Emigrating to Costa blanca

Hi Helen, I hope you don't mind me piggybacking your post, but my partner & myself are in exactly the same situation, so would really appreciate the community's expert knowledge 😊 

We really need to know where you are emigrating from before that can be answered. Third countries (which now include UK) have different criteria from those from the EU and EEA countries (including Ireland).

Both systems are completely different so the questions can't be answered until you provide a bit more information.

There are loads of posts on here, under residence threads or help threads. which have gone through the systems many times.

However, we would be glad to know your circumstances first. Mainly, place of residence, country that you hold a passport from and your age as all those impact on the way things are handled.

Just as an example, if you hold a UK passport and residency, you would need a work permit showing a confirmed job contract whereas from an EU country you would not need a work permit. The financial and medical requirements also differ greatly. Another example is if you have a EU passport you can apply in Spain. If a 3rd country national you need to apply at a Spanish consulate in your own country.

Hi

There are loads of info on here. Just search the forum using key words ( working, moving, to Costa blanca , NLV etc)

Just a word of caution. Lots of post Brexit restrictions, particularly if you want to work. Lots of rules if you want to settle. If you hold a British passport it’s a lot harder than before Brexit. You also need to prove income etc. I don’t want to put you off, but be prepared for a few hoops !

Thanks for your reply. I'm 50 & hold a British passport. I will have a look through the posts.

Thanks for your reply. I will have a look through previous posts 😊

You would find it very improbable (though not quite impossible) to get a work visa to come and live in Spain. 3rd country (like UK) citizens need a confirmed offer of work with a contract that has been verified by the Spanish foreign office. The prospective employer must show the work was offered to EU citizens first but were unable to fill the post. The process of gaining a work permit could take over 4 months and you would need to find an employer willing to state they couldn't find anyone from the EU and also willing to wait that time before you could start.

The other alterative would be a NLV (non lucrative visa) which allows you to come to Spain for a year provided you have sufficient funds (36,000 euro a year for a couple) and private health insurance to cover you. You are not allowed to work during that time. After a year you can apply to change that visa to a work one if you can find a job and, as you are now classed as a EU resident, can work in Spain but still need to show the financial and medical requirements (if you get a job your social security payments would cover you for healthcare). That work visa would cover you until you have been here a full 5 years (without leaving Spain for more than 10 months in total in that 5 years) when you would be able to obtain permanent residency and be treated the same as a Spanish national. 

Now very difficult for 3rd countries to be able to work in Spain unless you were living here under the withdrawal agreement prior to 2021 or have experience in shortage occupations which are generally medical (not nursing), high end IT management, export management and so on.

Hi how does the 90 day visa work?

Hello

It's not a 90 day  visa. Anyone coming to Spain as a non resident with a UK  passport can only stay for up to 90days in a rolling 180day period. This is a rule for all Schengen countries, not just Spain, your passport will be stamped on arrival/departure.

Cheers

Elinspain

As elinspain has said, there is no 90 day visa. The rule for 90 days in every 180 only applies to those who are allowed to travel without a visa as UK citizens are. The visas are there to allow you to stay over 90 days but Spain does not have a long term visa except for certain groups like students, temporary workers and so on. The only visas us hoi polloi can request are for becoming residents in Spain or having lots of money to apply for a golden visa.