Driving to Spain/living there for a year

[mondaytosunday]

We are contemplating moving to Spain for a year once my DD finishes uni, so about 20 months from now. We have two cats (as well as all the clobber for a year) we would bring with us so are thinking of driving. It’s to Almeria region from London. Anyone done it? Where’s a good place to stay along the way? How do we handle the cats and their toileting during the drive?
We are in the process of getting Irish passports so the kids can work, and we have time to learn a bit more Spanish! I already have an NIE number and bank account. I won’t need to work but they will. Any tips? My DD might be able to work remotely but is thinking of getting a TEFL certificate as a back up, and my son is happy to work in a shop or café and also has a fitness and personal training certificate. Main idea is to take a year out of life here, learn Spanish properly, and enjoy life. I already know the area well (small town with touristy beach area, so seasonal) as my parents have had a house there for decades (it will be sold before this and is too remote to live in full time with no phone or internet). We will rent out our house here and rent there.
Any experience that would help us is welcome!

That’s a long drive! I transported my cats to mallorca several years ago but I used a transporter as that way she dealt with the paperwork at the boarder plus she knows pet friendly places to stay. It should be fine to do yourself, just make sure when you get the pet transport paperwork that it is all correct or you will have a problem (e.g. make sure the paperwork is in the same name as the microchip registrations)

hop on some of the expat groups on Facebook as they can often help re rental properties as often finding a decent rental is very difficult. Dealing with Spanish bureaucracy is educational to say the least but you just have to plough through it! It often helps to take a fluent speaker with you to official appointments, at least at first. That includes for getting your residence card (not a quick process).

if you’re planning on taking your British car, remember it can’t be here for more than 6 months without having to be re registered here (expensive). Also you have to change your driving license to a Spanish one after 6 months (not expensive but getting an appointment with tráfico can take time!)

i don’t know how it would work tax wise as if you’re here more than 6 months in a calendar year you have to register to be tax resident so you may want to make sure you straddle 2 different years.

good luck!

Try Brittany Ferries. They have pet friendly cabins, good food, and in-cabin entertainment. It also makes the drive in Spain much easier.

Thank you. @whirlyheadI have a lawyer in Spain who knows about the whole residency stuff and I’m not worried about rentals, there are a few that take pets and as I have a property in the area I know a few agents already. Interesting tip about straddling two tax years, though it’s likely we will be August to August but mugging is set.

Might it be better to fly the cats? One thing I've always noticed in Spanish airports is that's there's often people taking animals on planes, which you don't see in the UK.

I think there are airlines who will accept pets on board from the UK, eg Iberia, Vueling and possibly BA. They can also be accepted in the hold, but I wouldn't consider this as I've heard stories about it not ending well.

https://www.iberia.com/gb/fly-with-iberia/pets/#PETC

https://help.vueling.com/hc/en-gb/articles/19798818168337-Fly-with-my-Pet#h_01JF7FQN99NC7SAJ1V82XNVTE0

What about the 90 day rule?

Does the 90 day rule apply to Irish passport holders as EU citizens?

Healthcare? You can’t usually use the national service straight away. Here in France you’d be expected to have full private health insurance for at least three months, then it often takes a lot longer to get a social security number and health card. Will you be retired or just not working? If the latter it might be harder to acces public healthcare as you won’t be contributing financially so you might need fully private healthcare for a year. Your children will too - though if they get jobs, they may also be able to access public healthcare.

Taxes? Is a year long enough to become tax resident in Spain? I think so. In the UK you’ll need to complete self assessment forms to declare your rental income.

If your FD plans to work for an UK employ, get her to have permission for fully remote first.

even as an EU national I can only do 20 working days per tax year because my employer is cover the taxes for these days, anything else is not allowed.

You will have to have private healthcare as a residency requirement. We pay about €300 a month in premiums for 2 people. 90 days rule doesn’t apply if you have an EU passport but it can take time to sort out residency for trailing spouses and probably children. And they will need residency to be able to go in and out of Spain.

No

Thank you everyone! I know about private health insurance. And no the 90 day rule does not apply to EU passport holders - free movement and you are allowed to work, which is why we are getting Irish passports (a long process). Plus yes after 183 days you become responsible for tax on your worldwide income, but there is a treaty so you don’t pay double tax. I’m hoping my adult children will have jobs.
All this stuff I know. I mostly just wanted advice about driving and stopping along the way with the cats, as flying them costs around £1000 plus each (am I right? This is what I want to know)! EasyJet does not take animals, and we will need a car there (though will have to transfer it to Spanish registration) and more than a suitcase each. But it’s all just in the research stages now so nothing is set.

We went to Spain last month overland. Ferry to St Malo, overnight near Bordeaux, overnight in central Spain then onto the coast. No cats though. We regularly ride for 6-7 hours a day sometimes more (motorbike)

In the Iberia link above it says £55 to £70 ew depending on whether its direct or connecting flight.

@Bjorkdiditthey only fly to Madrid, 550km from my final destination. My cats are Maine Coons so over the weight limit for in cabin - they would have to go as cargo. So I could rent a car from there but I didn’t really want to buy a car which I would have to do in the end. Plus flying restricts what we can bring with us in terms of luggage, though I guess I could pay the £100-150 charge per extra bag (depending on weight). Then the price of a rental car…already adding almost £1000 to the cost plus the purchase of a car I will need for the year I’m there. That’s why I’m thinking of driving over.

I’ve taken Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth to Santander and back from Bilbao and it was easy taking my dog as they have kennels on board. For cats you can get a pet friendly cabin. These cabins book up extremely quickly, so be prepared! Once you’re in Spain I imagine it would be easy to find pet friendly places to stay en route. Google ‘cats on Brittany Ferries’ for more info.