Moving to the area for 6 months to 1 year

Hi there.  Just trying to help you here on a few issues, don't want to make you feel down but giving you a few points.

1.  There is a very high unemployment rate in Spain.  You may be lucky as your trade is a bit specialist.

2.  Honestly, best to be probably near to fluent in the language.

3.  Health Care.  Presently if you are below State Penion Age (UK) you will not qualify for long term health care.  You will have to fund financially yourselves.  Ireland, not sure there of rules.

4.  If you spend more than 183 days in Spain you are obliged to be classed as a Resident under Government (Spanish Rules) Regulations.  

Hope this helps.

Margaret 

Thanks Margaret, really appreciate the advise, I had heard that the unemployment rate was high. I'd love to start up my own business out there do you or anyone have any advise on new businesses and is there a market for speciality baked goods and cakes? 

I will pm you. 

Marg

My  advice is stay where you are. The threat of Brexit has shot the value of Sterling down the pan. To come here now .... unless you have a private income or loadsa cash in dollars ... will be financial suicide. Once Brexit actuallly hits, then ........

Thanks for your advise. Good to hear different points of view. 

Thanks for your advise. Good to hear different points of view. 

It's difficult to give advice on this topic as a move like this has its pros and cons. I do, however, see the current work climate as being the biggest obstacle. I speak Spanish fluently and I found it hard to find work here, and for that reason I went freelance. And going freelance ("autónomo" here in Spain) is expensive, especially when starting out, as you have to pay a fixed social security payment every month. In terms of the health system, I find it very good here - one of the reasons why I moved back to Spain (plus I couldn't take the constant rain in Donegal anymore!). But I would definitely start by learning the language and taking it from there.

Thanks so much good advise, with regards the social security payment each month is that quite a high amount? I've started working on the language. We are going to tick that box first and move onto the next thing after that. Yes the constant rain in Ireland is sometime hard to cope with, it is such a beautiful place when the sun shines. Thanks again. 

Hi! In terms of the social security payment, I think the cost depends on how long you've been freelance or not (I think it's lower in the first three years but I can't be sure). For example, I've been freelance for four years and I pay a fixed social security payment of 190 euros a month. I also have to pay my taxes every three months and with each invoice I have to deduct 15% IRPF (Spanish Personal Income Tax), which, based on yearly earnings, may be returned the following year when you complete your tax returns. I'm not a numbers person so I have an "asesoría" who takes care of my paperwork (I pay 100 euros every three months to this company). It's not like in Ireland where you pay tax based on how much you have earned. This is my specific case but it gives you an idea.