Which EU country would you live in if you were me?

[Catspyjamas424]

Hello

(Obviously this all depends on Brexit negotiations etc, and doesn’t have to be Europe, but would prefer)

I would like some advice from people who have travelled a lot.
We are planning a move abroad in the next three years. I need somewhere it is fairly easy to get a work visa (obviously Brexit dependent!), somewhere I can work in the city/town but commute to live in the countryside, and somewhere with cheap property. Currently it is just me and financée, but we hope to try for a baby after we move, so it would be a bonus if the country has a good attitude towards working mothers.
Currently I speak French to approximately B1 level, and German and Spanish well enough to get by on holiday, but am taking classes in all three, so should be fairly comfortable in three years time. I am a management accountant, working on the ACCA qualification, and also hope to have a masters degree before moving. I am happy however to change careers to make things easier. We want to move somewhere to completely start over, to be able to buy somewhere to live with a bit of land (current property in U.K. worth just under 200k, so budget would be around that). I am happy to learn any new language, and to take new qualifications etc. We had aimed for the south west of France, for the lifestyle and cheap property, however it doesn’t look like my qualifications will be recognised anymore.

I completely understand that it is going to be much harder to move now, and that we should have tried to move before the deadline, but plenty of people move to the EU from non EU countries, and I am happy to do whatever it takes to achieve this.

Thank you

France seems logical to me. However:

Unfortunately it is going to be much more difficult, given that your qualifications may not be recognised and accountancy is not something you qualify in after a very short period. I also think jobs may be hard to come by anywhere given the economic impact of Covid.

I suggest you look at countries where accountants may be in short supply and/or your fiancee's skills/profession is too.

I had considered retirement to France (retirement is a few years away) but the 2016 referendum put an end to that.

Denmark? I think they have accountants on their approved list of skilled workers for getting a visa. Not cheap though! Danish is tricky to master pronunciation but nearly all Danes speak very good English (I think they were recently ranked the second best non-native speakers in the world) so shouldn't hold you back too much while you learn. Great work life balance and childcare looking forwards too.

I've never lived there, but we briefly considered it a couple of years back and a bit of me still regrets not going!

Out of curiosity why are you planning to move to a country neither you nor your DH have ties to or for a clear purpose? I don't mean to sound judgmental but, especially if you think either sets of parents might be useful with a baby, you're making your life so much harder without that kind of network around you.

@Catspyjamas424 I would still try for France if I were you because it’s definitely possible to live well there on less money. Is it possible to get tutoring fir the French version of your qualification so you’re ready to take the test in the three years?

I think Spain is probably easier to work in. France are pretty formal with their own qualification requirements

Austria

Salaries are really low in Spain and maternity leave is meagre.

If you are thinking of having a baby in the near future look at not just the attitude to working mothers but maternity packages/benefits and antenatal/postnatal healthcare as these vary vastly between countries. My husband is Dutch and if we didn’t have children and a very settled life here I would consider the Netherlands. However I would have the advantage of a native husband/family there, most Dutch speak excellent English and my qualifications would be recognised. Much of Northern Europe/scandi countries have excellent lifestyle/healthcare etc but that is paid for by high taxes and property is extortionate.

Thank you all this is so helpful!!
We really like the idea of France, however I’ve been looking at visa requirements, and as above, Denmark, Austria, Belgium, Germany and Netherlands seem the easiest for me to get work. Italy, Spain and France do look hardest to get work as an accountant. I’ve also looked at Hungary and Poland, as have friends there but not sure on these- we will have to visit.

Re @SebastianTheCrab, we have multiple reasons for cutting ties with U.K. family, and a fresh start is what would be best for us. Plus the benefits of a better quality of life for future children hopefully outweigh any struggles with childcare.

I’m planning areas to visit etc once this current nightmare is over, which will definitely help the decision.

Thank you all so much

I have no idea of the tax implications, but could you work for a UK based organisation whilst being based elsewhere?

I'm in the Netherlands and love it. I had A level French, and other languages to O level/ GCSE and managed to get proficient in Dutch in about 2 years.
It's a great country for children. Family life is important and it's usual for both parents to work less hours and share the childcare.
200k won't get you much land where I am, but maybe in Friesland or Groningen? But there's not much so much work there.
You can look at properties on www.funda.nl.

Another ‘way in’ so to speak is to look at multi-national companies (that’s how my husband ended up here and then I pinned him down 😂) he came to assist in the set up of the UK office of a Dutch company and then more recently until bloody covid was working on the set up of the Dutch office of an English company. If you are willing and able to relocate it’s often easier to do it when you have established yourself in a company and a position becomes available abroad and then you get assistance with relocation etc.

I've been here in Frankfurt, Germany for over 30 years now. This is one of the largest financial centers in Europe with many domestic and international banks, includng the European Central Bank, being here. With accountancy experience I wouldn't envisage a problem stepping into the industry.
Property in the city is very expensive but there are as many commuters who travel from the outlying areas everyday to work here as there are permanent residents. There are many lovey towns within easy distance of the city.
I have no dea what the regulations are now re. work / residence permits, the UK was EU when I came here! A call to the embassy will help you there.
Just out of interest, what does your partner do?
German - as any language - is easy to pick up if you immerse yourself in it. On the other hand, the city is so international you would get by with very little.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do and where ever you decide to go!

What languages does you DF speak and what's his job? It seems v much a move to somewhere that works for you. He might be a fluent linguist who can turn his hands to any work so night not matter but

Thank you.
@SleepingStandingUp I am the main earner, so it makes sense to go somewhere I can get work, however my partner is an agricultural contractor, so he is fairly flexible with work. He doesn’t speak any languages, but is trying to learn French at the moment- I am also urging him to learn German.

@Buttercupcup I’ve been looking at international companies- we live very rurally up North so there aren’t so many vacancies, but I agree it’s definitely the best way to go about it.

Thank you all

I'd look at somewhere like Denmark then. Sounds like you're a natural linguist and will pick it up regardless but I think as your partner I'd want to be able to get by even if o couldn't pick it up

UK is a big place and you can cut ties with family without leaving the country. (many of us have had this forced on us due to covid) You can also get all the things you want in parts of the UK.

just sounds a lot easier!