Distant Horizons

It usually comes up just after the offer is accepted. Someone says, almost casually,“You’ll need a Spanish bank account.” And you nod, because it sounds straightforward enough.Walk into a bank, show a passport, open an account. Done. Except it doesn’t quite work like that. You think you need it immediately (you often don’t) There’s a … Read more

There’s a moment most people hit somewhere between “offer accepted” and “right, this is actually happening” where the question lands: How do we actually move the money? Not in theory. Not “speak to your bank.”The real version. Pounds sitting in a UK account. Euros needed in Spain. Deadlines. Exchange rates wobbling around like they’ve had … Read more

For many people planning a move to Spain, the idea of continuing to work remotely for a UK company or UK clients feels like the best of both worlds. Keep the income. Change the lifestyle. In practice, this is now one of the most misunderstood areas of moving to Spain post-Brexit. It is absolutely possible. … Read more

If you are moving to Spain with children, schooling is one of those topics that tends to get parked until late in the process. Visas get sorted. Housing gets argued over. Healthcare gets researched. Then suddenly you realise September is not that far away and you still do not know the difference between a colegio … Read more

It’s a common question, and one that rarely gets a straight answer. You’ve packed up your life in the UK, moved to Spain in June or July, and suddenly realise that the tax year doesn’t match. You’re halfway between two systems, both wanting to know where you belong. The short version is this: your UK … Read more

Wake up early, open the window, listen for traffic, dogs, scooters, whatever your nerves can handle. Make coffee. Try to book an appointment online with the town hall. If the form crashes twice and you still don’t feel like throwing the laptop, that’s a good sign. Walk down, ask the clerk what they really want … Read more

Start with the only question that matters: will you count as Spanish tax resident for the calendar year. If yes, Spain wants the whole picture. That includes UK pensions. Then the treaty decides who taxes what. Simple idea, big consequences. Plain split, no jargon: What to do this week if you’re moving or already here: … Read more

ou don’t want to pay tax twice. Nobody does. That’s the whole point of this agreement — to stop the UK and Spain both taxing the same money like a pair of jealous siblings. In theory, it works. In practice, it gets messy. Here’s what it actually means if you live in Spain and have … Read more

No one tells you this until you’re halfway through the mortgage paperwork, but a lot of Spanish banks will make life insurance part of the deal. Sometimes it’s “optional,” but with strings. Sometimes they won’t lend without it. And no — your UK life insurance policy doesn’t always cut it. Not always required. But often … Read more

Let’s start with the obvious — yes, you can get a mortgage in Spain as a British citizen. No, it’s not exactly easy. And no, you probably won’t get the same deal a Spanish resident would. But it’s doable. You just need to know what to expect. Foreign buyers pay more. End of. Residents in … Read more