Frequently asked questions

Is it hard to move from the UK to Spain?

The process of moving to another country is a more complicated than it would be if you were moving within the UK and if you do not do not prepare yourself it can be very stressful, time consuming and expensive process.

One of the hardest parts of moving to Spain knowing where to start, but it is straight forward if you know the processes step by step and the order of how to do things, it will however still require time to complete the work. The book was written primarily for this reason because of time it took me to complete the process and the amount I learnt completing it.

Why do I need to buy the E-book?

Most people only return to the UK because they did not plan or research what needed to be do or how things worked, so made an expensive mistake they regretted, probably in the £000’s rather than £00’s; compare this to the price of the book.

The book contains information and address (where relevant) to plan your move and settle in Spain more easily than if you where to do it on your own because it is written by someone who has already successfully moved from the United Kingdom to Spain; you can  gain from experience.

The secret to a successful relocation in Spain is good planning and research which is exactly what the book will show you how to do, many other books only relay their experience rather than showing you how to complete the process of settling in Spain for yourself.

Who should buy this book?

-         Anyone who is thinking of moving to Spain as an British Expat; particularly if they are looking for work, have children of school age or are planning to enjoy their retirement in Spain

-         Anyone considering buying a property as a holiday home in Spain; you will still be required to complete an application for you NIE number for all your dealings with the Spanish tax authorities’.

How do I contact this site?

You can contact the site provider at: admin@new2spain.co.uk

Why is this better than a traditional book?

Not only does it function as a book but it is also;

-         Is a live tool for searching for further information on specific subjects; links are used throughout the Guide, which your browser can use to display the webpage

-         Contains e-mail address for people you will need to contact for the UK as well as Spain. 

-         Is a planning tool; with an integrated removal plan and includes the FREE Bonus item: the property budget calculator; including a walk through guide.

What is the UK government advice on moving to Spain?

The British Foreign and Commonwealth offers the following excellent advice when moving abroad:

-         Properly research your destination. Find out about the local laws and customs. *

-         Find out what the Foreign Office can and can't do if things go wrong.  *

-         Learn some of the local language. While many expats may live in British enclaves, contact with local people - and the authorities - is crucial.

-         Work out retirement income. Many expats fail to take into account both inflation and exchange rate fluctuations. The Department for Work and Pensions produces state pension forecasts. *

-          Research how liabilities for UK taxes apply to expats. *

-         Buy a property abroad as you would in the UK: Carefully with professional legal advice.  *

On arriving:

-         Register with the local authorities. This opens doors to local welfare and health services. Find out about local welfare entitlements. Find out about health service charges.  *

-         British residents of EU states must apply for a residence permit within three months.  *

-         Register with the British Consulate.  *

-         Make a will. One of the biggest legal problems for a family comes when a relative dies abroad.  *

-         Open a non-resident foreign bank account.  *

-         Keep a valid passport.

 * This eBook gives advice on these on subjects and how to go about then and much, much more to make the move as straight forward as possible; including the Bonus essential Spanish vocabulary for each section.

Potential expats’ are being told 'think ahead' (see article)

The Foreign Office has appealed to Britons moving abroad to think through the realities of their move. Their warning came as the BBC revealed unique data on the scale of Britons moving overseas, many of them people approaching retirement.

British officials in Spain are devoting more and more time to the older Britons who cannot manage alone.  Many of those who come for help have neither learnt any Spanish nor learnt about how the welfare system works.

Spanish officials have been increasingly worried in recent years at the failure of many British citizens to properly register on settling in the country.

According to data compiled by the Institute for Public Policy Research' Brits Abroad project, published on the BBC News website, there are at least 761,000 Britons living in Spain - a number that approaches one million when those with second homes are included. Many of these people are middle-aged, semi-retired or retired.

The research, conducted by the Institute for Public Policy Research, predicts that up to one million more Britons will leave in the next five years. It says most those leaving are either young, skilled or the retired.

British emigration has roughly doubled in the last 10 years. The Foreign Office's “Know before you go” campaign aims to warn departing ex-pats to put the right steps in place to ensure a happy life abroad.  The advice is:

1        Plan move carefully

2        Learn the language

3        Take professional advice

Remember the old adage is: “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”; this book aims to help you get a head start on the first part, get you started on the second part and help you source the third part.

What does the eBook contain?

1.      Some facts and figures

2.     Finding a place to live and organising your removal

3.      Sorting out your money in Spain

4.      Your retirement in Spain                              

5.      Getting yourself settled in Spain

6.      Healthcare in Spain

7.      Driving in Spain

8.      Tax in Spain: the basics

9.      Essential emergency information

10.  The Removal Plan