scrubbedexpat033

Hi guys,

I'm Keith and new to this forum.
Im hoping someone can help with some advice.

The dream is to be able to move to Tenerife and work as a painter decorator. This won't be happening for a couple of years but just wanted to do some digging to see if there is a demand for painter decorators on the island?
Any advice tips etc will be much appreciated.

Joppa

In two years' time, UK will be truly out of EU and you will be treated as non-EU citizen (if you are British). While immigration and work permit requirements from 2021 haven't yet been agreed, they are likely to be the same or very similar to rules for non-EU citizens now. It will be difficult to work as self-employed as you need a visa, for which you need to present a business plan, which will be scrutinised by one of the professional bodies in Spain. To work as an employee you need visa sponsorship by an employer, who needs to demonstrate there is no local worker qualified to do your job. To be eligible for much easier rules for EU citizens, you need to make your move by the end of this year (unless an extension to the implementation period is agreed - vigorously opposed by Tory government) and apply for residency.

scrubbedexpat033

Thank you for the reply.

I knew there was going to be change to the system and thought by waiting it would settle down a bit but sounds like I may need to rethink. I just cant find any information on the actual demand for painter and decorators over there. Last thing I would want to do is relocate and struggle.

Joppa

After the implementation period, all you can do is just to have a holiday. To live and work will be next to impossible for those without specialist skills in demand, and even then you have to jump through bureaucratic hoops.

scrubbedexpat033

Great thank you for the advice.

I'll do some more digging to see if there is enough work there and see if I can make this happen before it all goes belly up.

Fredbargate

Brits lived and worked in Spain long before Spain joined the Common Market.
It may be a little more difficult after we are totally out of the EU but I doubt it will be impossible, people will need to be more resourceful.

scrubbedexpat033

I have no issues with jumping through what ever hoops required to make this happen. It's either Tenerife or Canada and I know which one I prefer.haha.

I just need to know the actual demand for painters and decorators before I make my decision. I just don't want to struggle for work if I took the plunge and moved. I love my job, I just want to do it in the sun in a place that's way better than the uk.

Moses2013

Please don't think that life Tenerife is better than the UK because of weather. If that was the case, every painter from Bilbao would move. There is a lot more to consider and most painters and decorators in this part of the world seem to be far better off. Why is it either Tenerife or Canada?

scrubbedexpat033

I know this but to be honest theres a whole bag of reasons why I want out of the UK.

Either of these two places as I like them and wouldnt mind living in either.

Boseley

Facebook has Tenerife forums, try there.

Moses2013

I no longer live in the UK myself but sometimes it's not always about what we like. Many Spaniards might like Ibiza but even with a job can't afford to live there. When it comes to employment, nobody can say how the demand will be in a few years and who would have thought about Covid. With no safety net, many people will struggle. Since you are still young, it would make more sense to maybe look at locations closer to home and you could still visit Tenerife. It will give you time to save more money and maybe learn Spanish (unless you are already fluent). I'm in Ireland myself and we have a holiday home in Spain. Even working in Ireland to keep EU rights could be an option and is certainly closer to Tenerife than Canada.

Barriej

Have you been to Canada? I was in Toronto last September and it was rather wet, the temp may have been 19c but it rained solid for a week. Then in November when I went back to finish the job (I install packing machines) It was about 3c daytime and -5 most nights. Toronto is one of the warmer places to be.

You might be better work wise in Canada as there won't be the language issue, you may get a job a bit easier.

Spain is easier for people like me who are near retiring (end of June 2020) but for people of working age maybe not. One of the firms I work in here in the Uk has numerous Spanish workers, all well educated but unable to get jobs in their own country.

Id suggest visiting for a holiday and asking around to see what opportunities may be available. While we here can give some advice, you will only get the absolute true picture for yourself. Good luck and I hope you get what you are looking for.

scrubbedexpat033

Again thank you for the replies.your right it isnt all ways about what we like but a quality of life far outweighs money for me. As long as I had enough to get by. I currently learning spanish both for tenerife and my holiday to florida. I've been to tenerife once before and booked again for September(pre covid booking) so I will be asking around whilst I'm there. The sort of places I'd be looking at targeting would be the hotels and complexes.

As for canada I have a few friends all ready there. Yes my previous comment about sun doesnt really apply to canada year round but the cold also doesnt put me off.
The uk is on its backside. I'm lucky I live in Cornwall but it's getting worse with knife crime, drugs and general loutish behaviour. I've also tried various places in the uk and it's all the same. Just not for me.

missile

From what you have posted you are unlikely to be able to gain residency or find permanent employment. You would probably be able to live under the radar to scratch a living with illegal black work.

EuroTrash

I don't think anybody would disagree with that, but if it was as easy as you make it sound, how come not everybody is enjoying great quality of life with enough to get by?
Wherever you are, "enough to get by" means paying your bills, paying your taxes, paying your healthcare/social contributions, paying into a pension for when you're old, paying for food and clothes and heating, probably running a car or a van... So the reality is that you need to be sure you can cover that and more, month in month out; before you can start enjoying quality of life. Because lying awake at night worrying about unpaid bills, and spending hours and hours searching the internet for a way to earn some extra euros, don't half take the shine off your new life. Believe me, because I've been there.
I can think of lots of reasons for wanting out of the UK but I can also think of certain things that you might regret losing such as free at the point of delivery healthcare, social security entitlement, being able to live your life with no language barrier and understanding how the system works.

I'm sure there is a demand for painters and decorators everywhere there are buildings, but I think what you need to be researching is the competition. How will you as a newcomer compete with the established tradesmen? However, as said, these caveats would only apply if you were planning on moving before the end of transition. In a way, moving as a third country national protects you from potentially making an expensive mistake because if the immigration authorities don't consider your plans for earning an income are viable, you won't get a visa and you won't be moving.