Re: Spanish dream
 

Apart from Ireland, many countries that don't have English as main language and require a visa are desperate for qualified healthcare workers and even offer free language courses. Getting a visa is not a problem if you are in that line of work.

Re: Spanish dream
 

In Spain I would imagine those empty positions to go to South and Central Americans. Not someone who has to learn complex medical spanish from zero.

Re: Spanish dream
 

I wouldn’t even contemplate working in healthcare in another country, unfortunately I’m trying to leave healthcare 😞

Re: Spanish dream
 

Don't even consider Australia then, its border is shut for the next few years.

Re: Spanish dream
 

Not talking about Spain but look at Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Austria etc. In any case the OP could also work for the NHS in the UK and live in the Republic of Ireland for 5 years if the salary was right. No idea what the husband does but as a couple without kids it's very easy to make money quickly in countries with higher salaries than Spain.

Re: Spanish dream
 

OK, then what type of career?

Re: Spanish dream
 

If you were to reconsider healthcare then it might beworth looking at Gibraltar, even if only as a temporary solution.

Only yesterday I was talking to a nurse from Manchester who now lives in La Duquesa and is working for Cancer Care in Gibraltar.

There are many healthcare workers in Gibraltar who are in a similar position, many are Spanish.

However you could also treat this as a way to live down here whilst exploring other options.

https://gha.gi/

Re: Spanish dream
 

The only sensible reply so far has come from Fredbargate & that is to consider Gibraltar as the B&B one has as much chance of succeeding as the public being told the truth about what has gone on in the past year.

Re: Spanish dream
 

My GF lived in Australia for 7 years. She said living in Spain is much better. Australia is too far. And Ozzie’s are hard work. Most people I know come back after abit as they get lonely. The beauty of Spain is that it is just a two houe
flight away from the UK. Also flights are a good price in comparison to other destinations.

Re: Spanish dream
 

Some good answers already put here. I remember meeting a Korean owner of a hostal (similar to guest house) in Madrid who had done well - she actually expressed astonishment that rents were so low, but this was in 2012-3, after the financial crash. She had found a niche - Korean tourists would do a tour of Europe, and end up spending a couple of nights in Madrid. Her establishment did very well hosting these tourists as she catered to specific Korean needs, for example their breakfast is not found generally in European establishments. Of course this business like others in hospitality would have been hit hard by the pandemic. My point is that as a Korean national she was able to do this, despite coming from a third country. It may pay to speak to an English speaking gestor who will know the hurdles you have to overcome in setting up a business. Plenty of Americans set up businesses in Madrid and Barcelona, so it obviously can be done for non-EU residents.
The biggest hurdle however is finding the niche that you can exploit. It's hard to predict when the tourist numbers will return in sufficiently large quantities, and of course if you are targeting Brits only you may find it too difficult. And of course competition is tough - not just from established hotels and hostales, but from the Airbnb/Homeaway crowd.
Your best source of information/advice will come from existing hotel or hostal managers - but you will need to have fluent Spanish to engage with them in many cases (that's if you can persuade them to pass on their knowledge).

Re: Spanish dream
 

How about Andorra? Small fish in a small pond is better than a small fish in a big pond.

I've got no idea about Andorran visas though.