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Inital advice needed with family of 4 relocating to spain
Hi all,
appreciate you must of answered questions like these a million times, if you could humour me though I'd appreciate it! Myself and my wife are both 34, with 2 children aged 7 and 5 really considering moving to spain, (Alicante area) and are just looking for the basics in terms of requirments/process before we delve further, and just getting an idea of if it's actually possible or just a pipe dream. My wife is a primary school teacher, middle management and would be looking to continue that when moved. I'm currently in a dead end job and would be happy doing anything providing it gives us an income. Once we have sold our house it would leave us with around 130,000 cash equity/savings to move on with. We wouldn't be looking at moving any of our items with us, we've never really had much in terms of any value so I'm assuming the cost of moving them would be higher than just buying them again. We have 2 cars, but again, would it be simpler to sell them and purchase a car over there? My wife's parents recently retired in the Alicante area so have housing we could stay in weather it be short term or slightly longer. I guess I'm just asking, given the above information if this a realistic thing to happen? I've no idea about Visa's, houses etc over there. I've no idea in terms of schools for our kids. Appreciate im being very vauge but this is the first time i will of asked about the subject to anyone. Any advice would be much appreciated. thank you!! |
Re: Inital advice needed with family of 4 relocating to spain
First up… what passport do you and your wife hold?
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Re: Inital advice needed with family of 4 relocating to spain
Originally Posted by PoloMarco
(Post 13346922)
First up… what passport do you and your wife hold?
sorry! All British |
Re: Inital advice needed with family of 4 relocating to spain
First thing is to see whether or how you can get a visa to move there, it's not that easy now after Brexit, second, how much Spanish do you speak, even moving to an area where there are a lot of Brits you will still need it for the inevitable bureaucracy, and there is a lot! I was fortunate to move in 2004 where all we had to do was to buy a house, simple, sell in the UK, pack bags, book movers and move, out Estate agents gave us assistance in the early stages of getting set up as Spanish residents but all that will be gone now, but you will need visas.
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Re: Inital advice needed with family of 4 relocating to spain
No Spanish, although I would of thought you would be able to get help with regards to the legal things even if you do pay a little extra? In terms of visas if anyone could shed some light on it? I think it's a bit of a bonus with the wife being a teacher, I know in most places they are sought after so could help.
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Re: Inital advice needed with family of 4 relocating to spain
Spanish isn’t a prerequisite for day to day, but for employment probably a necessity. There are plenty of people companies to help with residency side.
Unfortunately the post Brexit reality means a visa will be required for someone without EU passport. Any Irish grandparents as this can be a route to EU passport. But even with this then you’ll need to find employment to survive and that will likely need Spanish language skills (and this isn’t easy unless you’re someone who picks it up easily - I’m not). There are different visa options including: Non lucrative visa - probably what your in laws have used - but really a retirement option as work isn’t allowed for five years. Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers and unlikely for your wife and yourself as current employment doesn’t sound ideal. Work visa - possibly but requires offer of employment and technically the job can’t be fulfilled by an EU resident. Anecdotal feedback online suggests teachers aren’t that well paid over here either. Self employment visa - another possibility but not easy. Forget the logistics of possessions and cars. Look further into how to get here then worry about the details. There are plenty of online resources including many Facebook groups if you’re a user and YouTube channels another research avenue. It’s not impossible but it’s simply not as easy to get here as it once was. |
Re: Inital advice needed with family of 4 relocating to spain
I would first and foremost look for ancestors in Ireland or any other EU country, just in case there are inroads there to a possible passport.
Otherwise it is not going to be easy. From your wife's side I think her best bet is to look for job positions at British schools in the area and apply from the UK. EU nationals are prioritised but since she has experience in the British educational system and is a native speaker it will be easier than for other occupations that come to mind. Wages aren't great here but maybe some Sherpa-online lessons can give that a proper boost? Not sure about housing and how fat 130k goes in the area, especially since you need a financial safety cushion as well rather than go "all-in." Maybe someone local can pitch in on the current state of the housing market? |
Re: Inital advice needed with family of 4 relocating to spain
If you want to live permanently and work full time in Spain you will need to apply for and gain permanent contracted work positions. Your prospective employer will then need to apply for work visas on your behalf. Any available work position in Spain must be offered to an EU citizen first before being offered to a non EU citizen. The link below will help you decide on which visa you can best apply for and what is required.
https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/londres/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/inicio.aspx Steve |
Re: Inital advice needed with family of 4 relocating to spain
As said above, unless you can buy and investment visa (mucho money), then you need work visas BEFORE you move.
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Re: Inital advice needed with family of 4 relocating to spain
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Re: Inital advice needed with family of 4 relocating to spain
Thank you for the replies, they are appreciated. No Irish in either of us unfortunately. It's true that combined we would be generating less income. We are on good money here but are both unhappy ATM. I had no idea job opportunities had to be offered to some before others. My wife would be aiming at working at an international as opposed to state school so I suppose being a native English speaker might help there.
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Re: Inital advice needed with family of 4 relocating to spain
Of course the UK government might help, they really need to get the 'freedom of movement' back, even if we don't fully rejoin, but that should be a priority, especially as it now looks as though Starmer's dayd may well be numbered.
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Re: Inital advice needed with family of 4 relocating to spain
Originally Posted by mikelincs
(Post 13346969)
Of course the UK government might help, they really need to get the 'freedom of movement' back, even if we don't fully rejoin, but that should be a priority, especially as it now looks as though Starmer's dayd may well be numbered.
Labor red lines: - no custom union - no single market - no free movements Mirrors cons red lines. Labor seams to be trying cons cherry picking idea, never going to work. |
Re: Inital advice needed with family of 4 relocating to spain
To OP, unfortunately its just a pipe dream. Sorry.
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Re: Inital advice needed with family of 4 relocating to spain
Originally Posted by EU.flag
(Post 13346980)
To OP, unfortunately its just a pipe dream. Sorry.
what makes you say that? Granted I know next to nothing about the process but I'm sure thousands of people have made a success of it post brexit ? Thanks |
Re: Inital advice needed with family of 4 relocating to spain
Furthermore to the visa requirements, you may need to prove that any offers of employment do cover the financial requirements needed to satisfy the Spanish government income and healthcare guidelines.
Steve |
Re: Inital advice needed with family of 4 relocating to spain
Originally Posted by Moses2013
(Post 13346990)
And thousands will also fail. The truth is that like anywhere, it's down to money, personal skills and expectations. Spain is no longer a cheap country either and very different if you are single without kids or retired. I have actually also owned a piece of land with my wife for a few years and we were recently thinking of building a smaller home for retirement later on, or to rent out locally for now as a small income. After several rejections from council we now got a building licence approved, but tax alone is huge which you have to pay in less than 6 weeks and otherwise face fines. With building costs increasing and the way things are going, I'm thinking of selling up and of course that will also be heavily taxed. Sure, the sunshine is the main selling point for most, don't underestimate all the other challenges.
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Re: Inital advice needed with family of 4 relocating to spain
Originally Posted by mikelincs
(Post 13346969)
Of course the UK government might help, they really need to get the 'freedom of movement' back, even if we don't fully rejoin, but that should be a priority, especially as it now looks as though Starmer's dayd may well be numbered.
Originally Posted by RyanT
(Post 13346982)
what makes you say that? Granted I know next to nothing about the process but I'm sure thousands of people have made a success of it post brexit ?
Even the Governor of the Bank of England has admitted that brexit has caused MORE damage to the economy... than Covid. Let that sink in. What's even worse though is that although the Covid storm is over... brexit will continue inflicting damage to the economy every single day until the UK can rejoin the single market. Now you have to keep in mind that before brexit you could move to Spain as a UK citizen any time as you were also an EU citizen back then. You had all the rights of a local citizen so you could move and work, study, or retire in Spain any time you wanted to. And not just Spain. You could move and live anywhere in the EU. Got tired of Spain, wanted to give Portugal a try? Off you went. Simply because you wanted to. Not any more. Now that UK citizens are no longer EU citizens but third-country nationals, we have the same rights of someone wanting to move to Spain from Morocco or Mongolia. It's no longer easy, it's no longer automatic, it now requires jumping through hoops like a circus animal and navigating the limited pathways that exist for such people. In the EU you can generally only permit someone (non-EU national) to move to the EU to take up a job position if you cannot find an EU citizen for that job. EU citizens get priority. If that position cannot be filled, then companies can look elsewhere. That's why I think your wife could use her experience and qualifications to apply at an International/British school. Not sure how it would work if you decided to be self-employed though, whether the burden of proving you can be self-sufficient would in fact fall on your wife as the person moving to Spain on a work contract, etc. Maybe someone else can pitch in here. P.S. Have you looked at other EU countries or is it just Spain you're eyeing? Maybe Malta has some easier inroads ("special schemes") for British nationals due to historic ties with the UK? Maybe it's worth moving to... Ireland for some years until you can gain EU citizenship and then use that as a springboard to live elsewhere in the EU? |
Re: Inital advice needed with family of 4 relocating to spain
Originally Posted by astera
(Post 13347001)
As a first step joining the EEA (like Norway, Iceland) would suffice as it would mean being in the single market, which automatically encompasses the "four freedoms" which are indivisible.
The Russians poured tons of money and effort into peddling brexit to the gullible masses solely because it would be devastating for the UK. Even the Governor of the Bank of England has admitted that brexit has caused MORE damage to the economy... than Covid. Let that sink in. What's even worse though is that although the Covid storm is over... brexit will continue inflicting damage to the economy every single day until the UK can rejoin the single market. Now you have to keep in mind that before brexit you could move to Spain as a UK citizen any time as you were also an EU citizen back then. You had all the rights of a local citizen so you could move and work, study, or retire in Spain any time you wanted to. And not just Spain. You could move and live anywhere in the EU. Got tired of Spain, wanted to give Portugal a try? Off you went. Simply because you wanted to. Not any more. Now that UK citizens are no longer EU citizens but third-country nationals, we have the same rights of someone wanting to move to Spain from Morocco or Mongolia. It's no longer easy, it's no longer automatic, it now requires jumping through hoops like a circus animal and navigating the limited pathways that exist for such people. In the EU you can generally only permit someone (non-EU national) to move to the EU to take up a job position if you cannot find an EU citizen for that job. EU citizens get priority. If that position cannot be filled, then companies can look elsewhere. That's why I think your wife could use her experience and qualifications to apply at an International/British school. Not sure how it would work if you decided to be self-employed though, whether the burden of proving you can be self-sufficient would in fact fall on your wife as the person moving to Spain on a work contract, etc. Maybe someone else can pitch in here. P.S. Have you looked at other EU countries or is it just Spain you're eyeing? Maybe Malta has some easier inroads ("special schemes") for British nationals due to historic ties with the UK? Maybe it's worth moving to... Ireland for some years until you can gain EU citizenship and then use that as a springboard to live elsewhere in the EU? was mainly spain due to the in laws living there to be honest. I imagine other EU countries would have the same issues as you've explained above though. Although if Spain is really out of the question, some other countries such as China offer really attractive packages for teachers + their families. Perhaps it's worth while for me to look to speak to lawyer who specialises in these sort of matters to see if it is feasible or not - understanding it seems well above my pay grade. |
Re: Inital advice needed with family of 4 relocating to spain
Some routes have been suggested here, in reality it will always come down to finances, personal skills and expectations and is a lot easier for young singles or the retired with an EU passport. Spain (like much of Europe) is no longer cheap and the world is getting smaller in the sense that more people want to move to the same areas. Unlike 20-30 years ago, these days you actually have to lower your expectations, or are coming from a high cost area with plenty of cash. Even when it comes to taxes and regulations, sometimes you wonder how people survive. I'm currently dealing with another plot of land that my wife owned for many years. We are now selling with a building license that was granted after lots of stress with council, after they changed planning regulations. They now want people to build bigger homes, so the plans had to be increased by 36m2. It took them 2 years and we have 6 weeks to pay fees, or pay fines and of course heavily taxed.
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Re: Inital advice needed with family of 4 relocating to spain
Originally Posted by RyanT
(Post 13346982)
what makes you say that? Granted I know next to nothing about the process but I'm sure thousands of people have made a success of it post brexit ?
Thanks |
Re: Inital advice needed with family of 4 relocating to spain
Originally Posted by RyanT
(Post 13346982)
I'm sure thousands of people have made a success of it post brexit ?
There is no way you can just turn up and look for a job any more. It's just yet another snag that Boris failed to mention. |
Re: Inital advice needed with family of 4 relocating to spain
One possibility is the Digital Nomad Visa but neither of you seem to be working in those kinds of jobs.
The other is maybe you could wait until more info about the 90 day visa-free waiver for Britons working in Spain is released. A caveat is you still have to respect the 90/180 day Schengen rule. Then you could try working for up to three months and if it works out okay maybe the company will sponsor your residency and take you on. It's a slim chance though, you'd need to speak enough Spanish and the company would have to be willing to pay enough for you to get residency. |
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