Moving to Tenerife

[antoniaw]

hello, this is my first time posting on here :)
Myself, my husband and our 2 children (10 & 5) have made the exciting decision to move abroad. My in laws already live in Tenerife and we visit so often that its like a second home to us.
I was wondering if anyone on here had done the same and could offer any advice. Im a little worried about schooling as I initially decided I was going to pay for them to go to a private British school. However, Im starting to change my mind and am thinking a Spanish school would be better for them to blend into the culture and learn the language.
sorry for the long post, but any tips or advice would be great!
TIA

Are you living in the UK? What about all the risks of drugs and knife crime in the UK?

this was very helpful, thank you

After a few years I couldn’t leave fast enough. It is very one dimensional. I missed museums, galleries, concerts, culture and the arts. I missed the diversity of food and shopping. The lack of comfort and refinement really got me down, every day was the same. It wasn’t that warm in December and January at all, and there is no central heating in the houses/apartments. It wore thin very quickly, and lacks sophistication. The drug cartels are an issue in certain areas,

There is a running undercurrent of resentment from the locals. You will never belong.
It’s up to you.

She asked you not to post again

@Artistbythewater

I actually agree with everything you’ve written but probably time to let it go now.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13611679/amp/tenerife-criminal-underworld-british-drug-dealers-italian-mafia-jay-slater.html

Jesus fucking christ.

She's still going.

tenerife.chat/blog/tenerifes-growing-drug-problem-addressing-the-challenges-and-seeking-solutions

There are many amazing schools in Spain that follow the British curriculum exactly OP, if that's what you want. So it wouldn't be much if a change for your children.

You do know anyone is free to post. You are posting relentlessly and have no idea how hard it is to manage with children in this position.

You have been specifically asked by the OP to stop posting here as you are adding nothing of use.

So why are you ignoring her request?

hahaha at this point I have to laugh

I wont be opening this link! DI am so confused why you think this is ok to post when I have specifically asked you to stop and other members have also asked you to stop.

I'm all for people moving overseas- we ourselves did it for 2 years ( but with child no longer at home) provided all the basics are in place and work is sorted - as your job isn't portable at all and you may be dependent for a while ( and I would encourage you to be fluent in Spanish) then it's really vital that your H can be there and work legally and you factor in all costs based on the fact you may not get immediate work etc -

OP if it's any good to you, I worked as a teaching assistant in an British school in Spain. And I thought that their school was really high quality.

Those schools hire a lot of teachers that qualified in England, and they follow the English curriculum exactly. There is a British school in Tenerife .

You could also maybe get a job yourself at the British school in Tenerife, as you said that you are a teaching assistant.

Thank you to all who posted actual advice and not criticism or negativity. Perhaps the English school would be a be better choice for my children after all 🙂

So funny you should say that as they are recruiting a TA at the moment and I did apply but the start date is in Jan and theres no way Id be ready to move by then. Hopefully they can keep me in mind for any future vacancies

Op double check the tax implications.

My company also said that it was "fine" for me to work remotely in Spain, because they had zero idea of the tax implications.

I paid for a cross borders tax specialist, and basically unless your husband's company have a Spanish branch, he will not be able to remain an employee past 9 months once he becomes a tax resident. Your husband will need to go autonomo, and pay the tax and national insurance AND the autonomo fee.
If he doesn't, he'll get in very hot water and most importantly, your husband's employer can get in hot water. The tax specialist I saw, said that by working remotely in Spain for a company, eventually you become an legal entity of that company operating in Spain and that company becomes liable for Spanish tax.

Some people chance it on the nomad license, but they aren't sending their kids to the local school and properly settling in. If you do, the tax man has will come knocking sooner rather than later.

You absolutely need specialist cross border tax advice on this. Ignore that the company "said it's fine". They don't know anything.

It might be very lonely for you if you don’t speak the language and don’t work.

Just posting from the kids perspective! I moved to Spain with my parents when I was 11 (they waited til I finished my SATS) and my sisters were 5.

I started at a Spanish secondary school and the first few months were scary although we had regular Spanish lessons in the evenings. There were a few English kids in my class which really helped. Eventually I really loved it. Going to the beach after school with my friends was my favourite!

Unfortunately my parents business wasn’t doing so well and my sisters weren’t settling in so we came home after a couple of years but my mum always said no regrets, it was an adventure and one I would do with my kids now if we had a route/employment over there. Good luck!

This is exciting I’m sure you’ll love it. I lived in Spain for 2 years (not Tenerife, in the south) . Just re the language, I went to classes for a couple of hours every week . My advice is to read children’s books and watch children’s tv in Spanish in addition to any homework. Before you go learn to get by ordering coffee and buying food in the supermarket/ bakery if poss.
in the part of Spain I was the people were very welcoming, as you have kids I’m sure you’ll meet locals.
try and join everything that you can to build a network, am sure in Tenerife they’ll be plenty of expats. Good luck with your move.

This was really helpful, thank you

Great advice, I'll get my husband on the case of looking into the tax side of things. Thank you