Here is our advice on how to make it possible and enjoy this future experience !
Getting ready
Finding a job to Ibiza is not difficult, but you will need a bit of courage and motivation. The most important is to be disciplined from the party scene. The hardest will be to find a happy medium between work and play as there are many new comers who cannot commit themselves only after a few weeks because they party too often and cannot work because of the temptation.
Plan yourself around working at a rhythmic pace in the summer months (June, July). The season is long enough to enjoy the many club venues while working and keeping your job. The majority of employees go out very little in August as the island is quite busy, and enjoy September to take advantage of the season’s end.
When is it necessary to arrive on the island?
This question raises a problem to all those who want to spend the season in Ibiza because the earlier you arrive (for example at the end of April), the easier you will find a job and accommodation. However, you will only begin to really work and to earn some money only at the end of May or June, or even later. That’s why it is necessary to get there with a little savings.
You can also decide to arrive at the end of May but then the risk of finding a job and an apartment becomes more difficult.
Types of jobs
There are various job availabilites, such as: waiter, bartender, club representative, bar representative, club ticket seller, etc. Other jobs include attractive girls or muscle guys to promote the club in streets or beaches and at parades. Clubs also hire, dancers, performers, flyer distributors, magazine distributors, journalists, photographers, bill stickers, security guards and massage therapists.
Salary/Wages
It is almost impossible to define how much you will earn as it can vary immensely. For example, working 6/7 days a week for 10 hours at a bar, you can probably expect about €700-€800 per month. As a club representative (flyer distribution), you can earn approximately €100-€150 weekly, however, you will work much less than at a bar. On average, expect €5 as an hourly rate but once again, it can vary greatly.
Accommodation and expenses
It will be more or less easy to find an apartment according to the area where you live,. Generally, we can say that it is easier to find accommodation in San Antonio than in Playa d’en Bossa. The best way of not ruining yourself financially is to share a place. If you are ready to share a room and thus, have only a bed as a living expense, it would save you a lot of money. This will set you back approximately, €200 – €300 a month. If you want your own room in an apartment, then expect to pay double or around €500. Finally if you are not of the kind of person to be living with others or if you want your own apartment, expect to pay about €1000 per month at best.
These figures are approximate, and give you an idea of what to expect but there are always good deals to be found.
Languages
From the moment you plan to work at a place (where tourists are international), it will be almost indispensable to speak several languages.
A good level of English is the minimum one can expect from an employee and basic Spanish will really be an asset. Make an effort to learn Spanish before arriving on the island, as it will help you enormously and the locals appreciate that we speak their language.
Administrative formalities : NIE
If it is your first season working on the island and if you wish to work legally, must obtain your number : Foreign Employee Identification Number (N.I.E).
Depending on your situation, you have two ways of getting it:
1. If you have already found a job and if your employer agrees to give you a work contract, they then must give you a right to work or “pre-contract” certificate. You then can file an NIE allowing you to work using this document. Only when you receive your NIE, your employer can then deliver you a valid work contract.
2. If you have not found a job yet but you wish to obtain your NIE, you need an accommodation with a rental commercial lease. With the lease along your passport, go to your local ayuntamiento (city or town hall) and register by asking for an “Empadronamiento”. After a few days, this census certificate will also allow you to ask for a NIE.
Empadronamiento refers to the process of registering with your community’s padrón (city roll), also called the Padrón Municipal de Habitantes. The municipal padrón is the official record of all the people who live in a particular community and is the official way to verify or accredit your stay in Spain. By law, everyone who resides in Spain should be registered in the community where they live.
The second solution is, in fact; the first thing to do when you want to obtain “resident’s status” on the island. This status automatically gives you an NIE but also interesting discounts on flights and ferries.
How to get your NIE ?
A basic rule is, always have the original paperwork as well as one or two copies of each document required to get your NIE.
Bring your “work certificate” or your “Census Certificate”, your passport as well as several ID photos. To register your NIE request, go to the main police post office in Eivissa. It is just outside the city centre, by the McDonald’s in Figueretas and next to the office of the local newspaper “Diario de Ibiza”.
Phase 1: Forms and Documents
Go to the main police post office during the week between 9 am and 1 pm. Don’t queue up but approach the counter, remember to take the required forms and photocopies. Most importantly, take the form that corresponds to your situation (simple NIE or NIE + residencia). Complete two of the same forms (one for you and for the administration). Make certain that you have all the pertinent and required documents as well as photocopies.
Phase 2: Dropping off your file
Attention : please arrive early at 6 am at the latest (arriving earlier is better)! If there are already more than 50 persons in front of you, go back to bed and return the following morning and arrive earlier! As the saying goes: “the early bird catches the worm”.
Wait for the station to open (8 am), of which they should hand you a ticket with a number and an estimated time before they call you. They give approximately 40/50 tickets per day.
When it is your turn (it is rather fast), the officers will look at your paperwork (documents) and keep the copies that you have on hand. They will return the originals to you and will give you an time (date) estimation for your NIE to be processed and ready. Do not hesitate to add one week to their estimation date and there is a good chance that you will receive it on the date indicated.
Phase 3: Retrieving your NIE
Go to the same place during the weekday between 9 am and 1 pm. Do not queue up, approach the counter and say that you have come to get your NIE. They will hand it to you and that’s all, the joy of working in Ibiza begins! This initiative requires patience, but the good news is that if you ever decide to go back to the island as an employee, your NIE number will always be valid.
Advantages
With regards to your position, for example; if you work at a bar or a restaurant, you will have the possibility to have free drinks/free food. This will at least allow you to save a little money on daily expenses.
The real benefit is that most employers, whether bars, restaurants or stores, offer you a season pass to the various club venues which will allow you free entrance to most clubs. If you work for a club or are a night club promoter, you will have the feeling of being part of a team and you can quickly enjoy the VIP areas.But all these benefits are nothing compared with the unforgettable human experience which you will have by meeting people with whom you will meet.
Expect to feel comfortable with perfect strangers and develop long lasting friendships. This is what Ibiza will be during the next four months!
Conclusion
Are you still hesitating?
In one season’s time, you can go from simple Public Relations – Flyer Distributor to a club PR manager and become buddies with DJs on the island … just be yourself, nice, easy going, fun and speak to everybody. However, do not use illicit substances!
More importantly, be ready for a crazy adventure and remember that nothing nor anybody is more important than the island itself, so respect it!
Enjoy!
Through the years, we have in fact developed a partnership with all the clubs in Ibiza, including major clubs like Ushuaia, Hï Ibiza, Pacha, Privilege, or Amnesia, or clubs like Destino, Sankeys, Heart, DC10, Eden, Es Paradis, or Benimussa Park. An important point to be noted: all the club tickets that we are distributing guarantee you access to the event, regardless of the event and regardless of the affluence.
Ibiza Experience is also one of the rare travel agencies to have an on-site team to welcome customers, to give them any advice as requested, as well as to offer any assistance as necessary.
Therefore, for any stay in Ibiza with family or friends, please contact us for a free quote:
