I'm moving from UK to US so I get your queries and questions about this sort of stuff. It's so annoying getting a handle on all the paperwork and red-tape, but you're definitely on the right track and seem like you've given this a lot of thought. Honestly, I want to help you out but I have no idea what's the current economic climate out there and what are the job prospects so I'll just speak from experience and what my dad and friends have told me about immigration policies to Spain. :) Also check this link: http://www.workpermit.com/spain/spain.ht... It directly addresses some stuff about EU Nationals (which I guess applies to you).
I'm from Brazil but I've been moving around for a good part of my life. The main thing I've learnt is to keep a lot, A LOT of contacts :) I cannot stress how much of a difference this had made for me when I moved to UK for the first time by myself. Money-wise you have to be really smart and well-prepared the first few months will definitely be difficult, you'll be unemployed, looking for a place to live, food and boarding expenses cash will be spent just like that. So definitely save, save, save a lot of cash for that period. I've been lucky enough to have my dad help me out a lot, but if your parents can't help you out much on that aspect then make a ton of friends, and you'll already pass the language barrier which is a massive plus. I dunno about Spain, but when I was in France someone had told me that even if you attempt to speak French people will help you out a great deal. It's a kind of...common courtesy you know? Like, you won't seem like you're completely formidable in their country. Also! People won't take advantage of you because you're a "tourist" or a "foreigner".
I'll edit a bit more later, slightly busy at the moment. But I hope that helped. :) Good luck!
If your passport is UK, then you don't need any visas. But there aren't a lot of jobs. See, Spain is at over 20% unemployment...closer to 45% for unskilled labor. They are deep in a long-standing recession.
Seems like everyone from the UK wants to just pack up and move to Spain for the weather, where they will then burn to a crisp, and go home with their tails between their legs, because they have no idea how much work it takes to live there.
Advanced planning will surely help...and knowing the language will help, but the work just isn't there. If you don't have to work: independently wealthy or can work independent contractor, doing work that is international, and not dependent on the local economy, then you'll be fine.
Spanish people love foreigners who can spend their money there...and who assimilate to their culture, and speak their language...like anyone, they look down upon people who refuse to do those last two...
I should think that the apartment situation should be just fine...with the economic downturn, there's lots of apartments for rent, but they still cost what they did during flusher times.
I imagine the computer route would be your best bet...but only if you are super-skilled.
Loneliness...That's something only you can know. If you can handle it...but you should be able to get along if you get OUT among people. Spaniards are very social...they have this thing called El Paseo, everyone goes out for a walk in the evenings...stop at a bar now and then...socialize. Join in, to that and other social situations, and you'll make friends. Don't be afraid of making friends with the bar keep, your neighbors, the lady who works at the stationers' shop where you buy pens, or whatever.
Hey Ryan you old raga-muffin! :)
Exciting stuff. Why don't you research where in Spain you'd like to live. Perhaps look up popular places where other English people emigrate, see where has a good community? Or of course you may want to get away from English people haha, in which case, do the opposite!
If you get an idea of where you want to live, I think the first thing you should do is go there for a weekend. Or try a few different places and stay in each for a weekend. I should imagine that you can't just get up and leave, you'd have to make some arrangements prior to going. So yeah....go somewhere, see if there are any jobs, see if there is cheap accommodation and make plans from there? It's summer 'party' season coming up soon, if you wanted that kind of lifestyle you could stay in a tourist place and work in a bar, see what happens?
Visas etc I have no idea on, but as so many people move to Spain from the UK I can't imagine it would be that difficult.
Oh, and Google is your friend!
Good luck! :)
It seems you are unaware of the existence of the EU. That is **** schooling for you, or just ignorance.
Nor are you aware of the 40% unemployment rate in Spain.
In four of the country's autonomous regions the jobless rate is over 30% and across the country 52% of under-25s are out of work, leaving 1.72m households without a single member in work.
Engracia Hidalgo, the employment minister, said there were "no positive indicators," while García-Margallo described the figures as "terrible for everyone and terrible for the government". Of Spain's 47 million inhabitants, only 17,433,200 are in work.
Come over by all means, you are young enough to at least give it a go, but make sure you have enough for a return ticket home.
- You also don't mention if you are an EU Citizen or not ?
http://www.tumbit.com/how-to-guides/arti...
So I want to move from the UK to Spain, I can speak Spanish pretty fluently and don't have any issues with living alone etc.
My main barriers/questions are:
Getting a visa, obviously when moving the Australia or the US you need a trade or loads of money - does this apply to Spain? Because I have neither of those things, I have some savings, probably enough to keep me on my feet over there for 3 or 4 months but I'd like to stay there for the foreseeable future.
Accomodation/work - how easy is it to rent a flat/apartment over there, and how easy is it to find work? I don't care what kind of work, bar work, hotel work, I currently fix computers in the UK with Microsoft qualifications, do they have any kind of weight over there? I'll do anything really that'll give me enough money to live like a normal person.
Also it would be nice to hear opinions from anybody who has done this themselves, or even just thought about it before? I'm only 19 - part of the reason I want to do it is because I know if it all goes well and truly ****-up I can move back home and continue doing what I'm doing now. But do you think I'd be too lonely, or whether the locals in Spain don't take kindly to ex-pats, is it worth moving into a well-established ex-pat area?
I have a tonne of questions, but it has been a 'dream' of mine, so to speak, for as long as I can remember.
Anything you guys can recommend, do's and don'ts etc.
Any help is welcome.
Also, contacts feel free to be assholes and post stupid stuff, that's why I love you.
