PapaLima
American expat in Spain
Forum posts
105
Contacts
2
About me
American
Lives in Valencia
Registration: 20 February 2016
“Dual Citizenship” with USA & Spain by JonSidd
Hi! I’m new to the site (excited to be here) and have an important question about obtaining Spanish citizenship/renouncing my U.S. citizenship. My mother is Spanish (her entire family is from and still live in Jerez) and I’ve always ...
The pages are ... Read More
Non-Lucrative Resident Visa Process - Toronto Consulate by nowretired
Hello, Your input will be highly appreciated on your experience with obtaining the Non-lucrative Resident Visa at the Toronto consulate. We are familiar with the general process, but we are anxious to know the specifics at the consulate. While any ...
With the usual respect, Johncar, you're confused. For non-EU citizens, the process goes like this: 1) apply for and receive the non-lucrative visa at a Spanish consulate in their home nation 2) move to Spain 3) sign a long-term ... Read More
I want to teach English in Spain, and I have a 1 yr old baby... by AngelBuds
I know no one in Spain. Is it really smart or even somewhat safe to get my TEFL (Teach English certificate) while renting there? And then I would have to get childcare. Is this country known for taking advantage of women and children who ...
Unfortunately, as an American to get a working visa for Spain is nearly impossible for most jobs; it is particularly difficult as a language teacher. On top of that, with a basic teaching certification you would be lucky to get hired for more than ... Read More
DUAL NATIONALITY in SPAIN (for US natives)...RENOUNCE US Citizenship?! by nj_bcn
So, I just reached the final step in the 6-year process of being approved for Spanish nationality. I was filling out the online form to attend the "sworn oath" and when I reached the last of 4 steps, the button that says something like "I renounce ...
That Barcelona thing was apparently a single judge, and the courts put a stop to it pretty quickly. It is not occurring anymore. Read More
“Dual Citizenship” with USA & Spain by JonSidd
Hi! I’m new to the site (excited to be here) and have an important question about obtaining Spanish citizenship/renouncing my U.S. citizenship. My mother is Spanish (her entire family is from and still live in Jerez) and I’ve always ...
Spain might require you to say to them that you are "renouncing" your US citizenship, but you will not lose it unless you actually go to the US government and go through the process to formally renounce it. The US government ignores what ... Read More
“Dual Citizenship” with USA & Spain by JonSidd
Hi! I’m new to the site (excited to be here) and have an important question about obtaining Spanish citizenship/renouncing my U.S. citizenship. My mother is Spanish (her entire family is from and still live in Jerez) and I’ve always ...
It is nearly impossible to recover a US citizenship once it has been formally renounced. Note- "formally renounced" means going through the process with the US government, not anything that a US citizen has done with any foreign ... Read More
“Dual Citizenship” with USA & Spain by JonSidd
Hi! I’m new to the site (excited to be here) and have an important question about obtaining Spanish citizenship/renouncing my U.S. citizenship. My mother is Spanish (her entire family is from and still live in Jerez) and I’ve always ...
This is exactly how the US looks at it. They ask "did you mean to give up your US citizenship?" and if you say "no, I want to keep it", then the US still considers you a citizen. Since I will eventually receive an American ... Read More
Clearing your belongings through customs in Spain by Priscilla
Hello everyone, During ones big move abroad, shipping personal belongings to the host country can be stressful. Customs regulations differ from one country to another and you never quite know what to expect when trying to recover your belongings ...
I disagree on this score. There's no indication that new moves from the UK to Spain, post-Brexit, will be treated differently than any other non-EU citizen. Obviously the date that matters (assuming Brexit happens at all) would depend on a deal ... Read More
Clearing your belongings through customs in Spain by Priscilla
Hello everyone, During ones big move abroad, shipping personal belongings to the host country can be stressful. Customs regulations differ from one country to another and you never quite know what to expect when trying to recover your belongings ...
It might come as a shock to the Brits here, but people move to Spain from many nations that are outside of the EU. In fact, more people are here from non-EU nations than from the all of the EU, let alone from the UK. Clearing customs is ... Read More
I hesitate between Valencia and Malaga by European521
Hola todos Am a Canadian retiree and am planning to move to Spain. I hesitate between Valencia and Malaga and would like to have the opinion of other retirees who are living in either city. Muchas gracias!! D.
I'd echo Heidi- try them both instead of making up your mind without knowing. Malaga strikes me as having a higher percentage of English-speaking immigrants and expats, so integrating into a community for social life would probably be easier if ... Read More
“Dual Citizenship” with USA & Spain by JonSidd
Hi! I’m new to the site (excited to be here) and have an important question about obtaining Spanish citizenship/renouncing my U.S. citizenship. My mother is Spanish (her entire family is from and still live in Jerez) and I’ve always ...
You want to google the "non-lucrative" visa. Your husband should also get the document that shows him to be a citizen of PR. The PR Department of State issues a certificate or something, and when you guys apply, he should apply as a ... Read More
“Dual Citizenship” with USA & Spain by JonSidd
Hi! I’m new to the site (excited to be here) and have an important question about obtaining Spanish citizenship/renouncing my U.S. citizenship. My mother is Spanish (her entire family is from and still live in Jerez) and I’ve always ...
Dorothy, if your mother is Spanish then you are likely considered by Spain to be "Spanish by origin" and you can easily regain your Spanish nationality. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_nationality_law Additionally, even if you tell ... Read More
Relocating 2019 by Miloson
Hi Everyone first post on here so here goes. Looking to buy a place in 2019. State Pension would we still get it when we reach pension age if we locate to Spain. We have been looking in Composol area. Does, anyone know this area. We want to be near ...
Your pension question depends highly on what your government rules are. Many people in Spain have small dogs, but you will need to find out the rules for bringing yours into the EU- there are rules about having them examined by a veterinarian, ... Read More
infant school by Hava ansi
hello my name is hava we moved to valencia recently i would be happy to receive recommendations on kindergartens for ages 1 plus in rosafa erea Thanxs.
No, I'm afraid not. Read More
infant school by Hava ansi
hello my name is hava we moved to valencia recently i would be happy to receive recommendations on kindergartens for ages 1 plus in rosafa erea Thanxs.
Yes, they did take people from outside the school, I believe. Read More
infant school by Hava ansi
hello my name is hava we moved to valencia recently i would be happy to receive recommendations on kindergartens for ages 1 plus in rosafa erea Thanxs.
We keep our daughter at home, because we don't work, but some of the preschools (including Guppy) have a summer camp. In fact, summer camp is good because it is often in English, so it helps the kids with their language skills. Read More
infant school by Hava ansi
hello my name is hava we moved to valencia recently i would be happy to receive recommendations on kindergartens for ages 1 plus in rosafa erea Thanxs.
The big issue you have to decide is whether or not your child is going to be in Valencian schools past age 4. If so, and you want them to attend a concertado, then you need to get into a concertado now if at all possible, because that virtually ... Read More
Non-Lucrative Resident Visa Process - Toronto Consulate by nowretired
Hello, Your input will be highly appreciated on your experience with obtaining the Non-lucrative Resident Visa at the Toronto consulate. We are familiar with the general process, but we are anxious to know the specifics at the consulate. While any ...
The rationale for the figure is that the IPREM is what is used for income requirements. They require 400% of the IPREM for non-EU people on the non-lucrative visa. It's 25,800 or so in Euros; that's 29,400ish US dollars. (Looks like the ... Read More
Non-Lucrative Resident Visa Process - Toronto Consulate by nowretired
Hello, Your input will be highly appreciated on your experience with obtaining the Non-lucrative Resident Visa at the Toronto consulate. We are familiar with the general process, but we are anxious to know the specifics at the consulate. While any ...
Well, about three days after posting this, I just saw an American who was denied the non-lucrative visa because she did not have enough savings! She showed enough income for the visa, but basically has very little savings or investment accounts. ... Read More
English speaking mums and kids in Valencia by Helh
Hi, I have recently moved to Valencia from the UK with my 9 year old daughter. Just wondered if there are any English speaking mums with children in central Valencia who might be interested in meeting up? My daughter is missing her friends back in ...
Go to Facebook, search for "Bumps and Babies Valencia", and try to sign up for the group. There's also "Expats in Valencia" and that one doesn't require personal verification to sign up, so you could get on there and ... Read More
Just Arrived and Overwhelmed by RestaurantDoc
My wife and I just retired to Spain, fresh new non-lucrative visas in hand. We've rented an apartment in Daimus for a month or so while we secure a long term lease elsewhere. We have our NIEs, but no Spanish language ability, we know no one in ...
Incorrect, at least in Valencia as of last week. They even have a policeman in front of their office who separates people into two lines, those with appointments and those who are just there to ask questions/get information or pick up their cards ... Read More
Just Arrived and Overwhelmed by RestaurantDoc
My wife and I just retired to Spain, fresh new non-lucrative visas in hand. We've rented an apartment in Daimus for a month or so while we secure a long term lease elsewhere. We have our NIEs, but no Spanish language ability, we know no one in ...
Yes, you are correct- you can't get on the padron until you have a long-term residence, which you prove by either showing your purchase paperwork if you bought a place; or by showing your lease, if you rented. You only are supposed to *request* ... Read More
Just Arrived and Overwhelmed by RestaurantDoc
My wife and I just retired to Spain, fresh new non-lucrative visas in hand. We've rented an apartment in Daimus for a month or so while we secure a long term lease elsewhere. We have our NIEs, but no Spanish language ability, we know no one in ...
Gestors can help people whether they're from the EU or from non-EU nations. Sometimes you'll find that some of the gestors are more familiar with the EU requirements, but then again, those requirements are more easily met so it's more ... Read More
Blocked Bank Account by GuestPoster256
Hi all, I hope everyone is well. This is my first time posting on a forum for help with these matters. I'm normally pretty stubborn about these things - trying to do things myself, trying to do things properly and legally, etc - however, ...
Thanks for the reminder. I'll point out that you have not been presenting these things as opinions. You state them as fact, and assert that you know better because of your "work with the police" for many years. Yet when someone else ... Read More
Non-Lucrative Resident Visa Process - Toronto Consulate by nowretired
Hello, Your input will be highly appreciated on your experience with obtaining the Non-lucrative Resident Visa at the Toronto consulate. We are familiar with the general process, but we are anxious to know the specifics at the consulate. While any ...
Honestly, if you are comfortably over the minimum income, I wouldn't worry about the savings part. Providing them with a full financial picture will help, but if you've got a solid income stream that's established for several months or a ... Read More
Blocked Bank Account by GuestPoster256
Hi all, I hope everyone is well. This is my first time posting on a forum for help with these matters. I'm normally pretty stubborn about these things - trying to do things myself, trying to do things properly and legally, etc - however, ...
I'm not "interpreting" anything. I'm reading what the government web sites actually say. The person who is (as usual) saying what HE believes but not providing any actual proof is you. "What's the deadline for an EU ... Read More
English speaking mums and kids in Valencia by Helh
Hi, I have recently moved to Valencia from the UK with my 9 year old daughter. Just wondered if there are any English speaking mums with children in central Valencia who might be interested in meeting up? My daughter is missing her friends back in ...
For all of you English-speaking moms, there is a Facebook group for Valencia expats called "Bumps and Babies" or "Bumps and Babies Valencia", or something like that, and they have a few hundred members and hold get-togethers and ... Read More
Blocked Bank Account by GuestPoster256
Hi all, I hope everyone is well. This is my first time posting on a forum for help with these matters. I'm normally pretty stubborn about these things - trying to do things myself, trying to do things properly and legally, etc - however, ...
I understand that this is what you believe. However, it is not what the Spanish government's web site says. From ... Read More
Non-Lucrative Resident Visa Process - Toronto Consulate by nowretired
Hello, Your input will be highly appreciated on your experience with obtaining the Non-lucrative Resident Visa at the Toronto consulate. We are familiar with the general process, but we are anxious to know the specifics at the consulate. While any ...
1- The issue with the address continually appears. The answer seems to vary by consulate, which is ridiculous and shouldn't happen, but it does. In my case, when I applied at the San Francisco consulate, they only wanted us to write down what ... Read More
Blocked Bank Account by GuestPoster256
Hi all, I hope everyone is well. This is my first time posting on a forum for help with these matters. I'm normally pretty stubborn about these things - trying to do things myself, trying to do things properly and legally, etc - however, ...
You are supposed to register within 90 days of arriving in Spain, not "immediately". It sounds like you have already done this, so it's hard to say what more it is that you are supposed to do. You've set up your business. ... Read More
Blocked Bank Account by GuestPoster256
Hi all, I hope everyone is well. This is my first time posting on a forum for help with these matters. I'm normally pretty stubborn about these things - trying to do things myself, trying to do things properly and legally, etc - however, ...
I don't know about the law, but I know Sabadell opened an account for us using only our US passport numbers, not our NIEs. We had the NIE issued (the number itself was on our visa page in our passport) but they did not use it, saying that they ... Read More
Ship car from U.S. to Spain by rcb1392
Hello. We are planning to retire to Spain and were wondering if shipping a car is an option. Is there any website available that explains the rules? We can get quotes from many sources, but no information about what is legal for the vehicle ...
Don't do it. It's not worth it. In addition to the hassle of the importation itself (customs, shipping, etc) you also have to get the car approved for use on the roads here- which means it needs to meet all the local/EU standards for lights, ... Read More
Non Lucrative Visa - US Questions by turnstray
I'm finishing getting all of my documents together to be translated for the Non-Lucrative visa and have 2 questions for anyone who may have gone through the process already. 1. Do I need to get the National Visa Application translated? It was ...
This is ironic, because the 100K amount is utterly incorrect. Applicants for the non-lucrative visa need to show a minimum income, which is 400% of the IPREM for the first family member and 100% of the IPREM for each additional family member. ... Read More
Family Relocation to Madrid by Dorit_35
Hello, We are a small family (husband, 4 year old son and myself) looking to relocate from Israel in 2020, to Madrid. I have done a small research about long term visa documents, but i still have a few questions: 1. Is the best way of filling a long ...
Okay, that depends... if your business is something you will do here in Spain, you would need to be autonomos. The process to get that visa is more complicated, as you have to show a business plan that will be checked and approved by the Spanish ... Read More
Family Relocation to Madrid by Dorit_35
Hello, We are a small family (husband, 4 year old son and myself) looking to relocate from Israel in 2020, to Madrid. I have done a small research about long term visa documents, but i still have a few questions: 1. Is the best way of filling a long ...
It depends on whether you are going to work or not. Work visas for non-EU nations are much more difficult to obtain. Normally you would need to have a job offer from a Spanish company before you apply for the visa. If you are NOT going to work, ... Read More
Closing costs in Spain by DavidTowers
Every publication I read about purchasing property in Spain says that the closing costs for a buyer will amount to between 10% and 15% of the purchase price. I can understand legal fees being involved but what makes up the rest of the costs? Does ...
Our flat wound up being right around 14% of extra closing costs. 10% is the tax, and the other 4% was all the various fees and real estate agent commission and so forth. The 10% tax is the biggie on existing properties. It's because Spanish ... Read More
timetable for non-lucrative visa
My mother-in-law just applied last week at the San Francisco consulate, and they told her she could expect an answer within 2 to 4 weeks. When we applied two years ago in SFO, it took 5 or 6 weeks to get our answer. It's really not that ... Read More
Health insurance - pre-existing conditions by CooleyCasa
Hi everyone! My husband and I just had our visas approved and will be moving to Spain on Sept. 17. We currently have travel insurance to satisfy our visa requirements, but we would like to find more comprehensive coverage. Can anyone recommend ...
My wife is on the convenio especial and she does not work. I am pretty sure that so long as you pay the premiums, they don't care whether you're working or not. Information on the Andalucian web site: ... Read More
becoming tax resident by Johncar
People coming to live in Spain should be aware that one becomes tax resident if :- their centre of economic activity is in Spain, they move here, their family live here, they have no other country where they are registered ...
Johncar, you appear to have not read my post completely. In addition to the 183 day rule, I also pointed out: But if you sold everything in the UK and wrapped it all up and moved, the Spanish tax authorities would probably have an argument that you ... Read More
becoming tax resident by Johncar
People coming to live in Spain should be aware that one becomes tax resident if :- their centre of economic activity is in Spain, they move here, their family live here, they have no other country where they are registered ...
My understanding is that "tax residency" and "residency" (in the sense of becoming a registered resident as an EU citizen) are two different things, and that there's a multi-prong test for what it takes to become a tax ... Read More
Civil marriage in Spain with non-EU citizen by Funky_ally
Hello everyone! I'm writing to you to ask some questions about civil marriage in Spain. I get little confused because I've found different information while searching about it online. I'm Polish and my boyfriend is from North Africa. ...
As it turns out, the Spanish government's web site also lists the requirements for this situation, and it also does not say that a valid visa is required. The documents required for making this application can be found ... Read More
Civil marriage in Spain with non-EU citizen by Funky_ally
Hello everyone! I'm writing to you to ask some questions about civil marriage in Spain. I get little confused because I've found different information while searching about it online. I'm Polish and my boyfriend is from North Africa. ...
But if you come into Spain from another Schengen nation, you don't need to show a visa; and the EU regulation is quite clear, the authorities cannot ask you for a valid visa in the residency permitting process. Thus, someone with an expired ... Read More
Civil marriage in Spain with non-EU citizen by Funky_ally
Hello everyone! I'm writing to you to ask some questions about civil marriage in Spain. I get little confused because I've found different information while searching about it online. I'm Polish and my boyfriend is from North Africa. ...
This is incorrect information. The proper information can be found on the EU's web page titled Registering your non-EU family members in another EU country at ... Read More
Civil marriage in Spain with non-EU citizen by Funky_ally
Hello everyone! I'm writing to you to ask some questions about civil marriage in Spain. I get little confused because I've found different information while searching about it online. I'm Polish and my boyfriend is from North Africa. ...
Because frequently the things people ask are important enough that they should consult with an expert, not someone talking out of their butt. If someone has personal experience with a question, then by all means they can answer it with some ... Read More
Looking for anyone that has become a Spanish citizen by cluworld360
My family and I am planning to move to Spain and would like to know what to expect in applying for citizenship. My wife is Filipina and I am American. After the 2 year waiting period of living there as perm resident, does it take long in getting ...
If your wife becomes a Spanish citizen, then after one year of living in Spain married to a Spanish citizen you are eligible to apply for Spanish citizenship yourself. The problem is that while your wife is indeed eligible to apply after two years, ... Read More
Civil marriage in Spain with non-EU citizen by Funky_ally
Hello everyone! I'm writing to you to ask some questions about civil marriage in Spain. I get little confused because I've found different information while searching about it online. I'm Polish and my boyfriend is from North Africa. ...
You need to consult with an attorney. That is simply all there is to it. Your situation is difficult enough and rare, so the odds are very much against anyone on this forum being able to help. The main thing you need, I would assume, is to be able ... Read More
Repost: NON-EU FAMILY MEMBER OF EU CITIZEN NEEDS WORK VISA? by cheskafrencis
Hello everybody! I hope someone here will help my situation. I am a non-EU family member of an EU citizen legally residing in my husband's home country (Romania). We both plan to go to Spain and work for a seasonal job. My question is, can I ...
A couple of points of clarification. A "NIE" is simply a NUMBER... it stands for Numero Identidad Extranjero. Often, people refer to the physical card or paper that foreigners (extranjeros) get as the "NIE", but that's ... Read More
Not becoming a tax resident. by blackrabbit
Hi, I am a new member here and have a couple of questions to help me on planning. Here is the background and what I want to achieve: My two young children will be going to a Spanish private school for two years for an experience later this year. My ...
Thank you Jose for the clarification, this is exactly what my lawyer told me. My assumption is also that no proactive steps are needed if one continues for file US taxes and remain a US tax resident. In other words no Spanish tax filing needed ... Read More
Not becoming a tax resident. by blackrabbit
Hi, I am a new member here and have a couple of questions to help me on planning. Here is the background and what I want to achieve: My two young children will be going to a Spanish private school for two years for an experience later this year. My ...
Again, nobody has suggested that someone wouldn't be in the tax system. What has been pointed out is that "being in the tax system" and "being tax resident in Spain and therefore required to pay taxes" are two different ... Read More
Not becoming a tax resident. by blackrabbit
Hi, I am a new member here and have a couple of questions to help me on planning. Here is the background and what I want to achieve: My two young children will be going to a Spanish private school for two years for an experience later this year. My ...
It's an American writing to another American about the tax treaty between America and Spain. What would you expect? 1) I the double taxation agreement I still cannot find anything that says that when you spend more than 183 days a year in ... Read More
Not becoming a tax resident. by blackrabbit
Hi, I am a new member here and have a couple of questions to help me on planning. Here is the background and what I want to achieve: My two young children will be going to a Spanish private school for two years for an experience later this year. My ...
Well, yes, like we said you have to file some declarations, too. But it's important to note that much of what we're discussing aren't "just American laws". The US/Spain tax treaty isn't only American; it's Spanish, ... Read More
Not becoming a tax resident. by blackrabbit
Hi, I am a new member here and have a couple of questions to help me on planning. Here is the background and what I want to achieve: My two young children will be going to a Spanish private school for two years for an experience later this year. My ...
The US/Spain tax treaty is available online and is relatively clear on this matter. We are in a similar situation; all of our income originates in the US, we are here in Spain on a non-lucrative visa, and our kid is in a private school. We also ... Read More
Health insurance - pre-existing conditions by CooleyCasa
Hi everyone! My husband and I just had our visas approved and will be moving to Spain on Sept. 17. We currently have travel insurance to satisfy our visa requirements, but we would like to find more comprehensive coverage. Can anyone recommend ...
Many Americans have been approved (most likely incorrectly) for the non-lucrative visa with only travel insurance, as opposed to full-blown medical insurance. This often creates a situation where you can slide through the cracks for the first year, ... Read More
becoming tax resident by Johncar
People coming to live in Spain should be aware that one becomes tax resident if :- their centre of economic activity is in Spain, they move here, their family live here, they have no other country where they are registered ...
The biggest thing worth noting (in my opinion) about Brexit is that it's important to have residency established prior to the end of the transition period. Right now, the draft agreement between the UK and the EU says that those people who had ... Read More
Non-Lucrative Visa Requirements (Non - EU) by kitthornton
Good day, I'm Kit Thornton, a lawyer and author from the United States. My wife and I intend to retire to Valencia in February 2019. We're familiar with most of the requirements regarding documentation, background checks and etc., but what ...
The question of whether an applicant needs to have income, or if simply having enough resources in the bank to prove their ability to take care of themself, is one that's never (to my knowledge) been answered definitively. Most of the Spanish ... Read More
“Dual Citizenship” with USA & Spain by JonSidd
Hi! I’m new to the site (excited to be here) and have an important question about obtaining Spanish citizenship/renouncing my U.S. citizenship. My mother is Spanish (her entire family is from and still live in Jerez) and I’ve always ...
It is a very common misconception that you need to give up your US citizenship to gain Spanish citizenship. This is not true. Basically, Spain requires you to say that you are renouncing your US citizenship and becoming a national of Spain. BUT... ... Read More
Rules about moving from Portugal to Spain as a US Expat by MTracy123
As US expats, If we move to Portugal and later decide to move to Spain, do we have to go back to the US to complete the residency paperwork required by Spain? Thanks so much!
If you are US expats, your residency and visas for Portugal would NOT be any good in Spain. Each nation has its own process for non-EU nationals. Having residency permission in one EU nation does not entitle you to move to another EU nation. The ... Read More
becoming tax resident by Johncar
People coming to live in Spain should be aware that one becomes tax resident if :- their centre of economic activity is in Spain, they move here, their family live here, they have no other country where they are registered ...
There's actually a newer version of the US/Spain treaty that's been written and agreed upon, but it was under the Obama Administration and the US Senate needs to ratify it. Unfortunately, given our internal political situation, the odds of ... Read More
Looking for other English speaking Mums and children in Valencia by Jo Valencia
Hi. I'm Jo and have been living in Valencia for almost 5 years years now. I have 2 small children (3 1/2 year old and 16 month old) and would love to meet up with other English speaking Mums and children in Valencia. Let me know if anyone is ...
Nora, if you use Facebook, look for the group "bumps and babies Valencia" and ask to be added. My wife is on it, it's fairly active, and would be a great resource. Read More
Americans moving to Valencia.......maybe? by nyyfan30
Hi there. My wife and I are planning to move to Europe within the next 2-3 years (we hope). We will be young retired people. We have narrowed it down to Lisbon and Valencia.....and we would be doing the Golden Visa program. Each city has ...
If you want more natives and fewer expats, then you want Valencia proper over Alicante. Alicante is a really big expat area, compared with Valencia city and the immediate suburbs. Both are great overall, of course. If you want a house I'd ... Read More
Non-Lucrative Visa Requirements (Non - EU) by kitthornton
Good day, I'm Kit Thornton, a lawyer and author from the United States. My wife and I intend to retire to Valencia in February 2019. We're familiar with most of the requirements regarding documentation, background checks and etc., but what ...
This is incorrect for non-EU citizens applying to live in Spain on a non-lucrative visa. The minimum income for a family is just over 25,800 euros per year, plus an additional (approx) 6,400 euros per additional person. What people need to search ... Read More
Why does no-one want to come and live in Costa de Valencia? by Barnie
I hear lots of properties being sold or people looking for properties in the mucia/and north Costa Blanca areas (Javea, Calpe etc.) Can someone tell me whether Valencia is not thought of as a place to live? why don't people look for properties ...
To be blunt, if you are not getting any interest in a property that you're trying to sell, you're probably overpriced. I know this is an old post but this is strictly common sense. Read More
becoming tax resident by Johncar
People coming to live in Spain should be aware that one becomes tax resident if :- their centre of economic activity is in Spain, they move here, their family live here, they have no other country where they are registered ...
For Americans moving to Spain, it is worth reading the US-Spain tax treaty. Depending on your circumstances, you might not become a tax resident of Spain, even if you meet any or all of the criteria that Johncar details above. Note: this does NOT ... Read More
Valencia IBI per year payment
IBI is not a very high tax. Figure on 300-450 euros a year for a flat that sells today for 250,000 euros. Read More
Modify Visa Type? Non-Lucrative >> ?? by lashend
Dear Expat Experts :) Im awaiting, with fingers crossed, a non-lucrative residence visa now. I hope to make this move to Spain permanent, and I thought Id laid out a good plan. My good plan is turning out to be not so well laid: Id thought that I ...
I beg to differ. There is a specific US/Spain tax treaty that controls how taxes are divided between the two nations when someone winds up owing (or potentially owing) tax to both of them. For example, if someone owns a business in the US and ... Read More
Thinking of buying an apartment by Johnboy
I’m interested in buying a holiday home in Alicante city, seen apartments advertised at £30 - £40,000 - would these be in areas which are safe. Looking for areas that are quiet and on the tram/bus route also would like to be close to ...
Notaries are actually specially-trained lawyers, not like a notary in the US. The notary that handles the transaction is normally NOT your own personal lawyer and they do not represent you as a buyer, so my advice is that you hire your own ... Read More
Modify Visa Type? Non-Lucrative >> ?? by lashend
Dear Expat Experts :) Im awaiting, with fingers crossed, a non-lucrative residence visa now. I hope to make this move to Spain permanent, and I thought Id laid out a good plan. My good plan is turning out to be not so well laid: Id thought that I ...
This is an area where there is much confusion, because there are any number of people who have entered on a non-lucractive (NL) visa but are still working remotely as the way of providing themselves income. The problem is that the laws have not ... Read More
Non lucrative visa and remote work for Canadians by Asmaa_H
Hi everyone! There does not seem to be a lot of Canadians here but I will take my chance anyways. I have a job in Canada that allows me to work remotely. This, according to several Spanish lawyers, should allow me to have the Non lucrative visa. ...
But it is not illegal to have business income from the US or Canada when you are living in Spain on a non-lucrative visa. Otherwise, without income, nobody could get the non-lucrative visa to begin with. The Spanish consulate in San Francisco, for ... Read More
Non lucrative visa and remote work for Canadians by Asmaa_H
Hi everyone! There does not seem to be a lot of Canadians here but I will take my chance anyways. I have a job in Canada that allows me to work remotely. This, according to several Spanish lawyers, should allow me to have the Non lucrative visa. ...
It's not illegal to work a job in Canada from Spain on a non-lucrative visa (NLV). What matters is where the *job* is at, not where the work is being performed; in this situation, you're not taking a job away from a Spaniard or even an EU ... Read More
VISA Stamp in passport for Spain by Lakmurali
Hi, I got my NIE card recently.Do we need a new VISA stamp in passport to travel India and come back to Spain ?
Yes, you can leave and then re-enter. That is why you have "MULT" entries. However, like John said, when you return (and you must be certain to return prior to the visa's 90 day expiration limit) you should check with extranjeria to ... Read More
VISA Stamp in passport for Spain by Lakmurali
Hi, I got my NIE card recently.Do we need a new VISA stamp in passport to travel India and come back to Spain ?
Murali, John's answer is mostly correct, but not entirely. As an Indian citizen, you absolutely do need a visa to enter Spain and the Schengen area; BUT... your PERMISO DE RESIDENCIA card serves as that visa as long as it is in effect. Your ... Read More
Investing in Spanish property by Lans 67
Hi, I am a Dutch man living in Bulgaria. I am looking into diversifying my investments. I am researching the possibilities to buy Spanish property through my Bulgarian company, fix them up where necessary (probably in this case, because of what I ...
From a purely business point of view, of course buying and renting out properties can be a very good business. From a practical point of view, Spain does have relatively high transaction costs on properties. When you buy, because of the 12-15% ... Read More
Residency or Citizenship? by travelerww
I am a retired US citizen with a Spanish Residency permit. Am now eligible to apply for Spanish Citizenship. Is there any advantage to becoming a citizen of Spain, other than being able to vote?
Yes, John, everyone knows your views about the morality of the subject. Thank you for yet again chiming in. Have you ever heard of anyone ever getting in trouble with the Spanish government for this? On the flip side, surely you know that there ... Read More
Residency or Citizenship? by travelerww
I am a retired US citizen with a Spanish Residency permit. Am now eligible to apply for Spanish Citizenship. Is there any advantage to becoming a citizen of Spain, other than being able to vote?
Re: healthcare- look into the convenio especial. It's the Spanish national health plan, but you pay for it separately. Downsides to joining are that your coverage is only good within Spain, but at least it's a way for US citizens to join ... Read More
Moving to Madrid
I've got no help on the visa issue, but there's lots online of course. But I can tell you one thing- be ready to get a pretty low wage compared with the US. I pay 20 euros a haircut in a reasonably upscale-ish salon in an ... Read More
Spanish dual nationality and double-taxation by nomadguiri
Hello, I’m an American who has lived in Spain for the past 17 years, married to a Spaniard, and interested in the possibility of acquiring Spanish nationality. Discussions in this site seem to confirm that although acquiring Spanish ...
John, if you don't want to do dual citizenship, nobody's making you. Read More
Thinking to move to Spain by jsquier
Hi! My name is Jessica, you can call me Jess :)........I was born in Lima, Peru and moved to Texas in 1986, married with 3 grown sons. With the none sense going on in the USA, (no my president) my husband and I are thinking to move to Europe since ...
Hi Jess! My wife and I are in a similar situation- she moved from Lima to the States in the 80s as a teenager and then we moved to Valencia last year. You have it a lot easier with the Italian/EU citizenship, because with that you can move ... Read More
Thinking to move to Spain by jsquier
Hi! My name is Jessica, you can call me Jess :)........I was born in Lima, Peru and moved to Texas in 1986, married with 3 grown sons. With the none sense going on in the USA, (no my president) my husband and I are thinking to move to Europe since ...
Sergi, I am in a very similar situation to Jessica, and I can tell you that in many many ways, Spain is better than the US is right now. If the quality of Trump's work mattered, he wouldn't have been elected in the first place. He was a ... Read More
Spanish dual nationality and double-taxation by nomadguiri
Hello, I’m an American who has lived in Spain for the past 17 years, married to a Spaniard, and interested in the possibility of acquiring Spanish nationality. Discussions in this site seem to confirm that although acquiring Spanish ...
I agree with this assessment. I also agree with you that you do NOT have to actually renounce your US citizenship; you only have to promise Spain that you are renouncing your US citizenship. In fact, I just talked with a US Consulate official in ... Read More
Requirements to bring your elderly parents from USA by GuestPoster151
Hi everyone! A friend of mine from USA with residence card in Spain wants to bring her mom too through the family reunification procedure (Reagrupación Familiar described here: ...
I think the family reunification, where the mother comes to Spain and applies from here, makes the most sense. Going to the consulate or embassy in the US does take a long time (the paperwork has to go from there to Madrid) and of course the cost ... Read More
relocating to Barcelona by maria teresa ubide
:) I am a dual citizen US and Spain. Retired school teacher in Wisconsin. I receive two pensions une the Social Security and the other the state of Wisconsin. My one and only question: I pay my taxes in Wisconsin and IRS. When I relocate to ...
You're going to have to file tax returns in both nations, but the good news is that there's a strong likelihood that your pensions won't be taxed by both nations- only one. See https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-trty/spain.pdf and view Article ... Read More
Getting NIE, residency, becoming autonomo by tom_h_1980
Hi there Apologies at rehashing a very familiar thread. I'm hoping that someone has had recent experience of moving to Valencia and setting up as an autonomo, and wouldn't mind sharing it with me. After several years of a long distance ...
For what it's worth, we had to get our tarjetas residencia at the office at Calle Gremis, 6, in Valencia. We went in a couple of days ahead of the appointment and they have an information desk just inside the front door. There's a cop ... Read More
Expats, do you speak Spanish? by Priscilla
Hi everyone, It is widely agreed that speaking Spanish is essential for a successful integration in Spain. Do you agree? Share your experience! Do you speak Spanish? If so, where did you learn this language? Where can one attend a language course ...
After living here for several months, and living with my wife (native Spanish speaker) for several years, I can testify that Spaniards speak Spanish pretty dang fast. Not as fast as many Argentines (though whether they actually speak Spanish is in ... Read More
Family Doctor in Valencia
We looked a LOT for a good doctor. We got lucky in that we found a pediatrician we absolutely love, but... he's in the downtown area (Gran Via part of Eixample, to be exact) and he only speaks Spanish (my wife is fluent.) We did find a lot of ... Read More
Getting NIE, residency, becoming autonomo by tom_h_1980
Hi there Apologies at rehashing a very familiar thread. I'm hoping that someone has had recent experience of moving to Valencia and setting up as an autonomo, and wouldn't mind sharing it with me. After several years of a long distance ...
Banco Sabadell let us (Americans) open an account with only our passports; once our tarjeta residencias were issued to us (meaning we had our NIEs in a formal document) we went back in and they changed the account type over to one for Spanish ... Read More
Requirements to bring your elderly parents from USA by GuestPoster151
Hi everyone! A friend of mine from USA with residence card in Spain wants to bring her mom too through the family reunification procedure (Reagrupación Familiar described here: ...
I can't offer anything on the particular visa you're talking about, but when we originally applied to move to Spain (husband, wife, 3-year old daughter) on a non-lucrative visa, we also applied for my wife's mother to come. My ... Read More
Expats, do you speak Spanish? by Priscilla
Hi everyone, It is widely agreed that speaking Spanish is essential for a successful integration in Spain. Do you agree? Share your experience! Do you speak Spanish? If so, where did you learn this language? Where can one attend a language course ...
Matty, there's a local bar that does language exchange on Monday and Tuesday evenings. It's called the Portland Ale House, on Salamanca just south of the Rio Turia in the Gran Via neighborhood. I haven't yet been myself but plan on ... Read More
Do Spain allow a Long stay Visa for ward? by BlueMoonx47
I am an expat living in Spain. My wife has guardianship of her niece, and we would like to bring her to live with us. Will Spain allow a long stay visa for a child who is a guardian, not biological nor adopted? Regards
Sorry to hear that it didn't work out. How old is the ward? That would be one important factor, I believe. If she's old enough for a student visa, then it sounds like she's 18, which is different than being an underage person. It ... Read More
Do Spain allow a Long stay Visa for ward? by BlueMoonx47
I am an expat living in Spain. My wife has guardianship of her niece, and we would like to bring her to live with us. Will Spain allow a long stay visa for a child who is a guardian, not biological nor adopted? Regards
Where are you moving from? EU nation, or non-EU? I'm from the USA and when we applied for our visas, we included my wife's mother in our family. She is elderly, retired, and has very limited income, and they approved her visa based on us ... Read More
Are you happy in Spain? by Priscilla
Hello everyone! According to the 2016 UN World Happiness Survey, Denmark, Switzerland and Iceland are the happiest countries on earth. How about you? Are you happy in Spain? Do you feel happier today in your host country than before in your ...
Bruce, healthcare is an issue but perhaps not as bad as you might think. Some health plans in the US cover overseas; I'm a retired federal employee and my Blue Cross coverage pays the same benefits here (I live in Valencia) as it did at home. ... Read More
ideal retirement spot?? by bklynboy
Hi, my wife and i wish to retire to spain. we travelled there last may.From barcelona south to La Manga) we felt that the further south you go from Valencia the more "remote" it gets. we are on a limited budget (social security) and ask ...
I wouldn't be quick to assume that some of the towns were more active prior to the recession. Spain has a rhythm and pace of life that is very different than the US- especially in the big American cities! One thing that is worth considering is ... Read More
Move to Spain? by glennrussellm1
I am retired by the U.S. military. I have a decent pension. I write books full time. I have much work done but nothing successfully published in any way. It is very, very difficult I have found to break into the USA book industry. I am 54. I live ...
Hi Glenn... I am a retired federal employee and my wife (former Navy) and I moved to Valencia, Spain with our daughter. We faced many of the same issues that you are thinking of. I think that you have a lot to think about. A few things worth ... Read More
Spanish Passport Application
Yes, but to gain Spanish citizenship by rights of being a citizen of an Iberoamerican nation, you need to have lived in Spain for two years and be living there when you apply. Read More
Cost of Health Insurance by mtiller
Hi, My husband & I Live in US. Are ready to make the move within the next year. We are retiring early, so money could be a bit tight. Can anyone give us an idea who offers the best health insurance ? And a safe beautiful area in Spain? Thank you ...
I would second the recommendation for Sanitas. Their cost was very low for my mother-in-law, who is in her 70s and therefore not covered by Medicare (it doesn't cover outside of the States). Read More
Insurance coverage in Spain by Kenjee
Hello everyone, Moving abroad requires adequate insurance coverage. What type of insurance expatriates need the most in Spain: health, house or liability insurance? All of them? Do they come as a package? Are there other insurance options ...
I had to get health coverage for my mother-in-law, as Medicare wouldn't cover her (it is only good in the USA) and we pay less than that for her coverage- and she's in her 70s. I would urge you to contact Sanitas. We haven't moved yet ... Read More
Health Insurance - Family Coverage
My 75 yo mother in law was able to get coverage for a very reasonable price with Sanitas. Application process a bit clunky but it worked. Read More
In retrospect, would you move again to Spain? by Christine
Hi all, If you had to look back on your expat experience in Spain, would you heartily say "lets do it again"? From the preparation stage to your actual everyday life in your new country, what did you enjoy the most? Would you do certain ...
I'm curious... what is it that was tough there? Read More
DUAL NATIONALITY in SPAIN (for US natives)...RENOUNCE US Citizenship?! by nj_bcn
So, I just reached the final step in the 6-year process of being approved for Spanish nationality. I was filling out the online form to attend the "sworn oath" and when I reached the last of 4 steps, the button that says something like "I renounce ...
The US Government actually has a web page about this very question. The short answer is that no, getting naturalized in Spain and even saying (to the Spanish authorities) that you are going to give up your USA citizenship will NOT automatically put ... Read More