299 practical guides

Practical answers for life and paperwork abroad

Clear guides for the official tasks that are difficult to figure out on your own.

Local Manual explains unfamiliar rules and paperwork in plain language. Find help with residence permits, address registration, health insurance, taxes, housing, work, education, and other tasks, with links to the official pages you may need.

Translate complex administrative requirements into clear, actionable steps

Clear guidance for managing your daily life and paperwork abroad

Local Manual helps you handle essential tasks like registering an address, arranging healthcare, and understanding local taxes. Our guides break down complex administrative requirements into simple steps and connect you directly to official government portals to complete your paperwork.

  1. Find the task you actually need to do
  2. Read the steps written in plain language
  3. Go to the right official website and get it done

Use our plain-language overviews to prepare before you apply on official sites.

How we translate official rules into practical steps

We translate complex public regulations into clear, step-by-step guides. By explaining the essential forms, fees, and deadlines first, we help you prepare your paperwork efficiently before you head to official government websites to complete your tasks.

In every guide

  • The forms you need
  • Fees and deadlines
  • Who it applies to
  • The official website you need

Get clear instructions for official administrative tasks without the confusing jargon.

How do I register my address, set up health insurance, or file taxes?

Search using everyday words to find practical guides on residency, housing, and healthcare. You will get clear explanations of the official steps you need to take, along with direct links to the correct government forms and department websites.

Local Manual explains how things usually work — it is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change and cases differ, so always confirm the details on the official website before you act.

Understand local rules, paperwork, and daily life

Practical country guides for living abroad

Select a country to find clear, step-by-step guides on essential tasks and daily administration. Learn how to register your address, set up public healthcare, understand local tax requirements, and find housing. These resources help you handle official systems and settle into your new home.

Understand registration, healthcare, and employment rules.

Clear guides for official tasks and settling in

These step-by-step guides walk you through official procedures, from registering an address and arranging health insurance to understanding tax obligations. Learn what documents you need to prepare, how to submit applications, and where to access official public services.

Spain

Universities

University Applications in Spain

What to compare before you apply to university in Spain

A practical guide for international applicants covering official programmes, admission routes, academic evidence, UNEDasiss, homologación, entrance exams, deadlines, costs and appeals.

apply university Spain internationalUNEDasiss 2026
12 min readRead guide

Spain

Universities

Tuition and Study Costs in Spain

What to compare before you budget tuition and the full cost of study in Spain

A practical guide to Spanish public and private tuition, repeat credits, university fees, scholarships, study-authorisation funds, housing, living costs, instalments, refunds and disputes.

university tuition Spainstudy costs Spain
12 min readRead guide

Spain

Renting

Tenant Rights in Spain

What to compare before you understand and protect your tenant rights in Spain

A practical guide to Spanish housing-tenancy rights, duties, disputes, vulnerability protection, and enforcement.

tenant rights Spainrenter rights Spain
14 min readRead guide

Spain

Residence permits

Work Permits in Spain

What to compare before you choose and apply for permission to work in Spain

A practical guide to ordinary employment, EU Blue Card, highly qualified, transfer, seasonal, self-employed, graduate, and student-switch routes.

Spain work permitSpain employment visa
13 min readRead guide

Spain

Benefits

Unemployment in Spain

What to compare before you check and claim unemployment support in Spain

A practical guide to Spanish contributory unemployment, subsidies, SEPE claims, amounts, duties, work, travel, and appeals.

unemployment benefit Spainparo Spain
10 min readRead guide

Spain

Taxes

Taxes for New Residents in Spain

What to compare before you understand your main tax responsibilities in Spain

A practical guide to Spanish tax residence, IRPF, special regimes, foreign income, assets, property, wealth, gifts, and departure.

taxes Spain new residentSpanish tax residence
10 min readRead guide

Spain

Universities

Student Work in Spain

What to compare before you work legally while studying in Spain

A practical guide to EU and non-EU student work, the 30-hour rule, employee and self-employed activity, internships, contracts, pay, Social Security, enforcement and graduation.

work while studying Spainstudent visa 30 hours Spain
12 min readRead guide

Spain

Universities

Studying in Spain: practical guidance

What to compare before you prepare to study in Spain in Spain

A practical guide to Spain’s university system, ECTS, matrícula, teaching guides, student rights, healthcare, costs, work, academic changes, complaints and graduation transitions.

study in Spain international studentSpanish university system
12 min readRead guide

Spain

Residence permits

Permanent Residence in Spain

What to compare before you prepare for permanent or long-term residence in Spain

A practical guide to Spain's national and EU long-term residence, permanent EU-family cards, Article 50 status, TIE renewal, and recovery.

permanent residence Spainlong term residence Spain
12 min readRead guide

Find clear answers for settling in

Explore essential topics for daily life

When you are settling into daily life, knowing where to start can be difficult. Select a broad area to find step-by-step guides on registering your address, arranging local health insurance, understanding tax requirements, and securing housing.

16 guides

Spain

Moving guidance for life in Spain

Browse explanations and task-focused guides covering moving, registration and first essential steps, including where to start, what to prepare and how to handle common problems.

Explore moving in Spain
16 guides

Germany

Moving in Germany: registration and arrival tasks

Understand address changes, registration, arrival planning and the records that connect a new home to everyday services, then continue to practical guidance for the question that matters to you.

Moving guidance in Germany
15 guides

Iceland

Moving in Iceland: Registration and Arrival Guides

Access practical guidance on official registration, local authority appointments, and address updates when moving to Iceland.

Moving in Iceland
15 guides

Belgium

Moving & Relocation in Belgium

Explore practical guides on registering your address, booking local authority appointments, and managing your official arrival in Belgium.

Belgium Moving Guides
15 guides

Poland

Moving & Registration in Poland

Explore practical guides on moving to Poland, including address registration, local authority requirements, and post-arrival administrative tasks.

Poland Moving Guide
14 guides

Netherlands

Moving to the Netherlands

Prepare to move to or within the Netherlands with help on municipal registration, address changes, residence permits, BSN, and DigiD.

Moving to the Netherlands
11 guides

Iceland

Work in Iceland: Employment and Freelancer Guide

Review administrative requirements for employment contracts, freelance registration, and work eligibility across Iceland.

Work in Iceland hub
9 guides

Belgium

Work & Freelancing in Belgium

Explore practical guides on Belgian employment contracts, registering as a freelancer, and understanding your local tax and social security obligations.

Explore Work Rules
9 guides

Netherlands

Working in the Netherlands

Find help with work eligibility, Dutch contracts and CAOs, payroll, social security, employee rights, KVK registration, and freelance taxes.

Working in the Netherlands

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