Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2020 9:48am
Hi Natalie,
The guides you're looking for are here:
Jim's guides - your complete guide to Spain
I'd especially recommend the sections on "Residency in Spain" and "How Brexit will affect living in Spain".
The primary difference, most likely to affect your ability to gain residency/TIE, will be the financial requirements, pre- and post- Brexit. As things currently stand and until the end of this year, a new applicant needs to prove a lump sum of €5,500 or monthly income of €500 per month - either amount would need to be deposited in a Spanish bank account for a minimum of 3 months before applying for a TIE. From 1 January 2021, UK citizens become Third Country nationals and the financial requirements rise significantly to €28,000 lump sum or €2,400 monthly income.
Another requirement will be private health insurance, which you will need for at least the first year to support your TIE application, but you'll need to maintain if you are unable to access the Spanish healthcare system by means of social security contributions via contracted work or your own business.
With regard to driving in Spain, once you become resident here, you will be required to swap your UK driving licence for Spanish. Pre-Brexit this is fairly straightforward, but there is a suggestion that from 1 January 2021, UK citizens will need to take a Spanish driving test to swap their licence.
To expand on Castleman's information about travelling with pets, I'd recommend reading this:
https://www.gov.uk/topic/animal-welfare/pets
Lastly, as you're planning to sell your property in the UK before the end of this year, when you become tax resident in Spain next year (after 183 days here) you may be liable for Capital Gains Tax in Spain, so that's something else to consider.
Probably best to read the guides and then come back with specific questions.
Kind regards,
Kim