TEFL IN SPAIN

http://fedrom.org/es/info/oficina/  offices for foreigners

http://barcelona.angloinfo.com/countries/spain/residency.asp  advice

http://www.euroresidentes.com/administracion/interior/telefono-dni.htm   advice and services

http://madrid.loquo.com/cs/vivienda/compartir-piso-alq-habitacion/302  look for flats

http://www.lingobongo.com/madrid/  look for work

Firstly, the Madrid job market is very competetive and unless you have at least two years experience you will find it very difficult to get work.  It may be easier in other areas of Spain.  Also, advertise yourself as a tutor on Lingobongo.com, as schools may find your ad and call you.

Getting your NIE is easy enough when you get the correct info.  You must go immediately to get a social security number.  Take 2 photocopies and the original of your passport to any oficina de seguridad social and take a ticket.  Very soon you will have the number.  Ask the person where to go and for a phone number to arrange an appointment for your NIE - you will probably have to give a phone number so get ypurself a cheap chip (orange is cheapest), then get yourself an interview.  It may take some time to get the appointment if you're in Madrid, but you can access a web page, put in you passport number and phone number and see (and print) a certificate called justificante de cita - with this and your ss number you can work.

In the meantime you should do two more things.  Everyone must do empadronamiento.  This is another certificate that shows where you live and without it almost everything is impossible!  To get this you need to go to any ayuntamiento office that does them and it's pretty quick, but you need to prove where you live by taking a copy of the identity card ir emapdronamiento of your landlord/lady and/or a bill to that address.  The situation changes depending on whether or not the person who has the contract (tenancy) for your flat actually lives with you or not, so read the back of the application form carefully.  The form can be downloaded from the internet from the pages of ayuntamiento de madrid.

Then, go to the office where you have the appointment for your NIE and pick up the application forms and the form to pay for the service.  It costs about 10€ and you can pay in any bank.  Keep the receipt!  Take the forms in filled in for your NIE, turn up ealry, take your ticket and wait.  The appoinment time is a joke - you get seen when your turn comes up.  If you don't get the forms first you will have to go away and make another appointment.

It can be frustrating and difficult to get the correct information and if your Spanish is bad it can be a bit stressful so be prepared that Spanish beurocracy is in a world of it's own!