Summary

First ask yourself ‘what type of resident will I be?’

I want to move permanently to Spain

For anyone planning a move from the UK to Spain who has plans to sell up totally in the UK, the considerations differ according to age, family situation and long-term plans. It is vital that you know all the answers to all the questions relating to work, tax, healthcare, educating your children and, even if you are young, the pension situation in Spain. When you reach pensionable age you need to know that you will be provided for.

In planning a permanent move it is even more important to choose the right property from the outset. If you have any doubts at all, rent first. Then you will know that your chosen area is the right place for you and your family. If you need to sell the first property you buy here the estate agent will take 5% in commission and, before you are officially resident, another 5% will be withheld from your sale price against any capital gains tax (legally, the capital gains tax is 35% of the rise in value). Whatever your sales price, 10% has immediately disappeared from your pocket.

I want to move permanently to Spain and I have a family

First thing, check out local schools and the immediate availability of places before you commit yourself to any property no matter how wonderful it appears to be. The school run could be several kilometres and this will be five days a week during term time unless there is a local school bus.

You also need to consider whether you want your children to go to a local state school where they will need to learn Spanish, or do you have – or will you have – the funds to pay for private education in an international school where education will be in English?

You must realise that if your children go to a local Spanish school they may initially be at a disadvantage if they do not speak Spanish, and they might lose up to a year of their education before they are fluent in the language. But, please remember, children learn very quickly and in the longer term they might benefit – they should leave the Spanish state school system totally bilingual. Remember too that after English, Spanish is the most widely spoken language in the world, so fluent Spanish could be an advantage in any future career that your children might wish to follow.

With children you also need to consider the local availability of recreational facilities.

• Where is the nearest cinema and do they show films in English?
• Where can I buy computer games (most modern kids love them)?
• What sports facilities are available within easy travelling distance?
• Where will my children’s friends live? Will this be a problem in terms of travelling time? It will not be a problem for your children but it could be for you.

I want to work in Spain

There is a lot of work in Spain if you want or need to work. If you speak fluent Spanish you can apply for many of the positions that are advertised in the English language press here, and you will have a good chance of finding well paid work that will keep you occupied. If your Spanish is fluent then, of course, under EU rules you can apply for any job in full competition with the local population.

If you do not speak fluent Spanish the possibilities are more limited; but they do exist. We know many people who make a very respectable living in jobs that cater solely for the expatriate community. Possible work opportunities are dealt with at greater length in a future chapter. We also know many people who run their own businesses, some of which are totally geared to the expatriate community – more of this later.

Working for a Spanish-registered company will, of course, mean that you will need to contribute to Spanish social security and thus gain the benefits from this.

If you choose to live in the western end of the Costa del Sol you could also look for work in Gibraltar. Spanish would not be so necessary and you would then have Gibraltar social security to support you and possibly also your family.

I propose to retire to Spain

If you fall into this category there are two possible questions that must be asked. Do your retirement plans mean that you will spend 12 months of the year in your new home in Spain or do you propose to spend winters in Spain and summers in the UK? If you only spend six months of the year in Spain your tax situation and your legal status will be very different. This is also dealt with later in the book.

If you fall into this category your choice of suitable property may also be different.