Esme Fox is a freelance travel writer and editor, based in Barcelona, with nine years’ experience writing for the travel and tourism industries. Her work has been featured in Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, BBC Travel, Culture Trip, The Telegraph and ABTA Magazine. Esme has also researched and co-authored several guidebooks, including The Rough Guide to Spain.
Spain is a beautiful country to live in, offering a chance for a better quality of life – one where you spend more time outside, connecting with nature and enjoying a quieter, more relaxed pace. Add this to the excellent climate, stunning beaches and exciting year-round festivals, and you can understand why many want to make the move here. If you’re thinking about moving to Spain from UK, read on to find out everything you should consider and the costs involved.
Spain offers various visas from the digital nomad visa, catering to remote workers and freelancers, the non-profit visa, ideal for those wishing to reside in Spain without engaging in lucrative activities, and the golden visa, designed for individuals making significant investments in the country.
Choosing where to live when moving abroad from UK to Spain is a very important decision. It can affect everything from the cost of living and availability of jobs, to the number of other foreign residents. Each region of Spain is very different and has its own customs, cuisine and even languages.
Almost 50 percent of British residents in Spain choose to live in either the region of Valencia or the region of Andalusia. This is generally because they are both coastal, have good year-round weather, are home to lots of other foreign residents and property prices are lower than in other regions such as Catalonia, Madrid or the Balearic Islands. If you plan on moving to Spain to start a business aimed at other foreign residents or tourists, or are retired, these regions can be good options.
However, if you hope to find a job in Spain, you will be better off in places where there are more jobs available in international companies such as in Madrid or Barcelona. Or maybe you want to totally immerse yourself in Spanish culture, don’t want to live near many other foreigners and want to be surrounded by nature, then you may want to choose somewhere in the north such as Galicia or Asturias.
Did you know that if you spend more than half the year in Spain (183 days or more), you'll be deemed a Spanish resident and, consequently, subject to Spanish taxation? While there are exceptions based on individual circumstances, such as familial and work-related factors, it's essential to be aware of this residency threshold and its implications on your tax obligations.
Delve into our comprehensive article written by Lauren Huges, a solicitor at H&N Abogados, a distinguished international law firm comprising seasoned lawyers from the UK and Spain.
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2 comments
Add your voice01 Jun. 2023
The possible removal of the “golden” is a worry.. we intend to live solely in Spain and one of us will still be working, self employed, as a sales director within an affiliate scheme… if the Golden visa is removed, what are the known options for us?
02 Jun. 2023
Hi Martin – we understand your concerns as it will affect many expats! We are monitoring the situation closely and will share any information we receive with our subscribers as it is released! For now, to understand any alternative visa options, it's always best to contact local authorities or the consulate in the country you have citizenship with.