Everything you might want to know, if you are living in Arguineguín / Puerto Rico / Maspalomas / Playa del Ingles, Mogan ...
Important information for residents and holidaymakers on Gran Canaria
Valuable tips and info’s for immigrants and locals Questions often ask:
The Gran Canaria FAQ as Text Version
FAQ Gran Canaria
 | Can I simply rent a house or an apartment on Gran Canaria? |
With our help you can find easily the wished for accommodation in the tourist area of the south.
In Doctoral, Vecindario or Arinaga, just about 15 minutes outside from Playa del Inglés, you can find less expensive properties. In Maspalomas and Playa del Ingles is the average rent for an apartment 400 € and for a house 600 €. Usually you have to pay 1 month rent on front and a month rent deposit. Higher deposits are required in case of extra electronic equipment. Almost all apartments and houses are fully furnished.
| What must be considered if purchasing a house? |
Do not do business without notary public and without clarifying everything. The purchase of a real estate is not simple in span and can contain great risks. Thus real estate's can be absolutely sold with private contracts and must not be put down in the land register…be aware!
| Which school possibilities exist for my children on Gran Canaria? |
In addition to the public schools there are some good private schools. For example the international school in Las Palmas. The compulsory education begins here at the age of 6 years. Often the 3 to 4 years old children already visit a kind of "nursery school". The Beginning of the school day is between 8 and 8.30 o'clock in the morning. Especially the public schools are "day schools" with lunch included (till 5pm)
The summer holidays last from middle Jun till the middle of September. In addition, the children have 2 weeks of Christmas vacation and Easter holidays
| What do I have to consider with the move? |
You have to declare everything as "move property" so you do not have to pay any duty or import tax.
Nevertheless, this is only possible once! Check all transport possibilities like container, Air Cargo, ship cargo. Usually it makes no sense to bring furniture and vehicles. It is more convenient to buy such things directly on Gran Canaria. Driving your car through whole Europe and then 36 hours on a ferry - in most cases makes not much sense. The costs, including taxes and fees are enormous!
It is better to persuade a car on the isle. Especially new cars are way cheaper than in your homeland, besides, it comes with much less effort.
| What do I have to consider by taking my cat or dog in the airplane? |
The cat must be registered early before the flight. The maximum weight incl. bag or box is (55x40x20) 6 kg. In case the cat is heavier it has to go in the loading bay.
Normally you have to pay about 35 Euro, but that depends on the airline.
Since October 2004 all dogs, cats and ferrets need an EU-home animal identity card in which all vaccinations are booked including the great fury vaccination. The animal must have implanted an identity chip. But most important is a certificate of good health / not older than 1 year and a 1 month old fury vaccination.
| How can I open a bank account? |
On Gran Canaria are branches of all big Spanish Banks. In the tourist area always some employees speak English.
To open an account (cuenta corriente), you need a valid passport, a tax number (N.I.F.) or Residencia. If your main residence is not in Spain, the bank will open a not resident account (cuenta no resident) for you.
VISA or Mastercard and online Banking service are included.
The banks are open from Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 2pm.
| How high is the average income? |
For instance a waiter or waitress earns between 750€ and 1,300€ per month. With "normal" office jobs and administrative jobs at a hotels or other companies is the average salary at an identical level.
| How does the Spanish health system works? |
You are automatically insured, in case you have a social security, which you must have as a self-employed person (Autonomo). This contains the medical care "Centros de Salud" (in every municipal available) as well as the treatment in all public hospitals. In addition, there are numerous private doctors (mostly specialists) and medical centers which do not accept the social security and only co-operate with private insurance companies. The private doctors are mostly a little more expensive.
| How expensive are private health insurance? |
A private health insurance costs about 70€ and you get will get great performance.
Private health insurances companies are for instance: Alliance, DKV, Zurich and almost every Bank.
| Can I still use my driver's license on Gran Canaria? |
As a citizen of the European Union you can use a foreign driver's license.
| How can I register my car on Gran Canaria? |
Within 3 month the notification of change of a vehicle licensed in your home country must be executed at the local traffic authority (Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico in Las Palmas).
1. Step "Homologación"
On this occasion, the vehicle registration documents must be translated by an admitted industrial engineer. The costs will be approx. 140 €.
2. Step I.T.V (safety standards authority "Tarjeta de Inspección técnica")
You have to do a technical inspection at the Spanish safety standards authority I.T.V in Arinaga. You will get two copies of the Tarjeta de Inspección técnica which must be presented at the Spanish traffic department. The ascertained feautres will transfer into the new Spanish vehicle letter (Ficha Técnica). The costs will be from 75 to 120€.
3. Step Hacienda "Impuesto de Matriculación"
You have to pay a licensing tax (Impuesto de Matriculación) at the Hacienda (tax office). The amount is directed after the current value and of the vehicle. On this homepage you can look it up in advance (www.boe.es). The licensing tax will be between 8% and 14% rises of the present value of the vehicle.
4. Step Hacienda "tax"
You have to bring your personal N.I.E number; the vehicle registration documents the notice of departure to the Hacienda. Then the authority checks whether and how much licensing tax is to be paid.
5. Step municipal "Impuesto de Vehículos de Tracción Mecánica"
The vehicle tax (Impuesto de Vehículos de Tracción Mecánica) is relatively low and is paid annually to the municipal in which the vehicle is registered.
6. Step Trafico Las Palmas / Matricula
You have to bring your passport and all the documents to the traffic department in Las Palmas (Direcion General de Trafico). The next day you can pick up the Maticula. The costs will be approx. 70€.
7. Step Buy " number "
In the Trafico store the number plates can be bought.
8. Step "car insurance"
The car insurance is generally less expensive than anywhere else in Europe.
| When are the offices opening hours? |
The departments are opened till 1pm, but you should be there by 11am. Queues are the rule!
| Which taxes I have to pay? |
The income tax. A tax return "declaracion de la renta" must be delivered by a certain income before the 30th June of every year. This tax return can also be done online www.aeat.es (only in in Spanish).
Under a certain annual income you would not be obliged to deliver a tax return. However, they should do it ... it is been needed if your children have to go to a Spanish school.
Taxes on real estates
You have to pay the land transfer tax (Impuesto sobre Transmissiones patrimonial). This is calculated by the retail price and has to be paid in the land registry office.
If you do not have your main residence (tax-main residence) on Gran Canaria, you need a "tax representative". Once a year you receive the real estate tax is to be paid in November / December and is calculated by the cadastral value of the real estate.
Taxes on vehicles
Once a year you have to pay it (February / March) the average payment for a "normal" car is about 70 Euro.
| What happens, if I cannot pay the rent? |
In this case you can intermit the rent payment up to 2 months and 29 days. After that time period the landlord can submit an action for possession at court. This will take another 4 to 6 weeks. However, this does not mean that you have to move out immediately. Rather you have the possibility to pay the outstanding debts at the court appointment - and everything remains the same. If you still not be able to pay after another 2-3 weeks, the Guardia Civil will put you out of the apartment or house. In case the landlord will not stick to these rules, you have to call the police!
| How can I activate my Movistar/Telefonica answering machine? |
Pick up the handset and press Contestador.
You should see - Activo on the display and a message confirming the activation.
Change your answer phone message to English and record your own voice, do the following: -
- lift Movistar Domo handset and press Mensajes
- When the message ends press 1
- After the next message ends, press 4
- Enter a four digit code eg: 1234 and don't forget this
- After the next message ends press 3
- After the next message ends press 1
- Then after the last message ends, press 1 and put the handset back down.
The answer phone cuts in after 5 rings if the phone is unanswered.
To listen to any messages just pick up the handset and press Mensajes.
It is possible to retrieve your messages from any Spanish phone including mobiles by doing the following:
Dial your number and let the answer phone cut in, then enter the 4 digit code and listen to messages. There are 3 options
- Repeat the message press 1
- To keep the message press 2
- To delete the message press 3
Please note both the answer machine call ID are free services.
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