Retiring from the UK to Gozo

@keithbarry I cane to Gozo 7 years ago with around €1k and 2 suitcases. The health care  is excellent and is free social services are also 1st class.

As it Happens I will be going back to the UK as soon as it can be arranged as I want to end my days wth my family all as none are here. I'm 72 so I'm sure you're younger.

Gozo is great enjoy and good luck.

Ps I'll  e having a big house contents sale 😉

I wonder if anyone has any info re. retiring as a UK citizen to Gozo. In particular how much pension must one have/and or capital?
Thanks,

k
-@keithbarry

Since Brexit it is not easy to move here as you are now a TCN (third country national). Look on the Identity Malta website for upto date information.

Just overcome all obstacles and do it.

--------

Top 24 reasons why I love living in Żebbug, Gozo:

1. Views

2. Views

3. Views

4. Ramla Beach!

5. Ramla Beach!

6. Quiet village at the end of the world. It sits on top of 160 meters high hill.   We are at the end of a dead-end street.   Enough free parking to park a boat (or two, or three) for the Winter. 

Or have  buddies to show up for the Summer with their caravans.

7. ❗Modest, honest, humble, fair, polite, respectful (you can see it on their driving habits. No honking allowed in Gozo or you look like an idiot!),

unstressed and very friendly Gozitans what they call themselves.

Huggy-huggy, kissy-kissy type of families. Just like ours.

They all speak perfect English! ( Unlike in Toronto these days where only fraction of people actually speaks English. We are so glad that we escaped that rat race!)

I love them all! ❤️❤️

8. The weather! ❤️ That sea scented air!! ❤️ Sounds of surf! ❤️ Palms and Cactuses everywhere! ❤️

9. You don't have to lock you car!!! You can leave your motorcycle helmet or a bag of groceries hanging right on your mirror when going to a supermarket!

LAZY MAN'S HEAVEN: 😃

10. Bakery truck honks right at our house every day at 9:15, six days a week

11. Produce, freshly picked,  ripe, LOCAL fruit and vegetables that never saw a big truck or fridge (aaaahhhhh)

/ mixed groceries truck right at the house at 11 am, six days a week

12. Fish truck shows up once a week. On  Friday, naturally.

13. Propane tank exchange truck is by our house every second day.

Propane is used in Malta for cooking/winter heating

14. Free pickup and delivery of freshly washed, dried and folded laundry from

Gozo Laundry & Dry Cleaning Limited. They call before they leave for deliveries.

15. Free delivery of groceries and stuff from most other stores (with purchases over 50€)

16. Bolt scooter shows up with great local food really quick.

Local 6euro Francesco's pizzas are amazingly tasty.

Free delivery even when you order only one.

They also deliver beer and wine!

17. Free curbside garbage pickup six days a week. Even on holidays.

18. The easiest online shopping I've experienced in my life.   No websites, no complicated eshops. No credit card needed. Gozo stores have just simple FB marketplace page.   You choose what you want and messenger them.   

When someone replies, you write them what you want.  Negotiate the price.

Ask them how soon they can deliver. If same day.

They apologize that, before noon, sorry,  it's not possible.  But if around 2pm would be alright?

Cash on delivery.

Amazon truly sucks compared with this 😃

FREE FOOD!! DID I SAY, FREE? YES!

19. Free ham and cold cuts in a nice modern supermarket nearby.

Generous ham, prosciutto,  salami ends. Limited quantities.

You just have to say that it is for your 🐱.

Or meow 😀

Or both.

20. Free bread and pastry from Dave's Bakery truck (day old, still fresh, limited quantities)

21. Free 🌱🌱🌱!   

From local dude, guy working in beachfront coffee shop.

He  (in Malta legally!) grows his own 4 plants.

Limited supply, his own surplus 😎

ENTIRE GOZO❤️ ISLAND MEASURES ONLY 6x12 KILOMETERS

22. It takes only 8 minutes by car, easy driving, from our Żebbug house, to downtown Victoria.

8 minutes. Never seen any traffic.

23. No snowstorms, no freezing ice, no frozen car locks no winter coats, gloves, hats

No changing winter tires, no winter driving.  Yum yum.

24. No snow-deadlocked roads with thousands cars and trucks stuck for hours. Unlike in Toronto.

Did I mention loud dog barking, roosters rostering from before sunrise on?

Pigeons making that whoo-whoo sound all day long? 😃

@John Paul Chalkley Actually, I'm 75. I lived on Gozo in 2011 for 3 months and would love to return..

@John Paul Chalkley Actually, I'm 75. I lived on Gozo in 2011 for 3 months and would love to return..
-@keithbarry

Rental costs have risen sharply since 2011 practically doubled in price, it's a pity you could not have made the move before Brexit.

@John Paul Chalkley Hi,

i just read that you are aiming to go back to the UK and i wanted to know how you are finding the process?

I am also thinking of returning.

@John Paul Chalkley Actually, I'm 75. I lived on Gozo in 2011 for 3 months and would love to return..
-@keithbarry

Should have made the move 18 months ago when you would have had the right as an EU citizen.

Not easy now as a TCN as you basically need a job and work permit, you may be able to live here on a self sufficiency basis but that is only on a year to year basis for the first five years. Amount of income or capital requirement can be found on Identity Malta website under Third Country National.

If you were working then you would get health cover but otherwise you will need either private cover or use the RHA (Reciprocal Health Agreement) which only gives limited cover but is sufficient for Residency or use the S1 form which gives you full cover here. If you use the RHA you lose your NHS cover in the UK and I believe that also applies to new S1 applicants since Brexit.

Thankyou for your honest replies, I am trying to weigh up if it would be realistic for me to move from UK to Malta, I really want to, but naturally I have concerns about putting myself in a risky/unstable situation in terms of employment and accommodation.

Can I ask - what would happen if a married couple were one of working age and one spouse of retirement age? Would this make any difference?

Thanks

Laura

Thankyou for your honest replies, I am trying to weigh up if it would be realistic for me to move from UK to Malta, I really want to, but naturally I have concerns about putting myself in a risky/unstable situation in terms of employment and accommodation.
Can I ask - what would happen if a married couple were one of working age and one spouse of retirement age? Would this make any difference?

Thanks

Laura
-@snakemed

If one of you can gain reside by either by finding a job and getting a work permit or on a self sufficiency basis then the other one would be able to join them.

All info is on Identity Malta website.

@F0xgl0ve

Thankyou, I will check the Identity Malta website.

@snakemed It’s certainly a lot more difficult and costly now than when I made the move but that was before the Brexit rules came in . Freedom of movement has ended so you will be applying as a TCN , there is a level of capital to be provided before applying for residency but also be aware that any prospective employer must apply for a work permit on your behalf and also prove that the vacancy can not be filled by a Maltese or EU citizen.   Certain professions such as nurses , doctors , IT specialists etc will have an advantage in being granted a work permit but these are only limited for one or two years at a time , there is a huge backlog with issuing the permits here at the moment.  Identity Malta website will give greater detail and I recommend you access ExPats in Malta forum where this question is often brought up.  The admins are very good and will forward you the relevant links on applying for residency. Good luck .

@Moocher  The question has been asked on here many times and the information needed has been given.

@snakemed It’s certainly a lot more difficult and costly now than when I made the move but that was before the Brexit rules came in . Freedom of movement has ended so you will be applying as a TCN , there is a level of capital to be provided before applying for residency but also be aware that any prospective employer must apply for a work permit on your behalf and also prove that the vacancy can not be filled by a Maltese or EU citizen.  Certain professions such as nurses , doctors , IT specialists etc will have an advantage in being granted a work permit but these are only limited for one or two years at a time , there is a huge backlog with issuing the permits here at the moment. Identity Malta website will give greater detail and I recommend you access ExPats in Malta forum where this question is often brought up. The admins are very good and will forward you the relevant links on applying for residency. Good luck .
-@Moocher

Checked out the suggestion you made, ExPats in Malta forum which I have not come across in 10 years here and only found a Facebook page, no website and and a Facebook page which was no different than the likes of Gozone or other similar pages.