Moving to spain

I'm Spanish and I've lived in the UK for 30 years. If I was retired, I'd consider moving back to Spain. Until then, no way. Shitty working conditions, declining healthcare, declining education. No stability.

Sorry but I'd rather be cold and have a job. You can't eat the good weather

You need to start with information about visas because unless you have the right to live and work in Spain, you're going to need them. Without the correct eligibility, the longest time you can spend in Spain in 3 months out of 6.

Do you meet the criteria?

I'm going to France when my current commitments end. I'm fortunate though in that I have dual nationality and a place to go to. England doesn't feel the same anymore and I feel more at home over there.

@virgo22 I think that's the most important thing really - post Brexit it's nowhere near as simple - there are various ways but you have to be able to study those conditions- it's no different to if you were coming from say Canada - I hate to sound negative but so many make so many mental plans without looking at the basics first -

I've lived longterm in five different countries, including many years in different parts of England. Have you ever spent substantial time living and working outside of the UK? Have you spent any time in Spain other than on a holiday? Do you speak Spanish? Do you know whether your skills and/or qualifications are in demand in Spain? What is it that makes you think your life would be better in Spain?

I was going to ask the same, what do you mean by lifestyle? Unless you have loads of money you still need to go to work, clean the house, do the laundry, tend the garden. I remember when I visited my brother in Australia and their lifestyle was no different to mine, his wife was still ironing a pile of clothes in front of the tv on a Sunday afternoon.

I did it my grass does not always feel greener tbh 😂 it's pretty much same shit different view ! And it's way too hot in the summer

I love that my kids can travel freely on (dirt) cheap, reliable public transport at all hours of the day and night in safety. I love that we can afford to live in the centre of the city in a bright spacious home that would cost probably 7 times as much in central London. The kids go to a British school, though I guess as yours are so young you won’t need to worry about the language thing as much as they will pick it up easily.

I love that it’s not cold and miserable. I detest the heat at the height of summer though, it really is something else! I don’t know if it’s better. It’s certainly better for us. It really is an individual choice.

You can't just move to Spain. You need work visas.

Why do you feel the lifestyle would be better in Spain? Unless you can afford not to work, presumably you’d still have the rat race aspects of work, childcare etc to deal with? Yes, the weather might be better, but even that isn’t guaranteed.

"Are we allowed to move to Spain?" kind of needs to be your first question though. Because if the answer is no, all the other questions are redundant.

Post Brexit it's not so easy.

What do you mean precisely when you say “lifestyle”? All your day to day chores will look the same, your work will be the same amount of challenge/boredom (as applicable), your day to day interaction with officialdom will be more difficult (language), your kids will need to learn a new language at school and you’ll find it more difficult to interact with other parents and staff (language).

@YouveGotAFastCar is that so? Even on nomad visas? We 100% fit criteria on that and may look again in a couple of years-we did 20 months in Copenhagen and came back to UK for elderly relative reasons mixed in with work ( as covid played havoc with flights back to uk and availability) - Spain high on list ( which does nomad) as is Sweden which doesn't - more hoops to jump through for Sweden as we are 62 - and have to prove certain business things

And it's getting worse!

The last time I was in Spain, to a place we had been five years before at the same time of year (out of season), we came across tiger mosquitoes, that apparently were relatively new to that area. We had to be really conscientious about mosquito repellent as they were out all times of day.

Five years earlier, same time of year - didn't come across any mozzies at all.

They're often not a year at a time - they're typically three years at at time, so you need one renewal and then can apply for residency in year 5.

It obviously depends how you apply, but it's foolhardy to apply here, really. The criteria aren't the easiest to reach, but it's easy to know if you do, so there's no risk in applying there and getting three years instead of one. It also costs a decent amount less to apply there, and the Consulates can add their own demands if you use them.

It's also quite easy to qualify for public healthcare if you're earning enough and therefore will be contributing enough there. It's a myth that most people applying need private healthcare, especially if they're coming from the UK. It's more common if you're American or Canadian, although I believe it's changing for Canada.

Why would you have more time together in Spain? Would you be able to earn more by working fewer hours, or maybe buy a mortgage-free property that you couldn't buy here?

It's all absolutely irrelevant though OP unless you have EU citizenship or can fit the criteria for remote work off your own back ata certain level of earnings and a nomad visa ( and they are a year at a time- so not ideal if you have kids) - even then you have to qualify to get private health care for your family. You might get in via normal visa also if you are in certain shortage occupations too - have significant funds and would need Spanish in those.

If you do fit all those points then please say so and we can advise accordingly - and yes I do have knowledge of this.

There’s way too many mosquitoes in Spain. 🦟

We're planning to go - but it sounds like you've got a lot of research to do before you can really consider it. There's limited visa options - you can be employed by a Spanish company, but that's challenging and rare, or get a DNV/NLV, but they have strict income and other requirements.

We're planning to go around Feb next year, on a DNV.