together with its advisors on immigration issues can begin to work properly. it forms the process of transfer of the foreign worker to Spain, since, as we pointed out above, adequate planning is the pillar on which successful management is constituted.

Events July 2018 June 21 to July 29: Botanical Nights / Madrid Joan Manuel Serrat, Jeff Beck, Simple Minds, Bomba Estéreo, Rototom Fiesta Reggae, and many more—a variety of impressive artists, rhythms, and atmospheres will perform around the Complutense Botanical Garden in Madrid. Read more. June 27 to July 1: Fuji Musume – Renjishi / Madrid The Japanese company Heisei Nakamuraza offers two Kabuki theater performances (Teatros del Canal – Sala Roja. June 27–July 1). In Fuji Musume, audiences can enjoy the Shamisen, a Japanese string instrument. Countless flowers hang from the sky like willow leaves, and from within emerges a young woman, whose silhouette could be mistaken for that of the flowers themselves. Rea more. June 28 to July 8: LGBT Pride Festival / Madrid El 2017 marcó a la 2017 was a year in the Spanish capital, which hosted the World Pride and Gender Equality Parade and celebrations. This year, the festivities continue their lively journey and awareness-raising message. Read more. June 29 to August 26: PhotoEspaña / Madrid Photo España’s extensive calendar of activities and exhibitions is worth checking out. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the photography festival features the best national and international exhibitions and exhibitors of this art form. Read more. June 29 to August 3: Open-air Cinema at Sala Montjuïc 2018 / Barcelona The offer is more than exciting: to see a carefully curated selection of films—classic and contemporary—in one of the city’s most beautiful and historic venues, with live music. You can also bring your own dinner if you wish. Sala Montjuïc also offers an eco-picnic for 10 euros. Read more.

Expat Pets Pets usually understand a series of words for which they are trained, but they cannot understand what it means to change their home or country. This is why many times the relocation process is usually more stressful for those who have a pet in the family. The first thing to take into account in the transfer of the pet is the cost of it, in most cases the transfer of your best friend will cost more than the price of a personal ticket. The vast majority of transportation costs are determined by the weight of the pet, but costs such as veterinarians, export certificates and other fees must also be taken into account. Most animals feel happy in a familiar environment, can adapt very quickly to new environments and lose their fear of the unknown. However, experts recommend careful planning that helps minimize the impact the relocation can bring. Among the main recommendations are the following: Pack with time When starting the transfer planning, it is recommended to start packing several days in advance and not all the same day, as this will only cause the pet to experience anxiety. The fact of carrying out this process with time can allow the pet to continue with its normal routine and will let them know that, although their surroundings are changing they will have some stability. Regulations of the country of destination  As the move of household furniture, the transfer of a pet implies a series of regulations both in the country of origin and destination, some will even involve licenses or fees. Therefore, it is advisable to inform or contact a professional in order to investigate the minimum requirements. Vaccines and certificates  Making a visit to the veterinarian will probably be mandatory, as most countries of destination will require a certificate stating that the pet is free of infectious diseases. Likewise, it will be important to have a record of all the vaccines that have been made throughout the life of the pet. Identification At the time of the transfer it is important that the pet has an identification on the collar, that is, a label that contains the name of the pet, address of destination, and name and contact number in cases of emergency (it is also important to include an additional contact in case the family cannot be contacted). The route through which the journey will be made must also be taken into consideration, as this factor greatly influences the type of regulation and management to be taken into consideration. It is very important to start adapting the animal to travel in a transport carrier. So you could start using it for short periods around the house, drive around the neighborhood and then use it for longer trips. This will make the impact and trauma on the actual trip less. Air transfer In case of moving the pet by air it is advisable to contact the airline with which it will travel, to solve all the doubts, since each one has special regulations with the handling of animals. It is recommended to make the reservation as soon as possible, in order to secure a place for the pet. The day of the trip, it is advised not to feed it, at least five hours before the flight and not to give water two hours before takeoff. It is very important to indicate that you will be traveling with a pet when buying air tickets. Transfer by car To move a pet by car you must start by buying the appropriate transport, packing a first aid kit, food, bottled water, dishes and containers, as well as some toys and prizes. In case the pet is not accustomed to car trips, it is recommended to take short trips in order to get used to the sound of the motor and movements. It is also advisable to make several short stops on the way to take a short walk, and feed and drink. Once in the new home: Within the adaptation process in the new home, it is recommended to create family environments. So once the transfer is made it is advisable not to change the type of food, use the same dishes and containers to serve food and water, as well as the same bed and toys so that the pet can feel like at home. It is suggested to place the things in the same place that they used to be in the previous house, that is, not to change the feeding place, or where the sandbox is placed (in case of being a cat). There are many concerns that come at the time of a relocation, and more for those who have pets. Most expatriates would not be willing to accept a transfer that implies leaving behind these beloved ones, and that is why for us it implies a challenge and satisfaction.

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