Tortosa Area Forum - Au pairing in Tortosa

Jul 5^th, 2025 at 3:31pm

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Au pairing in Tortosa (Read 3100 times)

Goyston Ex Member	Au pairing in Tortosa Aug 14^th, 2014 at 1:38pm	Print Post
	Hi! Just joined but may soon become a regular contributor depending on responses to this post… I've just been offered a position as an au pair in Tortosa, a town I've never visited, for September to June. (I've visited Barcelona before for a month a couple of years ago and loved it.) I'm 22, dual UK/Canada citizen, currently in Toronto. I speak very little (essentially no) Spanish, although a large part of my motivation for coming would be to learn it. I was very happy to find this community of English-speakers online and learn that there's a British shop at hand. I would appreciate any feedback from anyone about what this experience might be like. How is Tortosa to live in? Do you think it will be very hard to get by at first without speaking Spanish or Catalan? I'll have a good lot of spare time while the family's children are at school and on weekends and I'm concerned about what to do with it - I don't drive. The family has a country home which I would be able to visit on weekends with them if I pleased, and relatives in Barcelona whom I could stay with occasional weekends, monthly approximately. Any feedback or thoughts would be enormously appreciated while I try to make my decision! What made you all choose Tortosa and what is life like for an English-speaker there? Thank you! Cheers, Grant


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Bunter God Member Offline Forum Cerebral Bore Posts: 790 Joined: Nov 26^th, 2013 Gender:	Re: Au pairing in Tortosa Reply #1 - Aug 14^th, 2014 at 2:29pm	Print Post
	Forgive me if I appear to have gone into a little detail when all you ask is about the town.I would have thought a driving licence would be compulsory in this line of work as you will be required to take/pick up the children from school,shopping etc. Tortosa as a town is fine but you say the house is in the country.It will not be one long holiday if they are employing you they will want some work in return.Do you have first aid certificates and a clean criminal record if searched.These are the basic requirements after all you are to be left in charge of young children.Have you a contract and a written agreement re time off what you can do in the house where you are allowed etc.You will also need an NIE number and you are staying over 180 days so will be a resident further paperwork required.If you have come through an agency they should take care of most of these requirements. You can get by on very little Spanish you are young and should be able to get a grasp of the language quickly as you will pick up most from the children.There are many night clubs etc
	« Last Edit: Aug 15^th, 2014 at 5:32am by Bunter »

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Goyston Ex Member	Re: Au pairing in Tortosa Reply #2 - Aug 14^th, 2014 at 11:11pm	Print Post
	Bunter wrote on Aug 14^th, 2014 at 2:29pm: Forgive me if I appear to have gone into a little detail when all you ask is about the town. No worries, I appreciate your concern! Driving license not required - family lives a 5 minute walk from school. They have a second home in the countryside which they visit most weekends, but primary residence is in Tortosa itself. Yes, I have first aid and a current (clean!) criminal record check. Do you know if the Spanish class requirement applies even to EU citizens? My understanding was that EU citizens aren't required to have an au pair visa, etc., just register residence in Spain and get an NIE. Thanks! Any more thoughts from other members?


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Bunter God Member Offline Forum Cerebral Bore Posts: 790 Joined: Nov 26^th, 2013 Gender:	Re: Au pairing in Tortosa Reply #3 - Aug 15^th, 2014 at 5:28am	Print Post
	You do NOT have to sign up for the Spanish classes.You may have to register as you are staying more than 3 months see below.As you will be working in Spain you should also register with the Spanish Social Security authorities, the General Social Security Fund (Dirección General de la Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social – TGSS). As you are an employee your employer will do this for you; if you are self-employed it is your responsibility. Also see healthcare below from the British Embassy in Madrid. http://www.healthcareinspain.eu/ http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/countryguide/Pages/healthcareinSpa... http://www.seg-social.es/Internet_6/Trabajadores/index.htm http://www.expatica.com/es/essentials_moving_to/essentials/A-guide-for-EU-EEA-Sw... Good luck I hope you enjoy your stay. I will leave you in peace now...Honest. Only trying to help.I can see you have done you own research.


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bruixot Ex Member	Re: Au pairing in Tortosa Reply #4 - Aug 28^th, 2014 at 1:37am	Print Post
	Tortosa is pleasant enough. Plenty of info on Wikipedia. There are lots of bars and clubs and youth groups doing assorted things too. Language will be a problem. Best suggestion is to find someone who wants to learn English and work out an exchange with them. Lots of people and especially teens have some level of English so you won't be staring from scratch. There are lots of Facebook groups in the area exchanging things including language. You'll need to study pretty hard and you'll learn from the children in your care too. Good luck. Bruixot


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