Moving to another country is a major transition, but it needn’t be a complicated one if you know what to expect. Key aspects to consider when thinking of living in Spain include knowing whether you’re eligible for healthcare; getting your initial residency card so you become a permanent citizen; and having an upto-date driving licence.

If you have children, you’ll need to know how to find a local school, and if you’re retired, you’ll need to understand how the move will affect the payment of your pension. Those intending to work in Spain will need to know about finding work and paying tax.
Preparation is the key to a smooth move abroad, and this 14-step checklist will introduce you to all these essential issues.

Tip 1: Healthcare

If you get an E111 form from any UK post office, you will receive a European Health Insurance Card and be entitled to free medical treatment in Spain for three months when you present it. This only applies to emergency treatment, and to those in temporary residence – it isn’t valid if you’ve left the UK permanently or you work in Spain. The E111 would be useful for initial visits and house hunting.

If you’re going to live in Spain and are below retirement age, you’re required to make a monthly contribution to the Spanish health service. This is deducted from workers’ salaries by employers and forms part of Social Security payments (the equivalent of National Insurance in the UK).

These payments entitle you to free treatment, but it’s also recommended that you get top-up health insurance because payments don’t apply to every area of treatment.
Healthcare is good in Spain, but if you live in a rural area, it will take time to get to a hospital. Also, around 40 per cent of hospitals only treat private patients, so look into which hospitals in your area provide National Health treatment.

It’s also very important to remember that you can’t expect all health professionals to speak English, especially in rural areas. Make sure you either speak Spanish, have a grasp of relevant phrases, or have someone who can translate for you.

Before you leave the UK, register your new Spanish address with the Overseas Branch of the Department of Health. The Department will be forwarded paperwork from the Spanish authorities that will enable you to obtain a Spanish National Health card (cartilla), which should be shown when you need treatment. Retirees living in Spain who are receiving a state pension from any EU country will receive free healthcare.

Tip 2: Insurance

Whilst you’re entitled to free or subsidised medical and dental treatment if you make Spanish Social Security payments, many people living in Spain take out private health insurance if they can afford to, which gives them more choice of hospitals and doctors, and lets them avoid long waiting lists.

You also need to insure your property and belongings. In Spain, if you take out a multi-risk household insurance policy (seguro de hogar), this will usually include the building, its contents and third-party liability. Property is insured according to the cost of rebuilding your home, and should be increased annually with inflation. Make sure your insurance covers storm damage.

You can insure a Spanish home from another country, but you should ensure that the policy is valid under Spanish law. It’s advisable to insure your Spanish home and contents with a Spanish insurance company, and if you intend to rent out your property, you must inform your insurance company.

Tip 3: Tax

Anyone who lives in Spain for over 183 days a year will have to pay income tax. This is called la renta, and it compares favourably with other countries in Europe. Britain and Spain have made a Double Taxation Agreement, so you won’t be taxed by both British and Spanish tax authorities on either income or pension. This could occur during your first period of residency, though be aware that the British tax year runs from April to April and the Spanish one from January to January. If months overlap and double taxation occurs, obtain a refund of UK tax via the Inland Revenue, and be sure to keep records of all employment and earnings.

Self-employed workers can fill in their own tax return and the forms are available from the local Hacienda (Spanish tax office). Tax returns should be made between 1 May and 20 June, and in contrast to the UK, a Spanish accountant will require figures on a monthly rather than yearly basis.

Tip 4: Driving licence

All driving licences issued within the EU are valid in any EU country. The difference in Spain is that licences don’t last until the age of 70 as they do in the UK. A car licence is usually valid for ten years if you’re under the age of 45, and for five years if you’re between the ages of 45 and 70. Drivers over 70 are required to renew their licence every year.

If you don’t hold a UK licence, you must become a resident in Spain before you’ll be able to apply for a Spanish one. You’ll then need to take a Spanish driving test. You can take this in English in some towns, although these driving schools are rare.

Tip 5: Applying for residency

Anyone planning to spend more than 90 days in Spain must apply for a residence card – the visado de residencia. You can get this from the Spanish Embassy in London (call 0207 235 5555) before entering the country. You’ll need several documents, including your education and work qualifications, photocopies of your passport and visa application, some papers from your employer, a certificate confirming whether or not you have a criminal record, and a medical certificate. Alternatively, you can apply for a residence permit at a local police station within 15 days of entering Spain.This must be done within the area you intend to live in. All residency cards should be renewed every five years.
Once resident in Spain, it’s advisable to register with the local National Embassy or Consulate as authorities will then keep residents up to date with the issues affecting citizens living overseas.

Tip 6: Securing a job

Unless you’re moving to Spain to retire, finding a source of income will be essential. Pay is lower in Spain, but on average, the cost of living is cheaper.
Newspaper adverts are a good place to start, and recruitment adverts can be found in The Wall Street Journal Europe, International Herald Tribune, Overseas Job Express and El Pais, to name a few. Expat publications in Spain include Metropolitan in Barcelona, Sur in English in Málaga, and The Broadsheet in Madrid.

If you’re planning to work in a city, employment agencies are useful. If you’re moving to a coastal area, you’ll find a vast array of roles available in tourism, or related to the varied tasks within property development, but there are few agencies. Contact the National Employment Institute (www.inem.es), which has offices throughout the country, with staff who are specialised in helping people find work or set up their own businesses.
Employment agencies such as Flexiplan (www.flexiplan.com), Adecco (www.adecco.com) or Select (www.select.as) are useful for finding part-time or temporary work. Also look on local web search engines in the area you’re going to live in.

Learning Spanish will certainly increase your job options and it’s beneficial to provide a CV in both English and Spanish for prospective employers. A working knowledge of the language will also help you settle into the local community.

Another option is teaching English in Spain, which requires a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) qualification. Intensive courses are available – see www.tefl.com.

Tip 7: Work permits

While UK citizens don’t need permission to work in Spain, those planning to work there permanently will need the visado de residencia – see Tip 5. Those planning to set up their own business will also need a document called the tarjeta comunitaria.To acquire this, the new business must be authorised, and this can be done by obtaining a business licence called a licencia fiscal from the tax authorities. Those who plan to be self-employed should register with the district police station and the local tax office.

Tip 8: Making a will

It’s not compulsory that you obtain a Spanish will when you relocate, but it’s strongly advisable – getting a British will recognised in Spain is a long process, and under Spanish law, if a foreign resident dies intestate or without a Spanish will, the property could be claimed by the Spanish state. If you own assets in Spain, it’s advisable to get a will drawn up by a Spanish lawyer, but keep a British will for assets you own in the UK.

Another consideration is Spanish inheritance tax. Most Spanish residents leave their partners what’s known as a usufruct.This is a ‘life interest’ in the property, instead of half of it. The usufructer is entitled to live in the property without payment for the rest of their life, while ownership of the house can pass to the children.

Tip 9: Pet travel checklist

1 - A rabies vaccination must be given at least 30 days ahead of the intended date of travel.
2 - For re-entry to the UK, the Passport For Pets scheme must be joined at least seven months ahead of the intended date of travel. A blood test will also be necessary, but cannot take place until 30 days have elapsed from the date of the rabies vaccination. The date of entry to the UK is regulated to no sooner than six months from the date the blood was taken for testing. Contact your local Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) for more details.
3 - Microchipping isn’t essential prior to export. However, it’s vital when travelling overland.
4 - An Export/Health certificate can only be obtained from the Animal Health Division of your local DEFRA office. Before you travel, your vet will have to examine your pet and issue the necessary documents.
5 - Any air travel container must conform to the Shipment of Live Animals regulations.
6 - Take note from your vet about the various precautions and vaccines required.

Tip 10: Retirement and pensions

As a resident in Spain, your UK pension is unchanged. Also, any bereavement allowance or widowed parents’ allowance will still be paid for a year. Pensions can be paid into a Spanish bank and retirees will still receive any increases in state pension. Some Spanish banks charge for accepting payments, so check first.

Some people have their UK pension paid into a sterling account outside Spain. Many retirees on the Costa del Sol, for example, use Gibraltar banks. Having euro and sterling accounts enables retirees to move funds when the exchange rate is favourable.

Spanish State pensions are paid to any resident who has contributed to the Spanish Social Security scheme for a minimum of 15 years, but National Insurance payments in other countries are also taken into account. The pension is paid independently of any UK state pension you’re entitled to.

Private pensions will be paid in the same way as the state pension. The key difference is that in the UK, tax is deducted before you receive your pension cheque. In Spain, retirees can apply to have their pensions paid without tax deduction.

Benefits that pensioners can’t receive in Spain are Attendance Allowance, Living Allowance, Income Support, Carer’s Allowance and the Winter Fuel Payment. However, retirees receive special rates throughout the country, plus reduced travel costs.

Tip 11: Utilities

In Spain, mains gas is only available in major cities. Gas bottles can be delivered to homes, and this requires a contract.You will be billed bi-monthly for both gas and electricity. It’s also advisable to sign a contract with the local electricity company – visit the local office with your passport or residence card, along with previous bills for the property.

Water supply is a major issue and it’s managed by local municipalities in Spain. Many of these have their own wells, and in some areas, water supply is governed by private companies.You’ll pay for your supply on a quarterly basis and the cost of initial connection could be anything from €50 to €500.

The national phone company, now privatised, is Telefónica, and if there’s no line to your property, you’ll need to request that the company installs one. If you’re living outside a major city, be prepared to wait up to two months or longer for this.

Tip 12: Education

School attendance is compulsory for all children aged between six and 15. For families settling in Spain, state education is free and it’s only conducted in Spanish. To enrol a child into a school, parents must apply to the provincial governor’s office, and this can be done before leaving the UK.

If a child is at GCSE or A Level stage, it may be more suitable to choose an International School, some of which offer an English and Spanish curriculum. However, there are fees for these schools. There are many to choose from and a list can be obtained from the National Association of British Schools in Spain (call 0034 915 520 516).

Tip 13: Voting

British residents in Spain are entitled to vote in European or local elections, provided they appear on the municipal register (padrón municipal) at the local town hall. Once on the register, it’s necessary to inform staff at the town hall that you wish to be registered to vote. British residents living in Spain are entitled to vote in UK general elections for up to 15 years while living abroad.

Tip 14: Marriage

Marriage is legal after the age of 18 in Spain. The only restriction is that one member of the couple must have been a legal resident in the country for a minimum of two years.

 
CARS & MOTORING CHECKLIST

• Contact the DVLA to update the address on your driving licence and car registration form.
• Get a certificate of permanent export (V561) from the DVLA.
• Contact your car insurance company to make sure the policy covers the car being driven in Spain (is there a time limit?).
• Get a road worthiness certificate (ITV or inspección técnica de vehiculos) by contacting the RACE (the Spanish equivalent of RAC or AA).
• Once your car has been registered, pay your Spanish road tax at the local town hall
  Take a spare set of bulbs, spare tyres, tyre-changing tools and two warning triangles (with codes E9 and 27R03).
• Consider getting separate car insurance and breakdown cover through a company based in Spain.
• Register your car with the traffic department (jefatura provincial de tráfico) within six months of arriving.
• After six months, you must register for Spanish registration plates. 

THINGS TO DO ONCE IN SPAIN

• Apply for your foreign resident’s number, or NIE (numero de identificación de extranjeros) at the local comisaría or police station. All residents or visitors need an NIE in order to buy or sell property, work, pay taxes, apply for benefits, and sign up for utility bills and the IBI (the equivalent of council tax). This can take up to six weeks.
  

• Inform the UK Pensions Service of your new address (you can still continue to receive UK state pension payments in Spain).

• Retirees (and all those of “independent means”) must apply for a residence card. Fill in an application form (available from a comisaría or downloadable from www.mir.es) and take it to the comisaría with your passport, NIE card, proof of residence, marriage (or divorce) certificates, four passport-sized photographs, a medical certificate from your doctor and details of health insurance.

• Get a telephone installed by visiting the local Telefónica office with your NIE, residence card or passport, your property deeds (escritura) and other proof of address.

• Contact the electricity supplier to arrange for the account to be transferred to your name, or to get electricity connected.

• Get a water rates contract set up in your name at the town hall.
  

• If self-employed, register with the INSS (Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social) to sort out social security payments for healthcare.
  

• Consider taking out separate health insurance.

• Revise your will to take account of your new Spanish assets (such as property, car and funds in Spanish bank accounts). Do this with a Spanish solicitor who will be able to advise you on the complexities of Spanish inheritance tax law.

• Register with social security to get signed up to a local GP by taking your E111 form and health insurance card (or E106 or E121) to the local INSS office with passports and birth certificates for all the family, marriage or divorce certificates, proof of residence and NIE number. Up to eight weeks later, you’ll receive your social security card (tarjeta sanitaria), a list of local doctors and hospitals, plus information about services.