Moving to Spain........what should I know?

Moving to Spain........what should I know?

Author
Discussion

smifffymoto

Original Poster:

4,767 posts

212 months

Friday 13th November 2020
quotequote all
My house is on the market and I want to move to the Costa del Sol,what nuggets of invaluble information should I know.


This is real and not a fantasy,currently live in France and have done for the last 12 years,not retirement age.

galtezza

441 posts

190 months

Friday 13th November 2020
quotequote all
smokin

We live right by you but we live in Marbella for jan, feb, march each year, weather is perfect but 3mths is enough, we’re glad to get home smile thats Marbella though, bit like the cote d’azur, quite a shallow existence.

harrycovert

452 posts

183 months

Friday 13th November 2020
quotequote all
May I ask what is prompting the move after 12 years in France?

blueg33

38,472 posts

231 months

Friday 13th November 2020
quotequote all
I was going to say you should know Spanish, but then I saw Costa del Sol and realised its not necessary - an east London or Birmingham accent will help you fit in though........

smifffymoto

Original Poster:

4,767 posts

212 months

Friday 13th November 2020
quotequote all
harrycovert said:
May I ask what is prompting the move after 12 years in France?
Nothing more than it’s time for a change.

James-jupp

47 posts

49 months

Saturday 14th November 2020
quotequote all
assuming you are a brit... you´ll need to do it before december, otherwise you´ll have to jump through hoops as a "non-european".. (and have 30k in the bank)

smifffymoto

Original Poster:

4,767 posts

212 months

Saturday 14th November 2020
quotequote all
Stop posting rubbish.Free movement or not,as a Brit moving abroad you have to jump through hoops.It’s called moving abroad.

blueg33

38,472 posts

231 months

Saturday 14th November 2020
quotequote all
Surely he means more hoops?

Expatloon

216 posts

164 months

Saturday 14th November 2020
quotequote all
Long term non EU residents have a path to transfer that to another state, not sure if of how that might apply to Brits who 'acquire' non EU status on 1.1.21 though.

One critical point is that an application to switch MUST be made from the state in which you are currently resident.

https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/residence/do...

We too decamped France after 11 years for Spain, been here coming up to 3 years now and no regrets.

The difference in lifestyle is no less than the initial move from UK to France, chalk and cheese you might say, certainly warmer!

smifffymoto

Original Poster:

4,767 posts

212 months

Saturday 14th November 2020
quotequote all
That’s the ‘problem’.While we are resident in France,we could live in Spain with no problems and just keep paying into the French system.
It has crossed my mind to buy a 25000€ appartement and keep French residency and just decamp.
If we leave France,we lose free movement and all the advantages of said free movement.

Moving is a logistical problem rather than financial.

Expatloon

216 posts

164 months

Saturday 14th November 2020
quotequote all
smifffymoto said:
While we are resident in France,we could live in Spain with no problems and just keep paying into the French system.

Not legally you can't and you wouldn't get health care either, or at least no more than to CEAM or EHIC level.

If we leave France,we lose free movement and all the advantages of said free movement.

What free movement advantage do you think you have being French resident as opposed to Spanish?

smifffymoto

Original Poster:

4,767 posts

212 months

Saturday 14th November 2020
quotequote all
I am a French resident before the agreement expires on 31 December,therefore retain the right of free movement.If I move to Spain after,I lose that right.
On the point of residency and living somewhere for a period of time is a grey area because of the freedom of movement and no visa documentation being needed. So far in life we have done everything by the book and I can’t see that changing when we move.

Expatloon

216 posts

164 months

Saturday 14th November 2020
quotequote all
smifffymoto said:
I am a French resident before the agreement expires on 31 December,therefore retain the right of free movement.If I move to Spain after,I lose that right.
I'm not sure you have fully grasped how this works.

As long as you are legally resident in an EU member state on Dec 31st. 2020 your rights of free movement as laid down in the Withdrawal Agreement remain, my rights as a Spanish resident are identical to yours in France.

The only caveat is that during the 5 years it takes to become permanently resident you must not absent yourself from the country for more than 6 months in any year, after 5 years that falls away and then like in France you can be absent for up to 5 years without losing residency.

As I mentioned previously though if it does turn out that you are eligible to benefit from a transfer of residency then that 5 year absence rule would apply from day 1.



smifffymoto

Original Poster:

4,767 posts

212 months

Sunday 15th November 2020
quotequote all
Got you,I was thinking the next 2-3 months only.

Expatloon

216 posts

164 months

Monday 16th November 2020
quotequote all
BTW, in case you didn't know after Dec 31st. for residents and those hoping to become resident a UK driving licence will become invalid for driving in Spain or exchanging for a Spanish one meaning that you will have to sit a Spanish test and not able to drive until you have.

If you have a French licence then that remains exchangeable.

James-jupp

47 posts

49 months

Tuesday 17th November 2020
quotequote all
Technically, you are right.

The change of licence / appointment / get on the waiting list must be done before the 31st of december. They will call you back to make an appointment. there is a 6 month window, IF your name is already on the list, then a UK driving licence holder will have until June 2021 to finish the process.

smifffymoto

Original Poster:

4,767 posts

212 months

Tuesday 17th November 2020
quotequote all
I have a French licence.

galtezza

441 posts

190 months

Tuesday 17th November 2020
quotequote all
James-jupp said:
Technically, you are right.

The change of licence / appointment / get on the waiting list must be done before the 31st of december. They will call you back to make an appointment. there is a 6 month window, IF your name is already on the list, then a UK driving licence holder will have until June 2021 to finish the process.
Do you know whats involved in that james? getting on the waiting list..

Expatloon

216 posts

164 months

Wednesday 18th November 2020
quotequote all
galtezza said:
Do you know whats involved in that james? getting on the waiting list..
Not sure if you're asking James if HE knows or asking because you want to know.

Anyway it's here:

https://sede.dgt.gob.es/es/permisos-de-conducir/ca...

galtezza

441 posts

190 months

Thursday 19th November 2020
quotequote all
Expatloon said:
galtezza said:
Do you know whats involved in that james? getting on the waiting list..
Not sure if you're asking James if HE knows or asking because you want to know.

Anyway it's here:

https://sede.dgt.gob.es/es/permisos-de-conducir/ca...
Thanks, was a serious question, not searching out an argument smile

Was wandering if same applied to france post 31st.