How To Retire In Spain After Brexit – that will be the topic of today’s article.
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Introduction
The burning question ‘can I retire in Spain after Brexit’ has caused many expat to remain baffled about relocation. In our previous post, we talked more about living in Spain as an expat. Here, we highlighted some of the pros and cons of living in the country. If you’ve not checked, kindly do so before you proceed.
On the other hand, we like to keep our information as current as possible to help you with questions like the one above. Spain is very keen to have British nationals visit, as long as there is a reciprocal agreement for Spanish nationals to live and work in the United Kingdom. Now, how’s retirement like?
Of course, expats can definitely retire in Spain just like one would do in other countries. But since the United Kingdom has withdrawn from the European Union, there are many things to put into consideration. Also, as we adjust to life, Britons hoping to move to the continent have many questions to ask.
With its warm weather, lovely beaches, and lower cost of living compared to the United Kingdom, it’s no wonder that this country has more than 350,000 Brits registered as permanent residents. Moreover, before the transition period came to an end, Britons living in Spain were able to remain there under the Withdrawal Agreement.
Meanwhile, since the sudden change in 2020, Britons are only entitled to remain in most European Union countries, including Spain, for 90 days out of every 180 days. Besides, there are now more than 360,000 British citizens registered as residents in Spain, according to official Spanish figures and research.
Whereas, we have everything needed to help you! If you’ve chosen to retire in Spain after Brexit, this is the right platform. We will walk you through the travel guide to retire in Spain. Aside from this fact, we have compiled this article to explain the people that can retire in Spain. Read further to know the detail!
Who Can Retire in Spain After Brexit?
Retirement in Spain has tended to be fairly low cost in recent years. With warm weather, excellent cuisines, and welcoming culture, the benefits of retiring in this country cannot be overemphasized. In fact, around 6 million foreigners choose to call Spain home because of the high standard of living.
In addition, you can retire comfortably in Spain on an average of about $2,500-3,000 a month and about $28,000-30,000 a year. Moreover, if you choose to live further away from the big cities, you can expect a retirement plan of about $1,800-2,000, a month which is approximately about $20,000-25,000 annually. Without further ado, this guide provides you with who can retire in Spain after Brexit.
EU Citizens in Spain
Undoubtedly, Spain has been in the European Union since 1985 and has also been known to be in the Schengen area since 1995. With that being said, you should know it’s very easy for EU citizens to retire in the country without disturbance. As an EU citizen, you don’t need any visa or residence permit to study, work, retire, and live in Spain.
Non-EU Citizens to Spain
If you’re a non-EU citizen, there are two types of visas you can acquire. The first one is known as the Long-stay visa (visado nacionale), and the second one is known as a Residence visa (visado residence). Now, let’s quickly explain what the two types of non-EU citizen’s visa entail to understand it better.
Long-Stay Visa (visado nacionale)
The long-stay visa allows expat to visit or resides in the country for a specific period of time (temporary residence in the country). Not only that, but it also allows expats to work, live, and study in Spain. This visa is indefinite, and you can as well renew it annually. Moreover, if you want to renew this visa, you’ll need to spend at least six months per year in the country.
Residence Visa (visado residencia)
This is the most common visa for foreigners wanting to relocate to Spain. It allows you to relocate or retire in the country without relocating there. Whenever you’re applying for this kind of visa, always know that there are certain things you need to put into consideration. Now, let’s quickly walk you through the visa requirements.
Expat Visa Requirements to Spain
The visa requirement in Spain depends on the kind of visa you’re applying for after Brexit. At first, you’ll have to prove that you can support yourself in the country without working. Meanwhile, you’ll also need to provide evidence of a monthly income of at least €2,300.
Additionally, you may need to show that you still make an extra of about €570.65 monthly for each dependent. On the flip side, always check your local consulate for a list of requirements and documents. Generally, some of the documents you’ll need include the following.
- Valid passport for at least one year
- Proof of financial means depending on the type of visa you’re applying for. It could be your affidavit of support, bank statement, scholarship, and many others, to mention a few.
- Official police record showing that you have not committed any crime in the past
- Medical or healthcare insurance provided by an insurance company in Spain
- You must present your original medical certificate issued by a doctor, verifying that you do not have any contagious diseases and that you’re free of drug addictions and mental illness.
Getting Golden Visa in Spain as an Expat
The Spanish Golden Visa is a residency provided by an investment scheme, and it grants many investors opportunities to permanent residence in the country. And in the long run, this may eventually lead to citizenship. In no much time, below are the benefits of the Golden visa to expat in today’s world.
- Golden visa allows you to travel visa-free through the Schengen zone because it has a high mobility factor.
- You can include your family and spouse under 18 years in the golden visa. However, children over 18 that are dependent on you (e.g., full-time students) can also be included.
- Unlike other types of visas available for expats in Spain, you may only need to spend one day per year to maintain the golden visa
- As said earlier, the golden visa is a path to citizenship in Spain if you reside there for six months a year for ten years.
7 Essential Tips before Retiring in Spain
Moving to retire in Spain doesn’t mean you’ll enjoy living in paradise. But Spain is huge, and it has a vibrant culture and delicious food. Yet it’s sunny throughout, has beautiful beaches that run for miles, and it’s also a place that can drive you wild if you don’t know it right. Below are the essential tips.
1. Plan Ahead When Retiring
Most of the expats are old when they start their plan to relocate. However, retirement does not have that certainty that you’ll get old. That’s why it’s always good to check the country whether they have good access to local medical services, retirement packages, outdoor activities, and many others.
2. Keep In Touch With News
Keeping in touch with news as an expats is one thing to put into consideration. This information can affect your life, and also the British government has an official website that could allow you to check the latest news and update regarding the relocation process. Also, you can check this platform as we’ve build a team of experts to help you secure your retirement plan, relocation, and packages.
3. Weighing the Cost of Retirements
The cost of retiring in another country or city in Spain always varies. This means you’ll have to weigh up the cost and expenses to retire before jumping to relocate there. Aside from this fact, a frugal retirement of €1000 is possible, but a comfortable retirement is generally around €1300-€1500 per month. Moreover, the cost of living in Spain is low. And we can tell you that living in Valencia is good.
As of 2018, research made it known that Valencia comes 20th on the cost of living index, slightly above Costa Rica and Thailand. And this allows many expats to consider this factor as one of the biggest benefits of making the move to Spain. More so, there are other considerations, and we’ve listed it below.
4. Check the Healthcare Facilities
As an expat, we are sure that one of the reasons why you’d love to retire abroad is the low cost of living and the healthcare facilities. And Spain has a National Health Service, so for expats with residency permits, healthcare is free, and there’s even more to investment in the service.
However, for those that choose to use the private healthcare system, the premiums are lower than in the UK, and the services are world standard. Aside from this fact, full access is guaranteed to healthcare for expats that meet the criteria below.
- You must be an employee or self-employed worker affiliated with Social Security and in a discharge situation or assimilated to the discharge.
- As an expat, you must hold pensioner status in the Social Security system
- You must have exhausted unemployment benefits or other benefits of similar nature, be unemployed, not prove the status of insured by any other title and reside in Spain.
5. Consider the Language
If you choose in an area like Malaga or Valencia in Spain, you’ll find friends and other English speakers. Also, if you’re looking for something more adventurous and wish to move off the beaten track to a Spanish city in the interior, it may be worth learning the basics of the Spanish language. Therefore, if you choose to learn the language online, we recommend the classes of Michel Thomas.
6. Consider the Tax System
From our research, the tax system in Spain is labyrinthine. In fact, most advice recommends a lawyer, but we would love to recommend an assessor who will take care of all the tax issues you may face and even save you money through benefits and grants. With that being said, Spain is a country filled with law graduates, and accountant in this country generally work for less money than in the United Kingdom. Therefore, you can relax in your retirement and get someone to handle your taxes for you as an expat.
7. Visa Requirements for Expats
As of today’s 21st century, Brits are now subject to the same general rules as other non-EU citizens. If you wish to stay longer than 30 days, you’ll need to get an appropriate visa that’d guarantee your stay in the country. As mentioned earlier, the financial requirement for a golden visa in Spain is lower but requires a capital outlay of €500,000 on property.
How to Retire in Spain (2021 Ultimate Guide)
Becoming a citizen in another country is never an easy task. While you’ll have a lot of things to put into consideration, we have compiled a step-by-step guide that’d help you understand the process better. We’ll even throw a handy tip on everything you need to know about retiring in Spain, especially after Brexit. Without further ado, below are the step-by-step guides to retire in Spain after Brexit.
- Take out a good healthcare insurance policy as you’ll need it to apply for your Spanish visa in the long run.
- Your residency visa might take up to 90 days before it can be processed, but you’ll definitely need to apply for one.
- Find a good place to live in Spain. As an expat, there are many places to live in Spain. However, it’s up to you whether you’ll buy or rent an apartment in the city or town.
- Ensure you pack your belongings and arrange it to be shipped to Spain. Alternatively, consider buying whatever you need when you arrive to your favorite destination
- Apply for a foreign identity card or register as a residence, and you must do this within one month of arriving in the country.
- If possible, you can apply to receive your UK state pension in Spain. And find information about transferring your personal pensions to Spain.
- Open a Spanish bank account while getting to the country. More so, this will be essential for paying rent and covering daily expenses after your arrival.
Benefits of Retiring in Spain after Brexit
Spain has long been known as a retiree’s destination for expats, and it’s not even difficult to see why in today’s 21st century. This sun-soaked Mediterranean country with beautiful beaches has a long list of plus points for expats to retire. In no much time, let’s quickly take a look at the benefits of retiring in Spain after Brexit.
Warm and Pleasant Weather
It’s no doubt that Spain has a mild climate throughout the year. And with this fact, it has made the country an ideal choice for escaping the cold and wet British winter. Sometimes, it gets seriously hot in the summer, particularly in the south of the country. This way, expat would love to enjoy their retirement here.
Low Cost of Living
This Mediterranean country is known to be one of the cheapest places for expat to reside in Europe, especially compared to the United Kingdom. For instance, the cost of a three-course meal is around £36 in Spain, compared to £65 in the UK. More so, you’ll pay around £2.5 for a beer, compared to £3.67 in the United Kingdom.
Excellent Healthcare System
Excellent healthcare system is another benefit of relocating or retiring in Spain as an expat. Spain regularly ranks highly among global healthcare system, and the 2018 Euro Consumer Health Index has put the country at 19th in the world. As a retiree, it may not be possible to access Free State healthcare, as you’re paying social security. But you can choose to get private healthcare insurance to cover your medical care.
High Quality of Life
Spain is a famous country that’s known for its stunning beaches and sun-kissed coastlines, along with delicious food and welcoming locals. With that being said, expats should know that there are many options available for them while relocating to Spain. In fact, there are plenty of opportunities for culture-rich city living or a laid-back lifestyle in the idyllic Spanish countryside.
Delicious Meal and Cuisines
While living in Spain as an expat, you’ll have excellent options and varieties to choose from when it comes to a delicious meal. Not only did the Bloomberg Report note this as one of the contributing factors to Spain officially being the healthiest country on the planet, but the taste simply can’t be beaten.
Low Property Prices in Spain
Aside from the delicious meal, high quality of life, low cost of living, and the healthcare system in Spain, expats can also relocate because of the low property prices. It’s no secret in Spain that for many people, their pension doesn’t stretch very far in the UK, especially with the almost inevitable annual tax increase.
Low Cost of Living
It’s not just the property prices themselves that are low, but the average household retiring in Spain will benefit from lower annual living costs as well. Aside from this fact, the cost of living in Spain seems to be one of the lowest in Western Europe. However, with many properties in Spain, you can also expect to see reduced electricity, water bills, and gas too.
Where to Retire in Spain in 2021
Spain has a varied climate and a fabulous mix of coastal retreats, tranquil countryside, and modern cities. So, where do you think is the right place to retire as an expat? Well, the decision is yours, and it depends on your budget. But let’s take a look at a few of the best places for expats to retire.
Costa Blanca in Spain
One of the first places for an expat to retire in Spain is Costa Blanca. It is known as the white coast of Spain in a thriving tourist destination, but places such as Benidorm and Alicante are also home to well-established UK retirement communities. Also, there are diverse landscapes and resorts here to suit every taste, whether you’re retiring for gorgeous natural scenery or the buzzing cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Canary Island in Spain
Canary Island is another place to consider if you’re looking to retire in the country. Beautiful islands such as Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Tenerife are a fantastic choice if you’re looking to escape the cold British winter and enjoy warm, pleasant year-round weather. These islands are an autonomous community of Spain, and it offers great standard of living and a reasonable low cost of living for expat.
Balearic Islands in Spain
Have you ever crave to retire in a lively environment? Look no further as many British expats head to the Balearic Islands to relive memories of holidays gone by. Moreover, popular choices are Mallorca, Ibiza, and of course, Majorca. So, if you’re looking for a more laid-back pace of life, this is the right place.
Madrid and Barcelona
If you’re not quite ready for the charms of a traditional Spanish village and you’re used to living in the city, the Spain major hub like Madrid and Barcelona is the right place. The well-connected cities of Madrid and Barcelona offer a unique dazzling choice of restaurants, historical attractions, shops, and cultural heritage. So, Barcelona and Madrid are among the best places for expat looking to retire in Spain.
Malaga in Spain
Malaga is another suitable destination for expat. It is a clean, lean, and green city that has one of the best pedestrian-only city centers. This city is brimming with great dining and plenty of shopping malls. Not only that, but it is also home to the world-famous Sierra Nevada mountain range.
Bilbao in Spain
Bilbao is the last on our list. It is one of the towns that have been transformed from a gritty town into the pride of urban renewal. Many locals skate, cycle, and you can also see unbelievable modern architecture and historical culture in this country.
Conclusion
If, however, you’d love to retire in Spain after Brexit, this guide is what you need. Of course, UK citizens can still move to Spain, but those who want to make the permanent move will have to meet certain requirements to gain residency. Nonetheless, refer to this article for more and follow us for relevant updates regarding Spain and its environment.
