From holiday home to permanent residence in Spain

It’s a familiar wish. You buy a property in Spain to enjoy initially for your holidays, but there’s the barely concealed ambition to eventually make it your forever home, your permanent residence. If, when the opportunity arises, this is still your dream, how can you make it a reality?

The children have grown up and circumstances have changed. Perhaps early retirement is on the cards or you have reached the age at which your pension kicks in. Whatever the reason, you have the opportunity, if you wish, to leave behind your current life for an adventure in Spain.

Where do you start on making that transition from non-resident to resident? And how do you ensure that your property can make it too?

Check out the requirements to have a permanent residence in Spain

Your first step is to ensure that you meet the legal requirements to have a permanent residence in Spain. Of course, this varies according to your country of origin and you need to take specialist advice and leave nothing to chance.

Your search will include health care and minimum income and you should not make any other plans until you are clear that you can meet the specifications. Keep in mind that these don’t just depend upon your personal circumstances but also the region where your property is located.  

Your property in Spain

You may already have had plans in mind when purchasing your property in Spain to eventually make it your permanent residence. If so, then there may not be too much to do to prepare it for full time living. However, do look critically at the premises you have and check with as cold a heart as you can that it is fit for purpose. Ask yourself:

• Is there enough storage for all the items I want to bring with me?
• Is it near enough to the places I will need to visit regularly?
• Will it accommodate me and my family as we get older?
• Can I imagine myself there during every season?
• Is there capacity for any changes that I need to make?

It is financially better to be able to stay in the same property but also be realistic. You will need more space and some areas can be very different in the winter when the majority of holiday makers have gone home.  

Your property might be equipped perfectly for hot summer days, but will it also serve you well during cooler winter months? During the summer, as a holiday maker, you are likely to have eaten out regularly and spent days at the beach. You will need to consider if your indoor living areas and cooking facilities are sufficient for more day-to-day living.

Aspects of your property, such as access to wi-fi, might not have been so important when you were out and about most days. It is likely that you will want to buy in some additional luxuries that you are used to at home but don’t miss when you’re away for a few weeks. Think carefully about what these are and how you might accommodate them.

Your pets in Spain

If you had a property as a holiday home you probably arranged for your pets to be looked after whilst you were away. Moving to Spain means making new arrangements and you will need to check what the requirements are for bringing your pet here. You should ask for advice particularly if you have a breed of dog that is classed as perro potencialmente peligroso.

Financial arrangements

There are a number of considerations to take into account when changing from being a resident to a non-resident. Firstly, you will need to inform your bank which will need confirmation of your residency status once it is in place.  As a tax resident in Spain there are different obligations which you will need to discuss with your tax adviser. One of these is making an annual resident tax declaration. You should check what the situation will be tax wise, if you sell your property in the UK.

Transport arrangements

It is important to consider how you will get around. Will you bring your car with you and change the plates to Spanish ones? Or will you purchase a car in Spain? In some cases you may not need a car at all if you live centrally with services close by. However, do not rely on local bus services as these can be highly variable.

If you are planning on driving your own vehicle then you will need to change your driving licence to a Spanish one. This should be high on your list of priorities and a gestoría, for example, can help you to do this. Do familiarize yourself with the traffic laws here. Some might take you by surprise and your nationality is no excuse for getting it wrong.

Future proofing

Finally, what will happen to your property when you die? Spain’s inheritance laws are different from many other countries. It is advisable to make a will to ensure that your wishes are fulfilled when the time comes.

Permanent residence in Spain: it’s worth it!

It’s true that this is a big step to take, even when you already have a house here. However, knowing the local area and the property you are moving into, having all the utilities established and opportunity to come out and organise your paperwork, are definite advantages. And the rewards of having a permanent residence in Spain go without saying!