The cities of A Coruña and Ferrol are located in the northwest corner of the Iberian Peninsula, both belonging to the province of A Coruña and the autonomous community of Galicia.

In both cities and their surroundings, you can find a wide variety of cultural and natural leisure options. Galicia is a privileged enclave in Spain due to the diversity of its landscape, boasting some of the country's best beaches, as well as areas of special ecological value and towns with significant historical and cultural heritage.

Housing and University residences

In Galicia, the vast majority of properties are managed for both rental and sale through real estate agencies. They are usually advertised on some very popular websites in Spain. 

Fotocasa: https://www.fotocasa.es/en/

Idealista: https://www.idealista.com/en/

To formalize a rental contract, you'll need to provide various documents to the real estate agency. Among these documents, there are the ID/NIE, a proof of identity of the bank account where you'll be domiciling the monthly rental payments, pay stubs and/or employment contracts for all individuals intending to reside in the property, and even currently, certification of sufficient savings in any bank account demonstrating the ability to cover the rent payment in case of job loss.

Currently, it's common for the property owner to request the tenant to contract rental default insurance.

The rental price is not regulated at the local, regional, or national level, but the increase in rent at each renewal is regulated, which can only be the amount corresponding to the increase in the CPI (Consumer Price Index) for that year.

Monthly rental prices have been fluctuating in recent months, experiencing a significant increase mainly in A Coruña capital and its metropolitan area. Thus, you can find a 1 or 2-bedroom apartment in these areas in a range between €700-€900. In the case of Ferrol, it's possible to find accommodation at a more affordable price.

If you're interested in finding a place in a university residence, you can directly contact the management staff:

Residences in A Coruña:

Residencia Siglo XXI  sigloxxi@resa.es

Residencia Rialta rialta@rialta.net

Residencia Publica universitaria Elvira Bao residenciauniversitaria.coruna@udc.es

Residence in Ferrol:

Residencia Pública Universitaria de Ferrol: residenciauniversitaria.ferrol@udc.es

Obtaining the NIE and TIE

If you're not a Spanish national and it's your first time residing in our country, you'll need to apply for the Spanish identification number (NIE).

With this, the Foreigner Identity Card (TIE) will be issued, which is equivalent to the National Identity Document (DNI) for Spanish nationals and is mandatory for all individuals with legal residency status in Spain. Once obtained, you must always carry it with you as it may be required for various procedures and transactions.

https://www.policia.es/_es/extranjeria

For the issuance of the TIE, you must request an appointment through the website of the corresponding Ministry.

https://sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/procedimientos/

Residence and work permits and authorizations (for individuals and their family members)

If your nationality and/or that of the family members accompanying you is from a member country of the European Commission, you do not need to request authorization to reside or work in Spain, as it is a community right that promotes the free movement of workers.

For individuals with a nationality from a country not belonging to the European Economic Area, it's essential to inquire well in advance about the requirements for exit, entry, residence, and work with both your country's authorities and the Spanish administration.

These procedures can take several months, so it should be the first step in a sequence of procedures. At UDC, we handle the residence authorization application for all research personnel from third countries, as well as for the direct family members accompanying them.

Please contact: euraxess.vit@udc.es.

Registration at your local Council

Once you have a temporary or permanent address, you should go to the registry office of your municipality (Concello) to request registration in the municipal census. This is usually done by appointment. Visit the website of the corresponding municipality to learn how to request one.

When you go to register, they will ask for your NIE/DNI and proof that you actually reside at that address. This could be the rental contract, a utility bill in your name, etc.

It's a mandatory procedure as a prerequisite for making other requests, such as obtaining the SERGAS health card.

 SERGAS Health Card

Once you reside in Galicia and have an address (even if it's temporary), you should visit the health center in your area and request the issuance of the healthcare card from the Galician Public Health Service (SERGAS). This applies even if you have dependents, such as children under your care who will also be beneficiaries.

At that point, even before physically receiving the card at your home, you can already request a primary care physician and/or pediatrician, as well as utilize the public healthcare system.

Additionally, at your health center, you can process the request for CHAVE 365, a digital certification that allows you to access protected websites and apps with a password, such as the SERGAS website.

From the SERGAS app, you can schedule medical appointments, view your active medication list, or access your medical test history in Galicia.

https://www.sergas.es/Tarxeta-sanitaria

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

Once you are registered in the Galician Public Health system, you can request your European Health Insurance Card through their website. This way, you will have guaranteed emergency healthcare coverage during your travels within the member countries of the European Economic Area.

https://www.seg-social.es/

Opening a bank account

Upon your arrival, you will need to open a bank account with the institution that best suits your needs. Your monthly salary will be deposited into this account, and you will need to set up direct debits for certain recurring expenses such as rent, electricity, water, gas, etc.

Normally, to open a bank account, you only need to provide your ID card (DNI) or foreigner identification number (NIE). However, if you are not fluent in Spanish, you may encounter a language barrier when completing this process.

Before deciding on which bank to open an account with, you can consult their websites and social media profiles where you can also find some information in English.

Some of the most popular banks in Galicia are:

Abanca: https://www.abanca.com/es/

La Caixa: https://www.caixabank.es/particular/

ING Direct: https://www.ing.es/