Hello, I’m Sarah Collins.

I moved from the UK to Spain in 2018 after years of talking about it and far too long putting it off. Like many people, I arrived with a mixture of excitement, optimism and a rather unrealistic belief that everything would somehow work itself out once I got here.

It didn’t.

Not because Spain wasn’t welcoming. Quite the opposite. The challenge was learning how things actually worked. Residency applications, healthcare registration, opening bank accounts, dealing with paperwork in another language, understanding tax obligations, finding reliable information and working out which advice could be trusted. Every step seemed straightforward until you started doing it.

Over time, I realised that many British expats were experiencing exactly the same frustrations. The information was available, but it was often scattered across government websites, forums, social media groups and well-meaning articles that sometimes contradicted one another.

That experience eventually led to the creation of Distant Horizons.

The aim of this website is simple: to provide clear, practical information for British citizens considering a move to Spain or already making their way through the process. Rather than focusing on dream lifestyles or glossy marketing, I prefer to write about the realities of relocating and settling here. That includes the exciting parts, but also the paperwork, delays, misunderstandings and occasional surprises that most people encounter along the way.

Over the years I have navigated residency procedures, healthcare registration, banking systems, taxation requirements, property-related administration and many of the day-to-day practicalities involved in building a life in Spain. Those experiences have helped shape the content you will find throughout this site.

I am not a lawyer, accountant, immigration adviser or financial consultant. The articles published on Distant Horizons are based on personal experience, independent research and information obtained from official sources wherever possible. Laws, regulations and procedures can change, and individual circumstances often vary, so readers should always seek professional advice where appropriate.

What I hope to offer is context.

Official information can tell you what should happen. Personal experience often helps explain what the process actually feels like and the questions people commonly have along the way.

Spain has given me a wonderful quality of life, new friendships, new challenges and a completely different perspective on what home can mean. It has also taught me patience, flexibility and the importance of carrying photocopies of documents you never thought you would need.

Through Distant Horizons, I hope to help others approach their own move with a little more confidence and a better understanding of what lies ahead.

Thank you for visiting, and I hope you find something here that makes your journey a little easier.

Sarah Collins
Founder and Writer, Distant Horizons
British Expat Living in Spain Since 2018