Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

I am going to attempt to emigrate to Spain post brexit. I already have my NIE number and have a small deposit put down on a small casa de campo which I will eventually live in. My plan is to move there permanently with my Gf and daughter who is nearly ready to start school. I eventually will have an Irish passport but with covid and brexit I am looking at a 12-18 month wait just to sign on the foreign birth register , so it’s looking like I’m going to have to wing it in the mean time just as I and many other expats have done in the past only this time with brexit things are going to be a little more complicated. I plan to update this thread on any hurdles i come across on my way.

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

The biggest problem you have will be acquring a Spanish driving licence if you dont speak Spanish.

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

How will you earn your daily bread ?

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

I speak castellano. I have lived in Spain before. I never had a nie previously or registered at the town hall for anything. Just took a contract out and stayed there until my savings ran out. This time I’m going to do it as official as I can. The driving licence thing I am convinced that I don’t have to go through all that messing around. I was pulled over by police last time I lived there and they never said a thing even though I was there for over 6 months. As for money , I will be using my savings and money I get in rent for a property in the UK. Eventually once I am settled I have a business plan that I hope to set up.

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

If I have to take the test in 6 months time then I will have to do that. It’s a case of getting out there to see what happens.

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

Good that you have a plan. When I lived in Bulgaria I saw so many Brits showing up and buying property with no plans, no prospects and no chance. Most of them left after a year or two.

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

I don't see how you could do the same kind of thing again after Brexit, the length of your stay in Spain can be checked with a passport scan at the airport, passport stamps, and ETIAS when that is rolled out.

As your NIE is for life, when you finally apply for a green NIE card with an Irish passport and find out you've overstayed with the British passport linked to the same NIE they might turn you down.

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

Hopefully I have my Irish passport by the time the ETIAS is in play. Who knows. I don’t think the Spanish authorities are going to go out of their way to make it hard for potential British expats. If they do they do. I have to be prepared for what ever happens. The first thing that I’ll be doing from next week is booking my dogs into the vets to get their European health certificate so I can travel to Spain with them. One of my dogs actually already has a EU passport as he was imported from Hungary a few years ago. As soon as I get my certificates I’ll book my ferry.

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

I hear that Bulgaria is offering Brits into the Schengen zone if you buy a
property and register to pay tax and have the right health insurance. I had a look online to clarify this are there are solicitors offering this service to potential expats post brexit.

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

I lived in Bulgaria for many years and I liked it. I was well integrated and Bulgarians often took me for one of them - or a Macedonian or Serbian. ("Your Bulgarian sounds like you are from outside the country") I sometimes regert vthat I did not stay and take out citizenship.

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

I applied to the Irish Registry of Foreign Births in April 2018 and finally obtained my Irish passport in October 2020. It was a long wait but what a wonderful moment it was when it finally arrived! They are still inundated with applications at the FBR so I'm afraid it's a long process. Good luck!

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

They aren't currently accepting any new applications under the Covid restrictions. When they eventually restart, the backlog and pent-up demand will probably stretch the processing time to 3-4 years.

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

Oh no, I'm really sorry to hear that. As you say, demand for Irish passports is sky high and I know of several people in the application process rights now. Then there are all the US nationals applying!

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

Sorry, I've noticed a typo, I first applied to the FBR in April 2019 NOT April 2018.

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

I read they'll supply a translator.

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

Where did you read that? If you cannot substantiate your source of such information, please do not post.

There is too much fake news around without this forum adding to it.

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

I am guessing this is what they are talking about, I may be wrong but it's the only thing I have read re possible help to those struggling with residency.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/u...nals-in-the-eu

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

FWIW I've heard the polar opposite, the Spanish driving test is all in Spanish and translators are NOT allowed so there you go.

I agree with Fred, there is already way too much rumour and speculation about so without a link to authoritative information everything must be labelled as such, or best not posted in the first place.

If you want wall to wall BS then stick to Facebookl!!!!!!

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

There is help via charities per link I put on to get residency not driving licences. That was up to the 31 December not sure if its still available.

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

:thumbs_up:

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

OK all keep your Alan's on!
https://www.expatica.com/es/living/t...icense-107661/

They don't supply you do in some areas. I was told by someone after we were chatting about it. They do here in Canada for Chinese learning to drive.

Its down towards the bottom.

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

I have seen this article before and noted it said the practical can be done in English but my wife when she signed up was told this was not official line so I have no idea if its true. Someone at work claimed that insurance companies can get out of any claims if the driver was unable to report accidents in Spanish.

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

More fake news.:huh:

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

In Madrid and Barcelona there seems to be plenty who offer in English, both theoretical and practical.

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

I have no idea of the validity just one of those things I heard someone say. Anyway far as I am concerned it seems reasonable to expect someone who has a Spanish driving licence to be able to communicate with other drivers and the authorities in Spanish. In UK everyone has to do their licence in English and I expect the police would be fairly suspicious of someone holding a UK licence who couldn't say a word in English.

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

I would imagine they would offer some kind of help considering the amount of British residing in Spain. Even if it was in full Spanish is it really that hard?. I won’t be changing mine until I absolutely have too. Spanish police post Covid will have more or their plate to sort out than the English expat who hasn’t changed their licence in time.

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

I wouldnt be so sure , motoring offences generate easy income which Spain is desperate for, traffic cops wont be put onto other duties , learn sufficient Spanish is the way , most people have nothing else to do at the moment anyway so it could be a good time to get stuck in .

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

It seems until 2014 other languages were possible in UK. In Germany a lot of truck drivers have a German licence and don't speak German. Many Romanians are cheaper and test is possible in Romanian, Russian.

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

Just put your pitchfork down for a sec

Here's another site.

https://practicatest.com/en/getting-...ain-in-english

🙄
I was simply trying to be helpful to the original question.

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

One thing is for sure you have to take mandatory lessons in Spain. You cant just sign for exam as an individual it can only be done through a licenced school. I would imagine you would require Spanish to just participate in the school but who knows. It is not cheap. Cost my wife about 1.000 euros for 3 month course and test.

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

Let’s see what happens then. I heard it’s a 200 euro fine if they choose to enforce it. I can speak Spanish anyway so can’t see it being that much of a big deal. I also have my motorcycle licence which I would of liked to have been able to use.

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

Reading your original post you said you will try and remain under the radar until you acquire your Irish passport. But how are you going to get healthcare during this period and more importantly neither you nor your children will get the vaccination. Is that wise??

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

Can you drive from the UK and enter Spain at the moment without existing legal residency?

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

it’s looking like I won’t be able to get there for a few months anyway as border closure and Covid has made things abit more complicated. I spoke with a property agent yesterday and put a deposit down on a property I can stay in as soon as I get out there. Probably looking at March or April now.

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

Not sure if I would get the vaccination regardless. If I absolutely have to in order to travel or what ever I will but if I don’t I won’t.

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

You did what? !!! I do hope you at least mean a rental property even then you have taken a massive risk , many estate agents will not be around in March/April and those who are left make UK estate agent look like angels .

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

Yes, you are right. It is impossible to enter Spain now if you are not a resident and I would imagine that will remain until most of the vaccination project is complete. Given that most municipalities are cancelling Easter celebrations they probably will right off Easter for tourists and wait until summer but who knows. I would imagine that it is more sensible to get yourself and family vaccinated in UK before moving to Spain as you wont recieve in Spain if you are not legally resident plus if your child was going to start Spanish schools then that cannot be done until they have been signed off by a Spanish doctor so again this means official residency

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

I wouldn't pay any money up front for anything for the simple reason it will most likely not be returned if there are problems. I assume it was for a rental not as a down payment on a purchase?

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

That makes sense.

Only 200 euros. Peanuts. I wanted to secure it because it is in the country. And in this village property is being rented out very quickly as a lot of Spanish are leaving the cities for the country.

Re: Moving to Spain post brexit.
 

Fair enough 200 euros is very small.