Spanish Residence - information about living and buying property in Spain

Useful information

Visa information

Before moving to Spain it is wise to check if you require a visa or residence permit. Foreign nationals are freely permitted to buy a property in Spain, and most can use it for three months in succession, and for a maximum of six months each calendar year (unless you are touring the country and staying in several different areas for short periods) - if you wish to stay longer you would need to apply for an extension or a residence permit.

All foreigners require a residence permit to live permanently in Spain, and most non EEA nationals will require a visa just to enter the country. if you plan to reside permanently or work in Spain - it would be wise to contact the Spanish consulate for further information. Working in Spain If you wish to work in Spain - your first port of call should be the Spanish consulate. An EEA resident technically does not need a work permit to work in Spain, but you would require a residence card (usually granted for periods of five years), whereas a non EEA resident would require both a work permit and residence card.

Starting a business

First of all, unless you speak fluent Spanish you will find this task a difficult one, and you should firstly consider employing a translator. Non EEA nationals must make an investment of around $100,000 to obtain a work permit, and may be conditional of he employment of a minimum number of EEA nationals.

Please be very careful when setting up a business in Spain - there are many companies and individuals who have fallen into the trap to conmen claiming they can help the process through a lot quicker than usual. It is wise to appoint the help of an established Spanish lawyer who understands the processes.

Traveling with pets

If you plan to take a pet to Spain, it is important that you check to make sure you have the correct papers, information and ensure that you understand the process (and do remember, if traveling via another country - you will need to adhere to their regulations as well). The good news is that restrictions have now been lifted on traveling with pets in certain countries, and "passports" can be obtained providing the animal has undergone a health check with satisfactory results. Your pet will need to be vaccinated from Rabies, have a blood test, and be fitted with a microchip. There are limitations which you will need to investigate such as maximum number of pets, age, registration, area regulations and so on. Regular "re-checks" are necessary, and there are certain restrictions from which destination you can leave from to go overseas. Information about this can be found from the Department for Environment.

Home entertainment

Television in Spain is of course mainly broadcast in the native language, so unless you have a good command of Spanish, the chances are you will be looking at other ways to receive British television programmes. The system used is Spain is PAL - the exact format we use in the U. K., however the sound is carried on a different frequency - so you will need to check with the manufacturer to see if your television set supports this. If not, do not worry too much, as conversion sets are available at quite a low price.

The rules above may differ however if you are looking at using a decoder to watch satellite TV - the rules about satellite usage in Spain are changing at this moment in time, and I suggest strongly you speak to your current satellite subscriber, or contact on e of the many English owned satellite installation companies based in Spain.

Finance and wills

Opening an account in Spain is a fairly straight forward process, and both residents and non residents can apply. It is always better if you have a friend or relative who can take you to a branch and introduce you, as usually this can be set-up while you wait. If not application forms can be obtained, or you could opt to apply for an account using communication methods such as post or fax.

It is a fact of life that most people need a will to ensure their loved ones receive what they are entitled to in the event of a death. This is of particular importance if you are looking to reside in Spain, because if a foreigner dies intestate in Spain (without a will), under Spanish law the estate may automatically disposed of. A will from the native country can suffice, but the process is considerably slower as that country's regulations (such as probate, and communication overseas) has to take place. It is highly recommended to get a Spanish will to prevent complications and speed up the process.

Cost of living

There are so many myths and exaggerations made about the cost of living in Spain - and this is just a guide to help you understand some of the basic costs associated with living in Spain. There is no average salary in Spain, as this dramatically changes from region to region - and can range from €8000 to €12,000 per annum.

Overall, the cost of living in Spain is less than that of countries like France, Germany and of course the U. K. It would be fair to say that a couple with two children should have an income of circa €1000 per month to cover costs (allowing for rent, food, entertainment, utility bills, insurance & clothing).

Electricity and gas

In Spain, one of the most important factors about your electricity usage is that you have to determine what you will actually use on a day to day basis. Once you have calculated this - you need to obtain a contract from the local electricity supplier for the correct amount of electricity to be passed to your home (power rating). This of course has an effect on cost - but please do not deliberately under specify - as these supplies are supplied with an automated cut-off if exceeded for a period of time. Spanish electricity is generated at 220 volts - Most U. K. appliances with be compatible with this supply and by utilizing adaptor plugs to convert the Spanish electrical sockets will suffice (and of course these are relatively inexpensive and widely available) - but if your move is a permanent one, it may be just as well to have your electrical items re-wired.

In Spain, power cuts can be quite frequent, and a UPS for computers users, or surge protectors for most electrical items could be worth investigating. There are not many mains gas supplies in Spain - these are usually only found in major cities, so gas is usually obtained from "gas cylinders or bottles". If you are fortunate to have a mains gas supply, you will need to contact the company to arrange for contracts and to get it switched on. using a gas bottle is pretty straight forward, and can last a family of four up-to 6 weeks, but remember that they are heavy and tend to run out at the most inconvenient times - so plan ahead.

Postal service

There is one domestic mail rate in Spain, and most cost are quite low. If you reside in a apartment - the likelihood is that your mail will be deposited into your mailbox (and do make sure that it is secure). Most areas do have a door to door postal services, but in some of the more remote regions, t may be necessary to collect mail form the local post office.

Post boxes in Spain are typically yellow, and can be found mostly anywhere - in some cities there will be two slots, one for domestic and another for international. At the post office - you can find special delivery mailboxes (usually red) which can offer a speedier delivery service (this you should check beforehand, and find out the costs). In the more rural areas, it may be more difficult to find a post box, a good rule is that most post boxes can be found at the post office or railway station. As in the UK, services such as recorded and registered mail are widely available. Parcels can be sent internationally as well, however there are weight restrictions which should be checked beforehand. It is advisable to send parcels via postal exprés EMS service, not only is this service one of the most reliable - overseas packages usually arrives in 2-3 days, and domestic parcels within 24 hours (with international delivery -check if this applies to your particular destination first)

Local and social customs

When you are formally introduced - you should greet the other party with buenos dias (good day), buenas tardes (good afternoon) or buenas noches (good evening) if you are going to bed or leaving at night and shake hands.

Male and female acquaintances kiss each other, usually on both cheeks (if a lady expect a kiss from you she will offer you her cheek). If you are having a meal and are offered a glass of wine, wait until your host makes a toast (salud!) before taking a drink.

Driving and owning a car in Spain

The minimum age to drive a car in Spain is 18, and the minimum age for a motorcycle (up-to 50cc) is 14.Non residents can drive on their international licence, and can drive a Spanish registered vehicle for up-to six months each calendar year. Spanish residents however must hold a full Spanish driving licence.

As expected, vehicles must be insured when entering Spain, and the "basic levels" of insurance are the same of those in the U.K. For further information on roadside assistance, personal injury cover and liabilities - talk to your insurance company. The good news is, that if you wish to insure yourself in Spain with a Spanish company, the larger and well know companies (such as Direct line) offer some of the lowest premiums in the EU.

If you are not taking your own vehicle to Spain, again you will be pleased to know that car rental companies in Spain are generally the cheapest in Europe (due to the high number of companies competing for the business) . It is highly recommended that you check that the hire company's price is including IVA (tax), insurance cover is adequate and that you have no restrictions on the distances you travel.

Buying a new car in Spain is a good experience for most people from the UK as car prices and fuel costs are substantially lower than that back home. You can buy a Spanish registered car as a non resident providing you have a property in Spain, or you are renting a home in Spain for one year and over, or if you are registered as an inhabitant of your municipality. Regulation can very from province to province, so again it is a better idea to check beforehand. Second hand or used cars (de segunda mano) are far more expensive than used cars in the UK and most of the surrounding EU countries. If you decide to purchase a used car in Spain It is important to check the following:

Does it have a current IVA certificate
That it has not been involved in a major accident
The chassis number tallies with the registration document
That you receive the transfer of ownership document
The seller de-registers the car at the local traffic department

If you are happy that these processes, and/or any other checks are satisfactory - you then must register the car within 30 days

If you decide to sell a car in Spain, you first must obtain and complete a transfer of ownership document (as mentioned above). Transfer tax is also applicable - and varies depending on market value, age and so on. This is usually paid by the buyer as most "sellers" include this in the car price (and is the sellers responsibility) - this is an important consideration before you set a final price for your vehicle.

As in most countries - there is a form of Road Tax, in Spain this is called impuesto municipal sobree vehiculos de tracción mecánica. Tax levels are set by individual municipalities, and is mostly based on horsepower of the vehicle. this is paid to the local authority (usually between March and May)

Education

The academic year in Spain starts from September and finishes mid -June. School times can range depending on the area or region you are in. Some schools operate a very similar time frame as that in the UK (9am until l4 pm with one hour for lunch), where e other more traditional regions stop between the hours of 1 and 3.30 pm for the afternoon siesta period, and then return to school until 5.30pm.

In Spain, State education (escuela pública) is free, but like most European countries, parents are required to pay for school books, supplies for extra curricular activities such as sports and art.

School starts with nursery or pre-school at the age of 4 or 5. Compulsory education begins at six years within a primary school and lasts for 8 years. At the age of 14 students will receive a certificate which then determines the course of their future education. Children who receive a high mark get awarded a titulo de graduado escolar certificate and may attend a higher secondary school to study for their baccalaureate. The remaining children can attend a program specialising in training for specific careers.

In order to place your child or children into a Spanish school there are some considerations and processes you should note:
* Interview will be required
* An examination of the child's Spanish knowledge
* A copy of the child's education record is required using a process called co validation
* The school that you child attends has to be within a certain distance of your place of residence (lists of local schools can be obtained form the local Town halls or Ministry of Education office)
* You will be required to supply the child(s) birth certificate, passport, proof of immunisation, proof of residence and proof of con validation

Private education schools (escuela privada) are also widely available, but prices can vary from region to region. It is worth checking how much time within International schools the children spend learning the native tongue - as some schools only offer Spanish lessons twice a week as part of their curriculum.

For further information you should contact the Spanish Embassy or British Embassy

Healthcare and retirement

Not only is the climate in Spain one of the healthiest in Europe, it's health service is excellent one of the lowest costs per head. There is a public health care system in Spain offering free or low cost care to those contributing towards Spanish social security (including the family and retirees). If you are not entitled to healthcare, it is strongly recommended that you opt for private cover, as you will be unable to gain residence without it.

There of course are new laws and changes being made with the onset of the European Union and we would strongly advise you speak to the British embassy to verify healthcare issues prior to making a permanent move to another country. The other good news about the health in Spain is average life expectancy. The Spanish in fact are classed as one of the world's healthiest race of people, with male expectancy to be around 75, and female around 80, the highest in the EU. This is partly due to the low number of heart disease cases (again dietary factors such as olive oil, red wine etc.. play a part). The way of life with reduced stress also is a major contributor to this healthier lifestyle. Do not become complacent however, as the sun is fierce in the summer months - and can cause a sever case of sunburn if not treated with caution.

Before your journey to Spain (particularly if you are looking to reside in the country) it is advisable to have a health check and find out the generic name for any prescribed medication (as it varies country to country). If you have preferred non prescription medication - it may be advisable to take this with you (as it may not be readily available). Details of adequate health cover for short periods (such as 4 weeks) can be found at your local post office, or most health insurance companies.

If you require permanent healthcare (as you looking to take residence) private cover is the way forward (and proof of this will be required when applying for residency), once your application for residency is granted, and you are contributing towards Spanish social security, you and your family should be entitled to free or subsidised medical & dental treatment, if you however, receive a state pension from another EEA country however, you should be entitled to this service (again you must check this with your solicitor at the time). Once this is granted, you will be issued with a social security card to show you are a member of INSULAD (the Spanish equivalent of Britain's NHS).

The number of state retirement homes are few and far between, and many foreigners end up returning home. It is advisable to plan ahead for this if you are thinking of taking up permanent residence in Spain - as there are private homes that can cater for your needs (of course at a cost).