Moving to Spain from Scotland

Hello,

My recommendation is to get an Irish passport. The process will be 100% easier.
If not, you need to apply first for a VISA for you and family, and a VISA to work in Spain is not easy to get.

If you want more info you can send me an email to [email protected] or chat with us in https://advisorscostablanca.com

If you do not hold a EU/EEA passport you need to apply for a visa to one of 3 Spanish Consulates in the UK depending on where you live, London, Manchester or Edinburgh. This link will provide you with more information:

https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Embajadas/seul/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/inicio.aspx

The previous responder advises to apply for an Irish Passport. This link will provide you with the requirements in claiming Irish citizenship:

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving-country/irish-citizenship/your-right-to-irish-citizenship/

I would strongly advise not to part with any monies to any companies as you can research this yourself.

Irish passport   the  easiest  way  forward, but  get Irish  passport  first, I would recommend  you take a long Holiday  in  Alicante  area first and foremost  and see for  yourself,   It  can be done but Di your  homework  first,

Get your Irish passport. 

Have a wee read about being an Autonomo (self employed) in Spain, as its a lot more complicated and expensive than being self employed in the UK. And have a think about schools for your children, as if they are going into the Spanish state system they'll be doing it in Spanish. If you want to stick with English language education you'll need to send them to an International School, which are private and cost a lot of money. 

These links provide information on becoming self employed in Spain:

https://www.immigrationspain.es/en/become-self-employed-in-spain/

https://n26.com/en-eu/blog/freelance-in-spain

These links provide information on school registration in Spain:

https://www.school-finder-spain.com/school-registration-spain/#:~:text=You%20will%20need%20to%20be,medical%20certificate%20for%20your%20pupil.

https://alegria-realestate.com/en/articles/enrollment-in-schools-in-spain

This is what I was concerned about. We won’t move for a few years yet so my eldest 2 will have left school, but my youngest would need to go to a private school. Then there is looking at universities for the eldest 2 probably. It’s the running a business in a foreign country that is the scary part. Thanks for your reply. 

If you're not moving for a couple of years it would be in your interest, I think, to learn 'some' Spanish and perhaps your school age child would find that useful too. Depending on where you intend to set up home, here in Benidorm most establishments speak some English. Starting a business anywhere can be daunting, however, I know a couple who opened a small cafe just prior to Covid but once things got back to normal it has been thriving since. Neither of them speak Spanish only the odd word or two. They have a teenage son who attends an international school and is doing well. However, the state run schools appear to be just as good.

Hi,

As everyone has mentioned get the passport first. If your parents are classed as an Irish Citizen then it’ll probably take a month or two as in my wife’s case.

My son has just been made a citizen via the grandparent route and this took 10 months to complete without any problems. The DFA.ie site is still forecasting 9 months to become a citizen. You can then make a passport application, so if all goes well you could still be looking at 12 months to get a passport.

Gives you plenty of time to apply and have the documents ready if you decide to come to Spain. Good luck.

Would also advise that you look carefully at existing businesses in your field. It is by no means short of practitioners and it may be easier to try and obtain an opening with an established firm. However, I believe that they operate in a similar fashion to many hairdressers, ie they rent a chair to someone who is technically and legally self employed.