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Overcoming relocation challenges: a global citizen's journey to migrate to Barcelona
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The dream of moving to another country, whether for personal or professional reasons, is incredibly exciting: from meeting new people, exploring different foods and supermarkets to adapting to local customs and laws, it can also be a bit intimidating. For Annali Ruiz, founder of TWOLANDER, originally from Mexico and with life experiences in Venezuela and the United States, her arrival in Barcelona in 2024 was an enriching journey. However, she admits that despite her amazing experience in Catalunya, she faced real bureaucratic nightmares in the process of obtaining her digital nomad visa to work in Spain. She encountered two major challenges: pushing through bureaucratic procedures and finding a place to live. To move to Spain, she hired a law firm to assist with the legal process. Initially, they requested various documents, including her university degree and police clearance certificates, leading to multiple emergency trips back to Mexico due to poor communication from the lawyers.
It was only after speaking with other expatriates in Spain that Annali received advice that her law firm had not provided. Although she initially held a tourist visa, the 90-day limit within 180 days further complicated her situation. Eventually, Annali managed to return with her tourist visa after 90 days and finally submitted her digital nomad visa application at the Spanish embassy. The process was vastly different from how things were handled in Mexico. Finding a place to rent was another big complication. Today, Barcelona faces high housing demand, with prices soaring especially in summer. Annali rented an apartment through a coliving company that turned out to be expensive and in poor condition, located in a noisy, touristy, and unsafe area. She even suffered an injury due to the poor state of the building’s stairs.
"In uncertain steps, every footprint leaves a mark and each memory along the way is shaped."
In her search for a new place, she found that real estate agencies in Barcelona provided poor service and often charged illegal commissions. The most popular agency took a month to respond, just when she had an urgent flight for her visa to then become disappointed that the available apartments often did not match the photos and were far from her workplace. Ultimately, Annali found a much better, more spacious, and affordable apartment through a friend. Her experience highlights the challenges faced by many foreigners moving to Barcelona, and the situation can be even more daunting for those who do not speak the language or are relocating with their families. Her journey as an expatriate led Annali to create TWOLANDER, a platform dedicated to supporting and assisting people who are settling in Barcelona for the first time.
"We are a group of global citizens who have been through the same challenges you are facing, so we are empathetic and will always strive for the best for the community," she explains. If you are looking to connect with a community of like-minded explorers who get what it’s like to reinvent your life in a different place, don’t miss our Boarding Pass podcast by TWOLANDER, designed for those living the nomadic and global citizen lifestyle. Tune in on Spotify, Apple Music, or our YouTube Channel to catch every episode and be inspired by incredible stories from around the globe!
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Overcoming relocation challenges: a global citizen's journey to migrate to Barcelona
Overcoming relocation challenges: a global citizen's journey to migrate to Barcelona
Annali Ruiz faced bureaucratic nightmares before founding TWOLANDER
Written by
Jean Fowler
Jean Fowler
The dream of moving to another country, whether for personal or professional reasons, is incredibly exciting: from meeting new people, exploring different foods and supermarkets to adapting to local customs and laws, it can also be a bit intimidating. For Annali Ruiz, founder of TWOLANDER, originally from Mexico and with life experiences in Venezuela and the United States, her arrival in Barcelona in 2024 was an enriching journey. However, she admits that despite her amazing experience in Catalunya, she faced real bureaucratic nightmares in the process of obtaining her digital nomad visa to work in Spain. She encountered two major challenges: pushing through bureaucratic procedures and finding a place to live. To move to Spain, she hired a law firm to assist with the legal process. Initially, they requested various documents, including her university degree and police clearance certificates, leading to multiple emergency trips back to Mexico due to poor communication from the lawyers.
It was only after speaking with other expatriates in Spain that Annali received advice that her law firm had not provided. Although she initially held a tourist visa, the 90-day limit within 180 days further complicated her situation. Eventually, Annali managed to return with her tourist visa after 90 days and finally submitted her digital nomad visa application at the Spanish embassy. The process was vastly different from how things were handled in Mexico. Finding a place to rent was another big complication. Today, Barcelona faces high housing demand, with prices soaring especially in summer. Annali rented an apartment through a coliving company that turned out to be expensive and in poor condition, located in a noisy, touristy, and unsafe area. She even suffered an injury due to the poor state of the building’s stairs.
"In uncertain steps, every footprint leaves a mark and each memory along the way is shaped."
In her search for a new place, she found that real estate agencies in Barcelona provided poor service and often charged illegal commissions. The most popular agency took a month to respond, just when she had an urgent flight for her visa to then become disappointed that the available apartments often did not match the photos and were far from her workplace. Ultimately, Annali found a much better, more spacious, and affordable apartment through a friend. Her experience highlights the challenges faced by many foreigners moving to Barcelona, and the situation can be even more daunting for those who do not speak the language or are relocating with their families. Her journey as an expatriate led Annali to create TWOLANDER, a platform dedicated to supporting and assisting people who are settling in Barcelona for the first time.
"We are a group of global citizens who have been through the same challenges you are facing, so we are empathetic and will always strive for the best for the community," she explains. If you are looking to connect with a community of like-minded explorers who get what it’s like to reinvent your life in a different place, don’t miss our Boarding Pass podcast by TWOLANDER, designed for those living the nomadic and global citizen lifestyle. Tune in on Spotify, Apple Music, or our YouTube Channel to catch every episode and be inspired by incredible stories from around the globe!
Are you a writer at heart?
Are you a writer at heart?
As the unforgettable Mariska Veres once sang, ♫ 'Send me a postcard, darling,' ♫ Send us your adventures, stories, or tips, and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
As the unforgettable Mariska Veres once sang, ♫ 'Send me a postcard, darling,' ♫ Send us your adventures, stories, or tips, and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
Share your overseas experiences with us
Share your overseas experiences with us
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