I am moving to Spain in 2 months for good. Has anyone got any advised as this is a big move.?

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tucksie

Be warned, if you register as a citizen and are under the pensionable age you will not get free health service and if you come back to the UK you will be denied it also. Don't register in Spain and leave your options open and make sure a relative will allow the use of their address in case of a medical emergency.

manchester_babe_30

my mum and dad moved to Spain 2 years ago,sold their house,belongings,EVERYTHING,

she liked it at first,but then i guess the holiday period ran out,and it kinda hit my mum that this was it,she needed to find work,
it isn't easy,you cant walk into the local job centre and fill out a form,...you got forms after form,and guess it does help if you speak the lingo,

anyhow to cut a long story short,she spend more time flying from here and Spain,i thought she`d never left,within the year they was back home,besides being homesick,there is too many Brits in Spain looking for the same good life,so the competition is hard for jobs,

good luck and i hope it works out,

petal

Try these 2 links I have added. They are forums for expats living in Spain so someone may be able to advise you that has already been through it. They will also come in usefull if you think of anything else between now and when you move (even when you are in Spain actually). Good luck with the move! x

a lady

if you aren't moving to a place where there are a lot of Brits or tourist in the winter (such as galicia, austrias, valencia etc) you have it pretty easy finding a job as a English tutor.... don't worry so much about what people say about health care, if have an emergency the social security in public hospitals will attend you for free (lines are longer then in private clinics but just as effective). it is true that the life style is more clam and people take their time to do things and this can be annoying to cover job forms or whatever but believe me that the day to day is a lot better due to that ;).... try to learn Spanish, very important ( the same if a Spaniard moves to the USA or the UK they should learn to speak English) because not everyone speaks our language... accept the local customs, such as giving two kisses when you meet someone (one on each cheek).... to meet new people try taking courses, going out for tapas, etc.. good luck in Spain i hope you like it

rose1

Be prepared to have some patience, everywhere you go the Spanish have a completely different attitude to us Brits. I am NOT MOANING, but they do take their time so if you aren't a person with patience you had better acquire it quickly. Bureaucracy is very long winded, so it will help enormously if you speak Spanish.
if you are retired you should have no problem but if you are seeking work then you will be joining a very long line of other Brits looking for the good life here. it's tough, not impossible but adventurous. Keep an open mind, after all if it doesn't work out you could always move on somewhere else. You obviously have an adventurous spirit to move to another country, good luck to you, you will be full filling a dream thousands only think about.

suzi

It depends where you are going in Spain and your personal circumstances but the main thing is not to cut all your ties in the UK straight away. Other than that the following may help....
Don't throw your money at the first place you find.
If you intend to buy a house then rent first to make sure you are in the right area for you.
If you don't already speak Spanish then take a crash course before you leave the UK
Get the E121 form (from the UK as well as your EHIC to start with) and then go and register at your local public health centre - you are entitled to free health care in Spain if you work
It really depends if you are financially independent or not. If you have to work then you will need your NIE (social security number) which you also need to buy a property.
I am not sure how it works at the moment as they seem to change what you need all the time. I live in Ibiza and this season you needed to prove you had an offer of work before you could get your NIE but last year you could just turn up and ask for one.
Get a Spanish sim card so people can call you (estate agents, possible employers, new friends etc).
Don't give up at the first hurdle, things are slower in Spain the bureaucracy and the way of life but you get used to it.
Integrate with the locals, they know the people in the know and will help if you make the effort to get to know them.

Finally have fun!!!! (and pack some sun cream for the summer months) Good Luck

JillPinky

I moved to Spain just over 3 years ago with my husband. I must admit I wouldn't return to the U.K. from choice, but it is not all rosy here. There is a lot to think about. For instance, are you of pensionable age ? If you are, then that would be better because you will be able to get health care here. If not, then you must consider taking out a private health insurance. This is much cheaper than in the U.K. Have you thought about the Inheritance Tax, quite complicated, but very very important. You do need to read up on this. I can give you lots of information, both good and not so good, and will be more than happy to. Email me if you want any further information. Your age group and whether you will be coming over with children should influence whatever decisions you make.

Louise

Me and the hubby lived there for 4 years, we owned a restaurant which was long hours and hard work.
Spain is great if you can afford to live the lifestyle and NOT have to work. I met lots of people who sold everything they owned in the UK to settle in Spain, ( most of them bought bars, big mistake). It really is not that easy, and most of those people lost
every penny and returned to the UK.
If you can afford not to sell up here in the UK then do it, because once the holiday period is over you will find it impossible to get back on the property ladder here.
Don't trust anyone, the english or the spanish.
Spain is great for the kids as they are not materialistic. The spanish love the kids and everything is done as a family.
If you want something done no matter how small it will be done MANANA( manyarna!).
Good luck to you, i hope it works out

Dave

Wear sunscreen!!

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