Sarah Collins 
The short answer is yes. It is entirely possible to buy property in Spain without having a Spanish bank account, particularly during the early stages of the purchase process. Many British buyers begin their search, make offers and even pay reservation deposits before opening a local account. However, while a Spanish bank account is not … Read more
What You Usually Need to Open a Spanish Bank Account When Buying a House While requirements vary between banks, most British buyers will typically be asked for: Many buyers open a non-resident account initially and later switch products if they become Spanish residents. The process can take anything from a single appointment to several visits … 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
