Hoping to move to the island (caleta) next year.
Coming out again in march.
Any advice wold be great.
Hello and welcome to the Forum. What kind of advice are you looking for? :)
Any thing really, problems encountered, good ideas about moving.
Where to get furniture where to get tv/Internet what about phones etc etc.
Quote from: 31shadows on October 10, 2012, 17:45:02 PM
Any thing really, problems encountered, good ideas about moving.
Where to get furniture where to get tv/Internet what about phones etc etc.
The main thing before you start is to consider the following.
New residency rules 2012
People planning to move permanently to Spain and make their home in the sun must meet new
rules to qualify for residency.
The Spanish Government has issued new residency requirements for all EU citizens – including
Britons – who intend to remain to remain for longer than three months.
When applying for residency in Spain, EU citizens may be required to produce evidence they have
the means to support themselves and their families.
And under the changed requirements they may also be asked to prove they have private or public
healthcare insurance.
It is the right of all EU citizens, citizens of countries party to the European Economic Area and Swiss
citizens, to move and reside freely within Europe.
Those planning to make Spain their home are required to register in person at their local 'Oficina de
Extranjeros' (Foreigners' Office) or at certain police stations and will be issued with a residency
certificate.
Ministerial Order 1490 came into force on 11th July and an unofficial translation in English is
available on the British Embassy website www.ukinspain.fco.gov.uk (http://www.ukinspain.fco.gov.uk)
All applications must be accompanied by a valid passport or national identity document and
depending on circumstances, supporting documentation: for employed workers a declaration they
have been hired or a certificate of employment and for the self-employed evidence they are
registered on the Economic Activities List or the Mercantile Registry, or papers showing they are
registered with the Social Security System. Workers can also agree for details to be checked at the
General Social Security Finance Office.
People who do not work in Spain must have documentation to prove they comply with two
important criteria. Firstly they have public or private health insurance contracted in Spain or insuring
cover in Spain during the period of residence equivalent to the cover provided by the National
Health system.
The order says: "Pensioners will be considered to meet this condition is they can prove, by means of
the corresponding certificate, that they are entitled to health care paid for by the State from which
they receive their pension."
Applicants must also have evidence that they have sufficient resources for themselves and their
family members so as "not to become a burden on Spain's social assistance system during their
period of residence".
Proof of resources could be a regular income, ownership of assets, and acceptable papers to show
this are property deeds, certified cheques, documentation showing income is received, credit cards,
or an up to date bank certificate.
Students must be able to show they are enrolled with a public or private establishment, health
insurance or a European Health Insurance Card valid for their period of residence, and they have
sufficient resources not to become a financial burden on Spain.
Family members also have the right of residence but must also register as residents if they intend to
live in Spain for longer than the three months.
The order was passed under the Spanish Constitution which gives the State "sole jurisdiction in
matters of nationality, immigration, emigration, foreign affairs and the right of asylum."
Some additional information here which may be helpful when opening a Bank account.
http://www.janetanscombe.com/resident-and-non-resident-certificates (http://www.janetanscombe.com/resident-and-non-resident-certificates)
N° I advice: start studying Spanish intensively, if you don't already speak it. Some people here seem to get by without it, but I doubt they can really feel part of the island, just part of a small English-speaking expat community. You'll find the Spanish administration much more helpful if you deal with them yourself, in (broken) Spanish, than if you expect them to use English or you use an interpreter.
Start researching everything you need. Just asking for help isn't going to be the best way of going about it. There are a million and one questions you need to be asking. You'll need to be thinking about the actual practicality of it - is it just a pipe-dream or can it happen? As Globetrotter says, it isn't going to be feasible for everyone now because of these rule changes.
If it can happen, you'll need to think about some or all of the following: property, removals, car, job, health cover, insurances, pensions, kids' education, pets, phone, TV, internet, banking, tax status, wills... Then there's the UK end (if that's where you are) - terminating things and deciding what, if any, presence to leave there. Even if most of those issues don't apply or have been sorted, there are all the administrative procedures this end to sort out - which to do before you come out, which are time-critical (there's an awful lot that needs to be done in a very short time, I found, particularly when it's so hot and bewildering), and which can be left for some time.
Suffice it to say I must have spent months of internet time on all these problems, but they all got sorted. I did have some specific questions for those helpful people here, but most of it had already been discussed elsewhere. So, give us some specifics and we'll try to point you in the right direction.
Quote from: SheilaW on October 11, 2012, 11:07:06 AM
N° I advice: start studying Spanish intensively, if you don't already speak it. Some people here seem to get by without it, but I doubt they can really feel part of the island, just part of a small English-speaking expat community. You'll find the Spanish administration much more helpful if you deal with them yourself, in (broken) Spanish, than if you expect them to use English or you use an interpreter.
Start researching everything you need. Just asking for help isn't going to be the best way of going about it. There are a million and one questions you need to be asking. You'll need to be thinking about the actual practicality of it - is it just a pipe-dream or can it happen? As Globetrotter says, it isn't going to be feasible for everyone now because of these rule changes.
If it can happen, you'll need to think about some or all of the following: property, removals, car, job, health cover, insurances, pensions, kids' education, pets, phone, TV, internet, banking, tax status, wills... Then there's the UK end (if that's where you are) - terminating things and deciding what, if any, presence to leave there. Even if most of those issues don't apply or have been sorted, there are all the administrative procedures this end to sort out - which to do before you come out, which are time-critical (there's an awful lot that needs to be done in a very short time, I found, particularly when it's so hot and bewildering), and which can be left for some time.
Suffice it to say I must have spent months of internet time on all these problems, but they all got sorted. I did have some specific questions for those helpful people here, but most of it had already been discussed elsewhere. So, give us some specifics and we'll try to point you in the right direction.
Excellent Post.
If I may add.......Never sell up at home until you are certain you are not going to return.I have seen many go home with nothing....to nothing.
And always,always rent here.Many a tranquil life here has been shattered by the arrival of terrible neighbours or a dysfunctional Comunidad......and the bargain property you thought you saw yesterday will be an even bigger bargain in five years time.
We would love to move to Fuerteventura,we already own a home there.
There are so many things to consider especially if you can afford to live there without actually working legally. Unemployment in Spain is 25% and I would think Fuerteventura is even worse than that. Definitely agree about selling in the UK you will need to have somewhere to return to if things go wrong. I'm sorry if this post looks very pessimistic but believe me if it was easy we would be there by now.
Quote from: glenys on October 11, 2012, 13:08:42 PM
There are so many things to consider especially if you can afford to live there without actually working legally.
I think you meant "can't", glenys ;)
QuoteUnemployment in Spain is 25% and I would think Fuerteventura is even worse than that.
I've seen statistics that give 30% in 2009 and 33% in 2010. Doubt it's got better since! I believe it could be as high as 50% for the 18-25 age group, and that would be the one that also applied to foreigners arriving without perfect Spanish, I would think i.e. those that don't have the full range of skills and experience to offer. Of course, a lot of expats start their own businesses here, but there's no guarantee they'll succeed.
I know an awful lot of expats work illegally, but a word of caution: the authorities are starting to clamp down and to investigate all fraud - they're broke and they really need the taxes that legal income brings in, OR the fines that illegal income brings in. Rather than being too much trouble, chasing illegal income is now being seen as quite lucrative business.
Thanks for the replies.
Already started down the lines of learning the language. Seems a bit rude not to be able to at least speak the language of the land where you live.
Interesting about the working rules but have no intention of doing it. Hope to be lucky enough not to have to in any shape.
No worries about sounding pessimistic but any advice could be useful.
Sheila's post above is indeed a good post and full of sound advice.
I made the move out here in April this year, luckily for us it was before the changes that were made in July this year. The subsequent changes were unbeknown to us at the time of moving, so I guess it was just luck in our timing.
All the things that seemed daunting at the time (Empadronamiento, Resedencia, opening bank accounts etc etc) were actually quite easy and painless, in hindsight. Of course, me having a Spanish girlfriend made it all a LOT easier!
The search function on here (top right of the page) is an excellent resource of information for individual queries and you will find old threads full of advice regarding specific subjects. Alternatively, you could ask specific questions on this thread or start seperate threads for each specific question.
The advice I've been given on here has been invaluable, thanks to the knowledgable people who have been kind enough to help me. We couldn't have done the move without this place and I'm sure you will find it equally as helpful.
Best of luck with everything. ;)