What are the common challenges people face when moving to Spain? Here are my top 5 challenges and solutions to point you in the right direction and learn even more.
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Moving to Spain can be a challenge.
- Do I need a visa?
- How do I transport my pets?
- Is there a house big enough for my priceless antique furniture?
- Where’s the best place to live?
- Which documents do I need?
- Do I need a handsome Spanish lawyer?
- Where do they have the most wine?
Where do I start?, Well, I’m going to tell you the top 5 challenges of moving to Spain, and their solutions.
A lot does depend on your individual circumstances, so each time you see these words…
It depends!
There will be a link to a YouTooSpain video or live show with even more information for your circumstances.
Number 1
Learning to speak Spanish proper!
This is a big challenge for a lot of people, especially those who are retired and moving to areas where there are many people who speak English. There are many ways to learn Spanish, and you need to find the method that’s best for you so that you stick with it.
- Some people need repetition.
- Some need to use an app that has games and gives me points.
- Some need to be surrounded by Spaniards.
- Some need repetition.
- Some need a private one-to-one tutor.
- Some need repetition.
One thing is for sure. You have to keep it up, especially when you get to Spain. Don’t stop learning, and it really really really helps to keep a little notebook with you so you can write down words you’ll be using regularly that relate to your everyday life.
Number 2
Finding the right place to live.
- Do you want to be up north?
- Or down south?
- Do you want to be on the coast?
- Or inland?
- Do you prefer a big city, a town, a village or to be out in the countryside?
- Do you want neighbours?
Be careful you’re not going to be too isolated from local amenities like doctors, chemists & food shops. You might need regular prescriptions, and if you always have to drive to restaurants and cafes, either you or your partner will need to stay sober for the drive home, or you’ll spend a lot on taxis.
How about making a checklist?
The big questions though are these
- Do you really want to live where you think you want to live?
- Does your other half want to move as much as you do?
- Where should you look for houses?
The best place to do that is right here in Spain. It’s alright looking through the big websites to get an idea of the sort of house you want, but those sites aren’t always an accurate up to date reflection of what’s available.
You need to speak to local estate agents and local people, and before that you need to visit Spain enough to see which area feels right, and what suits you best. Stay in different houses at different times of year. Some places can be very different in the winter. Find out when your relatives want to visit, they might not like the heat very much. And make sure you’re within easy reach of the airport they can fly into.
Number 3
Timing!
- Timing all aspects of your move can be a huge challenge!
- When should you sell your house?
- There are things like Capital Gains Tax to think about.
Which tax year will you start paying taxes in Spain? And will you be taxed in two different countries?
And there’s another…
Planning is vital if you want to get everything done in the right order and at the right time for your circumstances. Some documents are time sensitive. So take some professional advice, find out what order you need to do things in, make a plan, get your ducks in a row
Number 4
Getting your visa.
The first thing to do is check which passport you have, and your partner, and also whether either of you can get a passport from an EU country like Ireland.
If you or your partner have access to an EU passport, then you both have the right to live and work in Spain.
If neither you nor your partner are EU citizens, you’ll need a visa to live in Spain.
Which visa you need depends on whether you want to be employed or self-employed, be a student, be a digital nomad, take some time off work, retire, or invest in property, businesses or shares in Spain. There are lots of options.
Part of the challenge of getting a visa is making sure you meet the financial requirements.
Ask yourself is there someone that can help me with my visa?That’s another part of the challenge. You can ask on social media, but you might get 50 different answers because everyone has different circumstances. Sometimes even the smallest thing can have a big effect.
You can also employ a specialist to help you with your visa, and with your residency too when you get here. Finding the right person for that can be a challenge too.
Of course if you watch the live shows on Saturday mornings you’ll know that our very good friend Chris from Upsticks is just the man for the job.
Number 5
Moving house.
A big question is: what should you take with you? If you’re a hoarder, this could be the biggest challenge of the lot. Most people bring way too much, for many reasons. Of course you must keep the things that are precious to you, but there are many reasons for getting rid of most of your belongings before you travel.
Hold on tight, it’s a big list!
- There’s the cost of removals for a start, you could be paying thousands for a large lorry.
If you’re moving from the UK there could be high customs charges, extra paperwork. - You might need to put your belongings in storage there or here if you’re going to be looking for a house.
- There are huge differences in price and reliability between removals companies so choosing the right one can be stressful.
- You might choose a house that’s much smaller or very different in style from your previous home so your furniture doesn’t fit.
- You might move into a village with narrow streets and no parking or access to your new, very small doorway, your belongings might get damaged on the way.
- And what about your pets?
If you have pets, you might have to plan even further ahead and look at all of the options for getting them to Spain. It can play a big part in the timing, the route, and the cost of your journey. And there are limits to the number of animals you can send with pet transportation companies, so you’ll need to do your research there.
You’ll need to visit your vet and find out the correct procedures, and investigate what inoculations and passports Spain will need when you get there.
If you plan on taking my little furball on the plane, then check which airlines allow that, whether you’ll need a carrier, and whether your pet carrier can be in the cabin or in the hold.
Even though it can be a challenge to move to Spain, there are solutions, and there’s always YouTooSpain and its guests to help you every step of the way.
Any more questions? Then ask in the comments below. Or you can ask the experts live on Saturday mornings.
Peace & Love! Let’s dance!
Article by Skatz
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