Do you have a long-cherished dream of retiring to Spain? The good news is that it’s still easy to retire to Spain, even after Brexit. The retirement visa (also known as the non-lucrative visa) is relatively easy to apply for, and affordable health insurance is increasingly available.
So, what are the benefits of retiring to Spain? Let’s get you excited about a retirement in the sunshine!
Read your Emigration Guide to find out everything you need to know about moving abroad.
A healthy lifestyle
Three quarters of our readers said they wanted a healthier lifestyle in Spain. Outdoor activities are not just possible, but a pleasure in Spain all year round. Sports like golf, petanca, cycling, sailing and hiking are all popular, of course, as is having a quick dip in the Med before your morning coffee. Every weekend in the winter seems to have an energetic event on your local costa – a half marathon, triathlon or sponsored swim.
Your healthy and active retirement in Spain
Many of Spain’s seaside towns have long, flat promenades which encourage people to take daily exercise. You can always pop into a beachside bar for a coffee for a break if it gets really warm. Shady tree lined avenues, ramblas and coastal paths also permit you to spend a lot of time in the fresh air. Sitting on your terrace or in your garden with friends for a BBQ is quite possible all year in the more southerly parts of Spain.
Most towns have fresh food markets every day, where you can buy locally sourced produce and good quality meat. There is an abundance of fruit and vegetables in season, which is undoubtedly the best way to enjoy them. Who needs strawberries in December? You can probably find those strawberries in the supermarkets but it’s always healthier to choose items that are in season and they will also have travelled less time than, say, buying green beans from Peru in October. What’s more, they taste better!
As a UK pensioner you can access to the Spanish Health Service if you receive a UK state pension. You just need to fill in an S1 form.
Have more questions about Spanish healthcare? Get in touch with one of our Spanish healthcare experts today.
Life in the sun
For the less energetic, just enjoying being out in the sun, soaking up all that vitamin D with a cold cava in hand is healthier than a British pub (especially right now!).
Are you ready for a new hobby?
Spain has more sunshine than any other European country. On average the Costa del Sol enjoys nearly 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, which is double that in the UK. It has more sunshine than the Algarve, Tuscany or Crete. Mallorca comes second in the sunshine stakes in Spain, a beautiful island as well.
Obviously, regions and geography allow for variations but Spain really is the sunniest overall. That makes you smile, feel good and brightens your day.
Travelling to Spain
For a full-time retirement in Spain you will need Spanish residency from 2021. However, for a part-time retirement where you live there for less than half the year and stay ‘resident’ in the UK, no visa will be required.
Fortunate, then, that you can travel to your second home in Spain so easily. Spain has really good communications with the rest of the world for all 12 months of the year. Even if your local airport has reduced flights or no flights at certain times of the year, there are numerous “main” airports that will get you to and from your destinations in the UK, Europe and beyond. Many other European sunspots have plenty of flights in the late spring and summer but fail miserably when it comes to off-season travel!
Making friends
One advantage of moving to Spain is that millions of British and English-speaking people have done just that before you. You should have a well-established local community who speak your language – and that includes businesses too. You won’t need to panic if you don’t yet speak any Spanish! Having said that, it’s a great idea to enrol in classes once in Spain so that you can involve yourself in local society as well.
There are plenty of clubs and associations around Spain for British people. The U3A is an international organisation which welcomes people from 50 years upwards. It offers a wealth of activities from mahjong to cycling, history to bird watching and plenty of outdoor activities. Walking groups are popular, as are golf (of course!) and petanca (boules). Whatever your fitness level you will find something that you can do and enjoy.
Since there are officially 300,000 British people in Spain (without doubt there are thousands more who are in the process of applying for residency), you won’t have problems meeting people and finding some that become friends. You just need to be open to new faces, new opportunities.
Keeping legal
Many people, quite understandably, are worried about the legal processes in Spain. How different are they from the UK? Can I trust a lawyer? What about inheritance laws? Is buying a property complicated? What guarantees do I have?
Spain Property Guides can put you in touch with the very best lawyers, estate agents and international payments specialists in Spain, for total peace of mind. Get in touch with your Golden Three here.
The short answer is yes, these days you can buy with confidence in Spain. Moreover, Property Guides can help you: we can introduce you to reliable and honest lawyers who will be able to guide you through the journey, speaking and writing in English. Please contact us here for information and introductions.
Cost of living
As a retired person, financial outgoings are of great importance. Many will be on fixed incomes and no one wants to find themselves overreached. Spain offers excellent value for your money when it comes to buying a new home. This autumn is very much a buyer’s market with bargains to be found due to the virus pandemic.
Our Cost of Living Survey 2020 shows that for a basket of goods covering 12 countries, Spain came the 4th cheapest overall and the second cheapest for groceries, just behind Greece.
Your pension will go further than in most other countries and you have all the advantages outlined above, many for free – sunshine, healthy living and making new friends. If you are keen to retire to Spain, start looking for properties and apply for residency (you can only do this once you have registered for an NIE number but you don’t have to be in Spain to do it as your lawyer can do it for you.)
