The Spainfully Honest podcast is your friendly guide to moving to Spain, living in Spain, and actually feeling at home once you arrive. We talk openly about Spanish visas, paperwork, working in Spain, relationships, and everyday life in Spain. No hype, no horror stories for clicks, just real conversations, honest advice, and the things we wish we’d known earlier.
Hosted by two friends and long-term residents of Spain, Catherine and Paul, the podcast is based on their real experience of relocating to Spain, settling in, and building a life here.
Thinking about moving to Spain and feeling slightly overwhelmed by the paperwork? You’re definitely not alone.
In this episode of Spainfully Honest, we’re joined by Alba Fernandez, a sworn translator who specialises in Spanish visas and immigration documents.
Alba takes us through some of the most common mistakes people make when preparing their visa applications, from getting documents legalised incorrectly to ordering translations they don’t actually need. We also talk about document validity, police certificates, bank statements and why leaving everything until the last minute can cause serious problems.
We also clear up some of the confusion around sworn, certified and notarised translations, and look at some of the visa advice doing the rounds online that isn’t necessarily as straightforward as it sounds.
And importantly, Alba explains where the role of a sworn translator ends. While they can help make sure your documents are correctly translated, they cannot decide whether you are eligible for a particular Spanish visa or immigration route.
If you would like to contact Alba directly here are the details:
Alba Fernández Carrasco
Sworn English-Spanish Translator
Email: alba.fernandez.c@gmail.com (mailto:alba.fernandez.c@gmail.com)
Phone / WhatsApp: +34 645 654 998
Website: https://www.sworntranslationspain.com (https://www.sworntranslationspain.com/)
If you enjoy the episode, don't forget to subscribe and share it with someone who is thinking about moving to Spain or already calls Spain home.Here is our referral link for Lobster: Referral | Lobster (https://www.lobster.es/referral/?referralCode=PAU007651)
And finally here is the link to our Facebook Group! (2) Spainfully Honest Community | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/2184192432148508)
Thank you for listening!
29 Sept 2026
Episode 62: Autumn in Spain: Food, Festivals, Weather and More
Autumn doesn't always mean crisp mornings and jumpers in Spain. In many parts of the country, September and October can still feel very much like summer, while the evenings start to cool down and the seasons slowly change.
In this episode of Spainfully Honest (https://spainfullyhonest.com/), we talk about what autumn is really like in Spain, based on our own experiences of more than 50 years of living here between us.
We also talk about some of the dates to remember during the autumn, including Spain's National Day, All Saints' Day, Constitution Day and the Immaculate Conception.
So if you're wondering what happens in Spain once the summer crowds start to disappear, come along with us as we head from beach days and chiringuitos towards chestnuts, stews and the first signs of winter.
No hype, no horror stories for clicks. Just our honest experiences of life in Spain.
If you enjoy the episode, don't forget to subscribe and share it with someone who is thinking about moving to Spain or already calls Spain home.
The movies that Catherine spoke about are: The Baztán Trilogy — The Invisible Guardian, The Legacy of the Bones, and Offering to the Storm. And they are available on Netflix.
Here are some previous episodes that might interest you:
Episode 60: Emergencies in Spain: Everything You Need to Know (https://open.spotify.com/episode/32J6MXLGeTgq1PRUd6snq8?si=8dj1JNzfRvyOdOT5e1ulPA)Bonus Episode: DANA Alice Storm in Spain (https://open.spotify.com/episode/4LSd9zVNd9tFmElUUFdCzH?si=HK7meT80RpKht4aoB2YROg)
Episode 19: Winter in Spain (https://open.spotify.com/episode/5CtYZNAqKIMzjrwsg9PV6k?si=u5MBYA_jS6yOucHgPCcUxw)
Episode 20: Weekly Grocery Shopping Spain v UK (https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Od4ZPV785erZ8H8SNxfMF?si=y6EjQ94kQwKM1QbuL__Lhw)
Episode 18: Halloween in Spain (https://open.spotify.com/episode/7dwzhtu7yYg5PgW0XRhgbF?si=npBLz8NhRAiDwNKfAIfFsQ)
Here is our referral link for Lobster: Referral | Lobster (https://www.lobster.es/referral/?referralCode=PAU007651)And finally here is the link to our Facebook Group! (2) Spainfully Honest Community | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/2184192432148508)
22 Sept 2026
Episode 61: Spanish bureaucracy explained: An ex-immigration officer answers your questions
This week on Spainfully Honest (https://spainfullyhonest.com/)we're talking to Claudia, a former immigration officer and founder of The Expat Suite, who shares her insider knowledge on Spanish immigration, visas and some of the paperwork that comes with living in Spain.
We get into some of the questions that regularly come up for expats, including the difference between an NIE and a TIE, whether you can apply for an NIE before your visa is approved, and what happens if your visa or residency situation changes.
Claudia also explains some of the everyday admin that can leave you scratching your head, from digital certificates and Cl@ve to empadronamiento, the volante and the padrón certificate.
We also look at some of the residence options that can be applied for from Spain, including routes for highly qualified professionals, digital nomads and entrepreneurs, and talk about what “administrative silence” actually means.
And because living in Spain isn't just about getting the paperwork sorted, we chat about learning the language, integrating and avoiding the isolation that can come with living somewhere without feeling fully connected to it.
There are plenty of practical tips in this one, for people thinking about moving to Spain, who are in the middle of the process or who have been here for years and are still trying to work out what piece of paper you actually need.
Reach out to Claudia at The Expat Suite if you would like more information (https://www.thexpatsuite.com/)
Some previous episodes that you might be interested in that we mention in this episode:
Episode 38: Spanish Visa Options (https://open.spotify.com/episode/47o8ehefc8BKm5FMEyRe08?si=of7U9X0yT6q-uv6ERqC00w)
Episode 32: Digital Certificates and Signatures in Spain (https://open.spotify.com/episode/4eRvzHJsJXte4RLfis9ZrS?si=96HtawgwTM-hTrmq-BE9mQ)
Episode 31: The Padrón in Spain Explained (https://open.spotify.com/episode/7qYc8bTTmS1gL6DuCkdc55?si=hdbORufaTuy4GIfFJoXoZg)
Episode 30: TIE Renewal in Spain: A Practical Guide (https://open.spotify.com/episode/7LNfDl0dOK0WMloqeMnKQl?si=YeiaK_CURnOCREwmNKwq7A)Here is the link to the Spainfully Honest Community on Facebook: (2) Spainfully Honest Community | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/2184192432148508)
(https://www.facebook.com/groups/2184192432148508)And here is the referral link for Lobster: Referral | Lobster (https://www.lobster.es/referral/?referralCode=PAU007651)
Thank you so much for listening to Spainfully Honest!
If you enjoyed the episode, make sure you hit subscribe and follow us on socials so you don’t miss what’s coming next.
Or if you’ve got a story to share, a guest suggestion, or just want to say hi, you can always email us at hello@spainfullyhonest.com
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.5 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
8 ratings
Contact Spainfully Honest
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
