View Poll Results: Moving to Spain
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Spanish dream

Old Jun 29th 2021, 2:04 pm
  #1  
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Default Spanish dream

Hello, I’m not entirely sure where to start,
My husband and I are wanting to start a new life in costa del sol ( for obvious reasons) . We initially planned to be looking into moving abroad in the next 5+years, but I’ve reached the end of my tether working for NHS & COVID, time to start a fresh before this job finishes me off!!
The ideal plan would be to run a small B&B, but we would need time to find the right location and property. Brexit has left me somewhat confused, do you have any recommendations on how I go about finding out facts about residency, would I be able to keep coming back to the uk to work to keep us financially supported until our new business is up and running? Not sure how this would be affected by tax? Any ideas where I go to seek advice on any of these matters?
You guy’s are my first port of call, I am completely virgin to any knowledge
thanks for any information
Kate
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Old Jun 29th 2021, 2:15 pm
  #2  
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Default Re: Spanish dream

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-spain
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Old Jun 29th 2021, 3:27 pm
  #3  
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Default Re: Spanish dream

First question, are either of you eligible for an Irish (or other) EU passport? Your lives will be a million times easier if you are.

Secondly, I would not run a British type B&B business in Spain, you would be far better off renting out self contained, self catering apartments. We did well out of it for a number of years although it wasn't our only source of income.

I haven't got a clue how many hoops you will have to jump through to achieve your goal but do get professional advice from a lawyer and bear in mind you can no longer apply for residency after you have moved to Spain (ie just turn up, get on with your life and go through the residency process in Spain as UK nationals did in the past) because third country nationals have to apply from their home country. Obviously you will have to apply for some kind of business visa and, I assume, have a business plan which UK nationals did not have to do before Brexit.

It will take a lot of very careful planning.
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Old Jun 29th 2021, 4:18 pm
  #4  
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Default Re: Spanish dream

I'm sorry to say that the days of rocking up in Spain with half an idea to open a business to support yourself are over.

if you want to come and work then you will have to apply for an appropriate visa part of which will be submitting a business plan and proving that you have the qualifications and financial means to establish a business and support it.

The idea of supplementing it with trips back to the UK to work won't fly because in the first 5 years the rules of visas severely limit the time you can spend out of the country, e.g.
  • You must not be outside Spain for more than 6 months within a period of one year.
  • The sum of periods outside Spanish territory during the first 5 years may not exceed 1 year.

Last edited by Notdunroamin; Jun 29th 2021 at 4:30 pm.
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Old Jun 29th 2021, 4:42 pm
  #5  
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Default Re: Spanish dream

Originally Posted by klbkate
Hello, I’m not entirely sure where to start,
My husband and I are wanting to start a new life in costa del sol ( for obvious reasons) . We initially planned to be looking into moving abroad in the next 5+years, but I’ve reached the end of my tether working for NHS & COVID, time to start a fresh before this job finishes me off!!
The ideal plan would be to run a small B&B, but we would need time to find the right location and property. Brexit has left me somewhat confused, do you have any recommendations on how I go about finding out facts about residency, would I be able to keep coming back to the uk to work to keep us financially supported until our new business is up and running? Not sure how this would be affected by tax? Any ideas where I go to seek advice on any of these matters?
You guy’s are my first port of call, I am completely virgin to any knowledge
thanks for any information
Kate
Welcome to the forum.
First off you need to let us know what passports you hold.
If EU then you can move here and get residence and then start your business idea. (more on that later)
If from a 3rd country, pretty much everywhere else in the world, including now the UK you will have to apply for a visa in your country before you can become resident (there is however nothing stopping you from holidaying for 90 days out of every 180) and I would suggest you do this and RESEARCH everything about your choice.

Im going to plump for you being Uk citizens with passports. So go here and read the visa requirements. (this works for all 3rd country anyway)
Visas (FAQ)

You would be looking at the self employed I would think. You will need a good business plan and a wheelbarrow full of money.

Also if British or 3rd country, you may not be able to exchange your driving licences either. At the moment (well after being in the country for 6 months you have to take a Spanish driving test. In spanish). Something that is now biting a lot of people on the rear.

Right now to the B&B. Im not going to say don't do it as its not a bad idea but.

Answer this one question before proceeding.
WOULD YOU OPEN A B&B IN THE UK (or enter country here) AT THE MOMENT, OR IN THE NEXT YEAR?

We looked at this around 3-4 years ago and while its possible, there are many hurdles to overcome (unless you buy an existing business, with licences etc). And there are still hurdles to jump

So you could buy a large country house and plan to turn it into a B&B.
You will need to get licences, the rooms have to be a certain size and standard of fitting, you must have a separate entrance to your living quarters, if you want to provide food that another licence. And all this then depends if the local council will then give you a tourist number (can't run a B&B without one). The tourist licence is the last thing and can be the stumbling block.

But what you need to do is come over and stay at B&B's talk with the owners and get their opinions.
You may also find that this is not something you can fully organise from another country. We were advised to move over, rent a flat and then do the searches (obviously if your are UK you can not do this)
We did this and found that unless you have a separate income stream you will just about break even (one of the owners we are still in contact with runs specialised weekends for artists etc and is always full, he still just about lives ok after costs)
Just for fun. We looked at a place for €180,000 and reckoned it needed another €60,000 to bring it up to standard and to have 6 family rooms. You can write that amount off and we budgeted on around another €80,000 to cover us for the next three years while we built up trade.
That meant we would have €320,000 of expences before you take a cent (and remember if t fails you will have problems selling the place if nobody wants a B&B)
You will also be working 16 hours a day (its not just get up, make breakfast, wave them off and the day is yours) I know as we have done this and owned a cafe and a gift shop all in the Uk where paperwork is easier, the language is familiar.
Oh do you speak Spanish by the way? You will need it if you are not bothering with Brit tourists (or some German, French, Dutch). The Brit tourist is seeming a better option now.

We went down another route but still have the idea on the back burner.

Not too sure the Costa Del Sol is the right area (don't know it that well) but you don't want to be right in the touristy areas anyway. So you will need to be in an area that offers something out the ordinary (can't help here sorry)

As to working in the UK that opens another can of worms, yes you can but with the Visa requirements these days you may have issues (also you cannot be out of Spain for long periods for the first 5 years)
I had planned to this but I was a service engineer who travelled worldwide, so it was no issue for me (until Covid) as I worked for an Italian company anyway.
Tax will be an issue, also NI contributions. Cant help there as you would need professional advice.

Dont take this bit the wrong way but you do know that the world has been shut for the past year or so?
Tourism is at an all time low and I reckon its going to takes years to rebuild.
Have you looked on the web for places to buy? Have you checked the web for places to stay? This will give you more information (its what we did).

We are in the Costa Blanca and there are no Brit tourists here at the moment, just Dutch, French, german and now its the school holidays shed loads of Madrid folks.
Most of these people just want a sunny holiday. We have one hostel and two B&B's in the next town (pop 5000) that cater for walkers, cyclists and climbers.
Only one is still open the other two have closed for good (the hostel is open as its our local bar)

Im not trying to be nasty, but you need to research, we spent four months here over two years, looking at property, talking with builders, B&B owners, local councils etc and we also have family here (and have been visiting the area for about 17 years) We then decided against for now. But that was our choice.

We are now retired (I'm 58 the wife is 57) and we moved over last year. We still may do something in the next year or so, but its easier being here as you get a feel for things.

I hope there is something for you to think about in the above, dreams are good, but you need hard facts to turn them into reality.
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Old Jun 29th 2021, 5:01 pm
  #6  
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Default Re: Spanish dream

Thanks so much, this is real food for thought, we haven’t done any research as of yet, I just stumbled across this forum and thought I’d try and find out where to start,
Your reply has been extremely useful and I shall go away and have a ‘proper’ think about things, as we are both UK citizens with uk passports, perhaps this won’t be achievable at this present time and I should look for a different career in the UK instead
I just long for a better life tbh and naively I thought I could find this in Spain
i really do appreciate all the information, thank you
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Old Jun 29th 2021, 6:08 pm
  #7  
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Default Re: Spanish dream

Originally Posted by klbkate
Thanks so much, this is real food for thought, we haven’t done any research as of yet, I just stumbled across this forum and thought I’d try and find out where to start,
Your reply has been extremely useful and I shall go away and have a ‘proper’ think about things, as we are both UK citizens with uk passports, perhaps this won’t be achievable at this present time and I should look for a different career in the UK instead
I just long for a better life tbh and naively I thought I could find this in Spain
i really do appreciate all the information, thank you
Just a thought but have you considered Portugal? The criteria for moving to Portugal is less stringent, they have a lower minimum income requirement and also have free healthcare for all residents.

I still wouldn't touch B&B with a barge pole but you could either rent out part of your house in Portugal as a self contained holiday unit or buy a place in the UK and live on the income from that and go the non lucrative visa route. You would have much more free time and not be tied down with such a hands on business.



Last edited by Lou71; Jun 29th 2021 at 6:10 pm.
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Old Jun 29th 2021, 9:34 pm
  #8  
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Default Re: Spanish dream

Originally Posted by klbkate
Thanks so much, this is real food for thought, we haven’t done any research as of yet, I just stumbled across this forum and thought I’d try and find out where to start,
Your reply has been extremely useful and I shall go away and have a ‘proper’ think about things, as we are both UK citizens with uk passports, perhaps this won’t be achievable at this present time and I should look for a different career in the UK instead
I just long for a better life tbh and naively I thought I could find this in Spain
i really do appreciate all the information, thank you
If your a registered nurse you'd find emigrating to Canada/Auz/New Zealand easier than trying to set up a B&B in the EU. Lot of pressure on NHS staff, I'm a retired ward manager, the wife retired a band 8 mental health nursing (40 years in the job) and got called back March 2020 but things are levelling off now and will get better. Maybe change hospital? Reduce hours, sideways move into a different clinical area?. Even move to a different part of the UK?

Lots of folk come here with the same idea about 'living the Spanish dream' to open a bar/restaurant/B&B/camp site/yoga retreat etc but those days of having the freedom to come here and blow all your money on a 'dream' are over...Brexit could in fact save your cash going rapidly down the pan.

The planet has experienced a global pandemic, things have changed and won't be back to 'normal' for many years but that should not stop all of us focusing on how we live and what we can do to improve our lot in life.

Good luck with your search for the dream, its out there somewhere you just need to stop, think, prioritise and implement your dream plan
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Old Jun 29th 2021, 9:43 pm
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Default Re: Spanish dream

If you have €500,000 laying around you can apply for a golden visa..
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Old Jun 30th 2021, 10:09 am
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Default Re: Spanish dream

True but a GV doesn't allow you to work i dont think.
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Old Jun 30th 2021, 10:29 am
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Default Re: Spanish dream

Originally Posted by frigilianafreddy
True but a GV doesn't allow you to work i dont think.
You are able to work and don't even have to be resident in Spain. Non-lucrative would be without work but in any case the OP seems to be young enough and probably just needs a career change.

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Old Jun 30th 2021, 12:31 pm
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Default Re: Spanish dream

Originally Posted by klbkate
Thanks so much, this is real food for thought, we haven’t done any research as of yet, I just stumbled across this forum and thought I’d try and find out where to start,
Your reply has been extremely useful and I shall go away and have a ‘proper’ think about things, as we are both UK citizens with uk passports, perhaps this won’t be achievable at this present time and I should look for a different career in the UK instead
I just long for a better life tbh and naively I thought I could find this in Spain
i really do appreciate all the information, thank you

Your dream is doable, just like any others.
Planning and research is the only way to ensure some success.

If you want out of the Uk for a complete change, I would also suggest Australia, NZ or Canada as you would have no issues getting a job in healthcare. In fact if its just the two of you (no kids) you would fulfil the points for Australia easily.
And if you wanted your other half could run a small B&B if they wanted. Internal Tourism in Australia is always in high demand.
And with the current situation I would imagine more so for the next couple of years.

Keep that dream going, make some holiday plans for Spain (come in the winter, its a different place, believe me) and see what happens.

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Old Jun 30th 2021, 1:27 pm
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Default Re: Spanish dream

Originally Posted by Barriej
Your dream is doable, just like any others.
Planning and research is the only way to ensure some success.

If you want out of the Uk for a complete change, I would also suggest Australia, NZ or Canada as you would have no issues getting a job in healthcare. In fact if its just the two of you (no kids) you would fulfil the points for Australia easily.
And if you wanted your other half could run a small B&B if they wanted. Internal Tourism in Australia is always in high demand.
And with the current situation I would imagine more so for the next couple of years.

Keep that dream going, make some holiday plans for Spain (come in the winter, its a different place, believe me) and see what happens.
Why only those 3 countries (Australia, NZ or Canada)? Apart from the fact that they are all very different (climate etc.) and far away, the OP is probably looking at sun sea and cheaper sangria anyway. Even healthcare workers in Australia are overworked and underpaid and struggle with the house prices across Australia today. It's easier and cheaper to work in an EU country that offers a good salary work/life balance for now and enjoy Spain for holidays. At least that allows you to be close to Spain and in 5 years you won't have the hassle with Visas etc.
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Old Jun 30th 2021, 1:30 pm
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Default Re: Spanish dream

Unfortunately Australia is not a possibility, I need to be able to visit my family when and if I want, the cost and time to travel back to the uk is far more practical from Spain. We have been visiting Nerja for the past 10 years and have only ever been out of season, as you say, this is going to take a lot of research, at the moment I’m feeling rather deflated as I honestly can’t see it being possible, unless I have a massive lottery win 🤣
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Old Jun 30th 2021, 1:38 pm
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Default Re: Spanish dream

Originally Posted by Moses2013
Why only those 3 countries (Australia, NZ or Canada)? Apart from the fact that they are all very different (climate etc.) and far away, the OP is probably looking at sun sea and cheaper sangria anyway. Even healthcare workers in Australia are overworked and underpaid and struggle with the house prices across Australia today. It's easier and cheaper to work in an EU country that offers a good salary work/life balance for now and enjoy Spain for holidays. At least that allows you to be close to Spain and in 5 years you won't have the hassle with Visas etc.
The problem is that those EU countries speak a foreign language in which I would guess the OP does not making it very hard to find employment.
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