r/GoingToSpain • u/Natural-Gazelle311 • 5d ago
Mental health question (and more) Visas / Migration
Hola, ¡feliz año nuevo!
So, there is the question. In this year I'm planning on traveling to Spain to live there, but there is a problem. I have some mental issues that need to be supervised by a psychiatrist. How it's done in Spain? Do municipalities have their own mental institutions? Does insurance cover this? How can I seek for help if I'm a total stranger with no residence?
Mind that I don't want to live in Madrid, rather my key point is Santiago de Compostela, Galicia (I'm a Medievalist, so.. yeah).
P.S. I have a pet! Where should I look for pet restrictions so I can travel to Spain with my kitty and don't get him taken away by customs?
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u/BackgroundGate3 5d ago
Without an EU passport, you'll need a visa for work, which means securing a job with sponsorship. You'll also need private health insurance.
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u/Kaiserjoze1965 5d ago
Do you speack spanish?
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u/Natural-Gazelle311 5d ago
It's not so good as my English, but I can explain myself, tho. Let's say 'Basic uppermediate'
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u/Marfernandezgz 5d ago
Will you be working?
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u/Natural-Gazelle311 5d ago
Yes, I seek a job here
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u/Marfernandezgz 5d ago edited 5d ago
If you are working you have free healthcare. Mental care is included. Go to "centro de salud" (centro de saúde in Galicia) and ask for a "médico de cabecera". This will be your reference doctor. He or she will be the person that can ask for another apointment like mental health.
The problem is that there are really few doctor on mental health and less even psicologist at the public system. It's posible you will get an apointment for months or even years later.
If you have a crisis you can go to Urgencias/ Urxencias and someone will for sure help you. There they can try to "force" an apointment in a few days but it's not allways possible.
For the pet (dog , cat or ferret) If you came from other EU country, Norway or North Ireland you can just bring it with a EU pet pasport. If you came from outside you will need more documents.
https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/carry/pets-and-other-animals/index_en.htm
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u/Natural-Gazelle311 5d ago
¡muchísimas gracias por tu apoyo! This seems very helpful
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u/Marfernandezgz 5d ago
I just checked your profile and saw you are going to USC as student. Universities ussually have some mental health programs for students.
If you can bring you cat they are asociations that can take care of he or she for some weeks until you find a place to live with.
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u/Natural-Gazelle311 4d ago
Sadly, it's not an option. So I want to work here and, after some time, get MA in USC with saved money and a place to live in
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u/Marfernandezgz 4d ago
If you are from a non EU country you can not work without a visa. You will need a job before coming here or a student visa
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u/Natural-Gazelle311 4d ago
That's the part of plan too. I know about that and I hope I'll get one
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u/Marfernandezgz 4d ago
The explanaition i gave about healthcare does not apply if you dont have a legal job without an EU citizenship. You can go to urgences but you would not get a regular apointment
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u/a_library_socialist 4d ago
You won't be able to work.
You can purchase travel insurance.
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u/Natural-Gazelle311 4d ago
You won't be able to work.
Why so?
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u/a_library_socialist 4d ago
Tourist visas don't let you work
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u/Natural-Gazelle311 4d ago
I'm looking for a work and work visa
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u/a_library_socialist 4d ago
Then you'll need an offer from a Spanish company prior to arrival. And unless you're in a very competitive field, as a non-EU you're unlikely to find it. EU citizens have first preference, and there's also a large number of Latin Americans competing for any slot.
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u/Natural-Gazelle311 4d ago
I'm not American, I'm worse
I'm Russian. And yeah, I know about struggles, but hey, it will worth a try anyway
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u/a_library_socialist 4d ago
Saw that, edited.
But yeah, it's not easy, and I'd figure a backup plan.
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u/Natural-Gazelle311 4d ago
Of course, I have a backup. I'm working here, and if I won't succeed, I'll just stay here for a longer time and will try again and again
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u/biluinaim 5d ago
What country will you be traveling from and what passport do you have? In Spain, public healthcare for foreigners is dependent on contributions to Social Security. If you are an irregular immigrant you will only get emergency care. Insurance may or may not cover pre-existing conditions so you should check that before you purchase a policy.