Move to canary islands: A quick guide to applying for residency in the Canary Islands

11 Pros And Cons Of Retiring On The Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean west of the African continent. At their closest point, they float just 62 miles west of Morocco. The eight main islands are Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro, and La Graciosa.There are also numerous smaller islets and islands that form the island group. Together they constitute the southernmost of the autonomous communities of Spain.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria are jointly the capitals of the islands, informally known as “the Canaries.” Although the islands are all of volcanic origin, their landscapes, flora, and fauna are very different, reaching from quasi rain forest to desert and vast beaches. Let’s look at a few statistics first to see why retirement in these islands could be a desirable option.

1. Gorgeous Canary Island Weather

The number one favorable factor that brings roughly 12 million visitors to the Canaries each year is no doubt the weather. An average of 2,800 hours of sunshine per year, with July being the sunniest month with 308 hours and December with 181 hours, tells its own tale of good weather. Winters are generally warm enough to take advantage of the fabulous beaches you’ll find on all the islands, whereas summers can be quite hot, especially in the desert-like parts including Mas Palomas on Gran Canaria, where you find vast dunes.

2. Ease Of Access

There are of course many more factors to take into account when considering the best place for your retirement. Given the statistics, that approximately 200,000 people have chosen one or the other of the Canary Islands as their retirement home, it is obvious that there must be quite a few pros. We will get to them in turn. One important fact is that it’s easy to get there. Each of the islands has an airport with the exception of Tenerife, which has two, one in the north and one in the south, both international. In addition, many cruise ship lines touch on the Canaries, as do inter-island ferries.

3. A Diverse Retiree Population

This survey gives an interesting overview of the countries the retirees in the Canary Islands come from and what their reasons are. It shows that many retirees hail from cold, European countries like Norway, Germany, Finland, the UK, and Ireland as well as Austria, to, among other things, escape cold winters.

It’s not only Europeans who retire here; there are also plenty of North and South Americans who make their retirement home in these blessed islands.

Pro Tip: Deciding where to make one’s retirement home is a complex decision. Even more so if you’ll be moving to a different continent, as would be the case if you’re an American considering leaving the U.S. to move to Spain. A different culture, different lifestyle, different language, and a lot more will affect your retirement life — and might even be a bit of a culture shock. Read on for additional pros and cons of Canary Island retirement, which I share with Americans in mind.

4. Canary Island Lifestyle Pros And Cons

Life in the Canary Islands moves at a leisurely pace; nobody is in a particular hurry. In fact, one of the first words you have to learn is mañana, which means “tomorrow.”

Your plumber promises to be at your house at 11 a.m.? Don’t bank on it. It could be many hours later or, in fact, the next day. The same applies to punctuality. You are invited to a meal or a party? Don’t turn up at the agreed hour. You will only fluster your host.

Talking about meal times, Spaniards eat much later than Americans or other Europeans. That said, South Americans will have no difficulty adapting.

• Breakfast is usually just a coffee and a pastry, followed by a snack at around 11.
• Lunch is between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. and can extend for several hours because of the habit of entremeses, when people sit on long after the food is eaten, chat and drink cognac or aperitifs.
• Dinner is even later and rarely starts before 9 p. m.

Another thing you have to get used to is the siesta. Office workers go home for lunch and don’t return to work before 5 p.m. and then work until 8 or 9. With the exception of supermarkets, shops also close between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., but open again until 9 p.m. or even longer. This custom will require some adjusting and planning on the part of expat retirees.

Pro Tip: Note that magazines, newspapers, and tobacco are only sold in state-controlled shops called estancos.

5. Canary Island Residence Requirements

As a non-EU resident, you can only stay in Spain (remember, the Canary Islands are a part of Spain) for a maximum of 90 days without a visa. If you want to live there longer, and it makes no difference if you wish to live and work there or to retire on a pension with a passive income, you have to apply for residency, and there are several different ways and types of visas to consider.

As a rule of thumb, all involve a lot of red tape, time, and money, and you are well-advised to start the process well before your planned retirement date — and by getting in touch with your nearest Spanish Consulate or Embassy.

On the ground in Spain, you’ll need to contract the services of an English-speaking lawyer (abogado) and a gestor. This person is a professional who manages and administers your paperwork, of which there is plenty. You actually need both because one looks after legal aspects and the other after the red tape. Budget quite a bit for fees, not only for the professionals but also for the authorities.

People retiring on islands tend to group together. Depending on nationalities and the size of the respective islands, they will form communities where for instance, Swedes, British, or Americans will meet regularly to exchange opinions, experiences, or just socialize. This can obviously be a pro but also a con as it can become claustrophobic or restrictive. It is entirely up to you what you want to do.

Culture fans will also find the islands a bit wanting. Don’t look for operas, shows, or big theatre productions. There are cinemas and of course, plenty of local fiestas (festivals) where you can watch dance performances and thus get to know the local customs. There are also historical sites and, for stargazers, several first-rate observatories.

Generally speaking, locals are welcoming to foreigners and you are well-advised to learn at least the basics of Spanish. Not only will it make everyday life easier, it will also open doors and bring out big smiles.

7. Canary Island Taxes

Whatever your status, as an expat, you have to pay taxes in Spain. The tax authority is called the Hacienda and you certainly don’t want any trouble with them. One of your first visits should therefore be to your gestor. Just bear in mind that you’ll probably have to pay U.S. taxes as well.

Pro Tip: One of the first documents you need is the Fiscal Identification Number (NIF), without which you cannot buy a car or property or open a bank account.

8. Food On The Canary Islands

The Canary Islands, especially the Orotava Valley, are very fertile, which makes for fresh and healthy food. Sitting in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, there is plenty of fish and seafood, too. Food is less expensive than in many northern European countries, and apart from supermarkets, it’s a joy to explore the many local markets for the freshest seasonal products.

9. Canary Island Healthcare

One of the most important considerations for retirees is healthcare. Luckily, the healthcare system for expats in Spain is excellent. Through your residency, once obtained, you have access to the social security system and can obtain your SIP Card, and with it, free health care. 

There are plenty of public hospitals with specialists for just about everything. Of course, if you wish, you can, like me, enroll in private health insurance, too, but retirees have to consider that there are age limits (different from company to company), but generally, you’ll need to be 60 or younger to be accepted.

10. Getting A Driver’s License

If you are an American and want to drive a motor vehicle in Spain, which, at some time as a retiree, you certainly will, you’ll need your U. S. driver’s license together with an International Driving Permit (IDP). Here is how to obtain the IDP. 

The con is that this U.S.-driver’s-license-plus-IDP bliss does not last forever. Americans who are long-term residents for more than 6 months must swap their U.S. license for a Spanish one. 

Unfortunately, that means going through the entire process, not just a document swap. Prepare for medical tests, driving lessons, driving tests, and hefty fees. The minimum age for getting a license in Spain is 18, and the minimum age for renting a car is 21.

11. Canary Islands Cost Of Living

It is tricky to give an accurate assessment of the cost of living because it depends on many factors. Tourist centers are more costly than remote areas, and that applies to the Canaries, too. It also depends on how many dependents there are in your family and if you’ll consider renting a property or buying one. Renting is more usual in Spain, but, given that this is such a beautiful and healthy destination, people might want to retire to a permanent home (apart from the one they might want to keep in their home country).

Here is a good overview of the cost of living, from food and clothing to the amenities like electricity and telephone service. Note that internet in the Canaries is rather costly.

If you consider buying, according to idealista, the cheapest islands to buy on are Gran Canaria and Tenerife.

The Ultimate Guide To Relocating To Gran Canaria | by Alex Bramwell

Unless you try to drive over, relocating to Gran Canaria isn’t really any harder than moving anywhere else in Europe.

That said, the more information you have before you move to Gran Canaria the easier things are. Here’s everything we can think of that you need to know about relocating to Gran Canaria.

The first stage of relocating to Gran Canaria is to make sure that you’re allowed to. You don’t get automatic Spanish residencia these days just for being an EU citizen. In 2012, Spain decided that it can’t afford to provide healthcare and other services to people who don’t pay tax. So it doesn’t!

British citizens may wonder at this point why the UK didn’t do something similar rather than flounce out of a continent.

Anyway, you currently need one of these things to get residency in Gran Canaria as an EU, EEA or EFTA citizen. If you’re from the rest of the world, please check what the residence requirements are.

A JOB: You qualify for residency in Gran Canaria if you have a work contract that runs for more than three months. Any shorter and you may just get an NIE number (allowing you to pay tax but not reside in Spain).

AN INCOME: If you have an income (pension, trust fund, golden goose, etc) and a healthy bank balance, you get residencia in Gran Canaria.

There isn’t an official figure for this but the consensus in the Canary Islands and across Spain seems to be that an income of €500 per month per person and €5000 in the bank per person is the minimum. It may sound silly, but smart clothes (closed shoes, collar) help if you are borderline as the policeman behind the desk sometimes has to make a call.

The immigration office may also ask you to take out a private health insurance policy that gives you equivalent cover to the Spanish Health Service.

Here’s more info on getting health insurance in Gran Canaria.

A RESIDENT HUSBAND /WIFE: Marry a residente and you get residency. Simples. Provided that everyone is an EU, EEA or EFTA citizen.

There is nothing stopping you coming to Gran Canaria as a tourist and looking for work; your European Health Card gives you 90 days of emergency healthcare.

All you need to get is a contract for a few hours of teaching (the easiest way) and you can apply for an NIE number and residencia. If you don’t find anything after 90 days you are supposed to go home (but can return to Spain straight away for another holiday).

Of course, plenty of people still live and work in Gran Canaria without being officially resident. Working under the table (literally in a couple of cases) is most common in the resort areas where bar and PR work is most common.

However, people working without residencia aren’t covered by the local health service, don’t pay tax and don’t have any employment rights. It’s fine for 22-year-olds, but not exactly a long-term life plan.

Buy property worth a minimum of €500,000 (one big one or a portfolio of smaller ones) and you get a golden visa which also covers your spouse and children. After 10 years of holding a golden visa, you can apply for Spanish citizenship.

This article covers the details about getting your actual NIE number and residencia in Gran Canaria (they are different).

If you move to Gran Canaria to do a full-time job, your employer will take care of all the paperwork for you and your family. If you have to do it yourself, it’s best to go to the police station with a Spanish speaker to help.

There’s an Ikea in Gran Canaria plus plenty of other shops so there really isn’t much you need to bring other than personal stuff and a huge bag of Monster Munch crisps (for us).

If you’re relocating and want to bring everything, then shipping companies are great at getting your possessions to Gran Canaria. However, be prepared for a wait at the port as the Canary Islands aren’t in the EU Customs Union and the port authorities don’t speak urgent. They also have an almost miraculous a way of adding an extra charge to everything that comes into the island on a ship.

Be aware that you are allowed to import your possessions tax-free to the island during your first six months on the island. After that, you have to pay import duty.

Bringing a car to Gran Canaria (from outside Spain) is a faff and we’d say that it’s only worthwhile if you have a car worth above around €7000. or a vintage motor you can’t leave behind. Import duty, taxes, getting it legal in Spain, etc will cost well over €1000 although you have six months to get it all done.

Most people would be better off selling their car at home and buying a new one here.

More on importing a car into Gran Canaria and buying a Gran Canaria car.

The simple truth is that you learn as much Spanish in Gran Canaria as you need to get by on a daily basis. Live and work with the locals and you’ll pick up the language. Work in an English environment and hang around in expat bars on the weekends and you won’t learn much at all.

For more info, read our comprehensive guide to learning Spanish in Gran Canaria

This is a biggie as the each area of the island has its own feel and weather (yes, we have weather).

The capital is a busy Spanish city (it’s one of the ten biggest in Spain) with a world-beating beach and a lovely old town. It is cloudier than the rest of the island but still gets a decent amount of sunshine.

Most foreign residents want to be close to the beach although if you’re not a sand in your pants kind of person, the old town and Triana are great too. See this guide to the main Las Palmas property areas.

If you love city life and the bustle of Spain, Las Palmas is a great option. There’s plenty of English teaching work (get a TEFL or CELTA qualification) and some other jobs if you speak Spanish.

Gran Canaria’s resort areas are full of foreign residents and if you want to live somewhere where you feel like you’re on holiday all-year-round, they are the place for you. However, if you want to immerse yourself in local life, you’d be better off almost anywhere else.

The resorts have spectacular weather (over 300 days of blue skies per year), tons of restaurants and bars and a population that changes completely every two weeks. You really can get by without a word of Spanish in Puerto Rico and Playa del Inglés and plenty of expats do. That said, residential satellite towns like San Fernando and Tablero, and southern villages like Fataga and Pueblo de Mogan are much more local.

To generalise, San Agustín is popular with Swedes, Playa del Inglés with Brits and Germans, Maspalomas with Germans, Arguineguín with Norwegians, Puerto Rico with Brits and Scandinavians, and Puerto de Mogán with everyone (although finding a place to live there is tough as everything is rented out).

Gran Canaria’s resorts are the easiest place for non-Spanish speakers to find work (bars, PR work, reps, timeshare,etc), but don’t expect high pay (most locals earn around €1000 per month).

If you want your retirement to be a non-stop tiki dream, you’ve found heaven.

This is the greenest area of Gran Canaria and has plenty of towns and villages with local shops as well as large supermarkets. Most places are within 30 minutes drive of the capital city and 45 minutes from the beaches in the south. Workwise, you can teach English or pick bananas.

Telde and Vecindario are now large towns or even small cities and have a local feel along with a healthy South American influence. Property prices here are cheaper than in the resorts and the capital but you still have most shops and services close by. Big downsides of east Gran Canaria are the scorching inland temperatures and windy beaches during summer.

There’s teaching work in east Gran Canaria and jobs in the local economy although you’ll need decent Spanish.

From the stunning Agaete Valley to the green pastures of Moya, rural Gran Canaria is a dream come true if you want peace and quiet (except on Thursdays and Sundays during hunting season). You can live in anything from a stone cottage to a vast townhouse and lots of properties have orchards and a pigpen.

Work is thin on the ground so be prepared to work from home or commute.

Don’t be ridiculous.

Most people who more to Gran Canaria choose to rent for the first year. This is a good idea because it allows you to make sure you’ve picked the right place and enjoy the lifestyle enough to stick around.

Property prices in Gran Canarias are an average of around €1300 per square metre, but the location has a huge impact on cost. Beachfront properties in Las Palmas and the main resorts can cost €5000+ per square metre while property in smaller towns is often below €1000 per metre.

Property rights in Gran Canaria are well organised and every property has an up-to-date file in the property registry.

For details on how to find and buy a property in Gran Canaria, read this article by Las Palmas Property expert Laura Leyshon. If you’re after a resort area property, we always advise foreign buyers to contact Cárdenas Real Estate as they are an efficient and reliable agency with over 30 years of experience helping foreign buyers in south Gran Canaria.

Please note that you must get professional advice before buying a resort property in south Gran Canaria as a residence. It is technically illegal to live in some resort areas in south Gran Canaria and you need the facts before you buy. Again, just talk to Cárdenas.

Spanish banks are conservative and foreign residents normally need to have a work contract and to have lived on the island for a year before the banks will give them a mortgage. You’ll need a 20- 30% deposit and another 10% in cash for taxes and assorted fees to get a mortgage and buy a property.

See our guide to getting a Gran Canaria mortgage.

Look for rental property in Gran Canaria on websites like Vibbo, Fotocasa, and Idealista. Be aware that most properties on these sites are listed by agencies that charge a month’s rent in commission. When you sign a rental contract, you need to pay the first month’s rent, a month’s rent in deposit, and the agency fee; three month’s rent.

You can skip agency commission by seeking out private rentals on the websites, and also by wandering around looking for private signs (windows, small local shops and bars).

Most owners insist on a year’s contract although the law states that you can leave after six months provided you give proper notice. More on Gran Canaria rental laws here.

Never underestimate the benefits of renting a flat with a parking space in Las Palmas, town centres, and the resorts.

Tenants don’t have to pay anything like council tax in Gran Canaria. Some contracts include bills and others don’t.

Many foreign residents and expats come to Gran Canaria for work. Teachers, oil and port workers, tourism reps, etc. They are the lucky ones because getting a job in Gran Canaria as a foreign resident is difficult. Without decent Spanish, work outside the resorts is hard to find. Even in the resorts, most hotels require a tourism degree even for entry-level positions.

There are niches such as teaching English (get a TEFL or CELTA qualification), bar and PR work in the resorts (don’t expect to earn more than €1000 per month), timeshare sales (yep, people still buy it), etc, where there is always work. But, since Gran Canaria is a small place there aren’t that many large companies here with large numbers of staff. The island also has a high level of unemployment so you are competing with lots of locals for jobs.

There is limited demand for English-speaking plumbers, handymen, plasterers, chiropodists, mechanics, etc. However, real go-getters with a unique skill will be able to make a living.

Be aware that it costs more than €250 per month to be self-employed in Spain (you get a discount for the first year). Ridiculous, but unavoidable!

Here’s our Guru Guide to finding a job in Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria has a full range of schools from local state schools to fee-paying international schools. Most of the fee-paying schools are in the north of the island in and around the capital Las Palmas. A couple even have junior feeder schools in the south. The top private schools charge around 600 euros per month.

The Spanish state education system is still slightly behind the times with a focus on learning facts and figures rather than on creativity. This is changing slowly but every school is different so you need to do your research. There is also a halfway house between state schools and fee-paying schools called the colegio concertado. These are run by foundations (many by the Catholic Church), get some state funding, and rely on support for parents for any shortfall.

Pupils in the state system in Spain have to provide all their own equipment like paper, pens, and rulers and you also have to shell out several hundred euros per year for schoolbooks (one of Spain’s great historic ripoffs).

Also bear in mind that the state system has defined application periods and that if you miss them, it’s much harder to get your kids into the school of your choice.

Read the full Guru Guide for more on Gran Canaria schools.

Given that Gran Canaria is 2000 kilometres from Mainland Spain, the cost of living is surprisingly cheap. You can thank the EU for this as it subsidises the cost of many goods that need to be imported. And the local VAT regime which is just 7% IGIC rather than 21% IVA in the rest of Spain.

Petrol is currently under a euro per litre, a decent bottle of wine starts at six euros ( drinkable ones at 3.50) and you can get a pint for a couple of euros. Cigarettes are disgracefully cheap.

As for household bills, expect to pay 30–40 euros per month for water and a euro per day for bottled drinking water, at least 70 euros per month for electricity (more if you run AC) and up to 100 per month for a package of fixed-line telephone, internet, and TV.

Food is slightly more expensive than in Mainland Spain and bringing things in from abroad costs more in postage. Absurd import fees charged by local delivery firms have now been abolished so online shopping has become cheaper.

One advantage of being a Gran Canaria resident is that you get a 50% discount on travel to Spain and the other Canary Islands. Here’s a list of lots of juicy discounts for Gran Canaria residents.

The local healthcare system is pretty good if are in an accident or get sick. In fact, the Spanish state healthcare system is often named amongst the world’s best.

You need to register with the local health system, called the Seguridad Social, to use its free services. You get a number and card ad can book appointments on the phone (call 012) and online.

However, the Gran Canaria health service isn’t as efficient when it comes to chronic or non-urgent health issues. The waiting list for tests can be months long and many locals skip the queue by paying for tests and appointments with specialists. You see the same doctor in the same room, but you skip the queues.

The alternative, of course, is to pay for private healthcare and not worry about queues at all.

See this guide to Gran Canaria private health insurance.

If you have a proper job in Gran Canaria, your employer will handle your annual tax filings and you don’t really have to worry about things. However, if you are self-employed or run a business, you have to do a tax declaration every three months (Spanish tax authorities and local IGIC).

This is an absolute pain and unless you are fluent in Spanish, it’s best to pay an accountant to do the actual filing with the tax authorities. All you have to do is keep track of your earnings and expenditure and send them on to your beancounter. Every year you do an annual tax declaration

The best way to make friends in Gran Canaria, both local and other foreign residents, is to get out there and do stuff. Go to social meets, join a walking club, find a fun bar, etc. Language exchanges are an excellent way to meet the locals (see the bit below about contributing).

One good option is to join the outdoor activities and casual outings that La Casita de Laura organises for its students and anyone who is interested in Spanish/Canarian culture and gastronomy. Most are free and they are a great way to meet a mix of locals and residents.

LEG language exchange events take place all over the island and are also a great way to meet a mix of people.

Making guiri friends in Gran Canaria is pretty much like making them at home except the drinks measures are bigger and the pubs never close. Most people start by socialising with their work colleagues or bond over a common interest (surfing, walking, etc).

Canarians are very friendly when you first meet them. However, it is a big jump from polite chit-chat to really making friends with a Gran Canaria local. As the newbie, it is up to you to make the effort needed.

Remember that Canarians tend to socialise within their families and extended friend group that they’ve had since childhood. The Anglo-Saxon concept of extending your social network via drinks, dinner parties, etc just isn’t common in Gran Canaria. In fact, if you want to make a Canarian uneasy, just invite them round for dinner and feed them foreign food.

The best way to make local friends in Gran Canaria is to contribute actively to the social scene in the area where you live. Help with local fiestas, offer free English lessons, volunteer at the community centre, etc. You’ll soon find that the locals adopt you into their extended families.

Anglo-Saxons are an opinionated and argumentative bunch (in particular the Brits, forthright Germans and the straight-shooting Dutch) and are not shy about having opinions or disagreeing with each other in public.

Verbal sparring helps them get to know each other and make friends.

However, Canarian get-togethers are all about sharing happy times with family and close friends. They do argue with each other (often loudly), but it is in a stylised, friendly way that you, as a new arrival, have no way of understanding. Arguments are a way of reinforcing friendships rather than about who is right.

It is, therefore, best to avoid disagreeing with Canarians at all in social settings until you’ve found your bearings (when a Canarian insults your mother, or pokes fun at you, you are free to start disagreeing with them; it’s a major sign of friendship).

Canarians have a subtle but effective way of avoiding arguments with guiris and with each other.

Many foreigners, used to a more robust form of banter, miss it and cause offence. Then they complain that Canarians are unfriendly.

This is how it works.

In any conversation with a Canarian friend, there comes a moment where you say something that is outside your friend’s comfort zone. It may be something controversial, or just something that they don’t know enough to have an opinion about.

While expats, and guiris in general, have no problem spouting off about things they know nothing about, Canarians don’t like it.

Instead, they steer the conversation back to the last point of common understanding. To a guiri, this reverse is often met with frustration; It seems like your friend has missed your point or is deflecting. You double-down, raise your voice, and end up pissing off everyone within earshot.

Just remember that harmony is the key to happy social settings in Gran Canaria.

Never, repeat NEVER, disagree with a Canarian when they say that the Canary Islands are paradise or the best place in the world.

Even if you’ve spent the day in a queue, someone stole your towel off the beach, there’s a pigeon in your water tank, and you are sick of mojo sauce.

Just agree that this is paradise.

When a Canarian asks you what you think of the Canary Islands it is an invitation to bond (after all, if you don’t love it here, why are you here?) rather than a request for your opinion.

If there’s one secret to moving to Gran Canaria and living happily ever after is to approach your life on the island as an adventure. Get out and meet people, both local and guiri, and explore the island. It’s a big place in a small space!

We’ve listed the best and most useful online resources for Gran Canaria residents here.

This guide was first published on Gran Canaria Guru, the island’s biggest and best website for foreign residents.

▷ Moving to Canary Islands【International Moving】Mudinmar

Moving to

Tenerife

Moving to

Las Palmas

Moving to

Gran Canaria

Moving to

Lanzarote

Moving to

La Palma

Moving to

La Gomera

Moving to

Fuerteventura

Moving to

Isla del Hierro

Request an immediate quote for your move to Canary Islands

No commitment, free quote, transfers and removals from anywhere in the world.

Request your quote for your international removal to Canary Islands

Moving service to Canary Islands

In Mudinmar we carry out moving services to Canary Islands. If you want to move to Canary Islands, we take care of all the procedures related to moving and moving:

• Preparation of free moving budget to Canary Islands with information on the price of the move.
• Packaging of your belongings, furniture and all kinds of objects that you want to take with you in your international move to Canary Islands.
• Transportation of furniture and equipment to your next place of residence in Canary Islands.
• We carry out the unpacking and assembly of furniture in the chosen moving destination.
• We deal with the management of customs procedures and other documents necessary for moving to Canary Islands.
• Advice by our agents on issues related to moving.
• Storage service in our warehouses in Madrid and Valencia.

International removals to Canary Islands

In Mudinmar, we have been carrying out international moving services for more than 30 years. We are a pioneer moving company in the international moving sector in Spain. With delegations in Madrid and Valencia, we accommodate the storage and storage of goods in our warehouses during your move. In addition to our warehouses in two of the main cities of Spain, we have a fleet of vehicles adapted to cover all transport needs: From the transport of a conventional move to another type of transport of more specific goods such as the transport of works of art, transport of pianos, transport of vehicles …

We offer moving services to Canary Islands from anywhere in the world! We take care of your move to Canary Islands from Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe and North America. You can call +34 963 974 383 to see if we offer international moving services in your home country.

Budget for moving to Canary Islands

The first step to start your move to Canary Islands is to request the budget for your international move. By completing our form with your moving information (addresses, moving volume, name, telephone number and contact email …) we can send you your free and personalized moving quote to Canary Islands. After the preparation of the budget, our commercial agents will contact you to facilitate the budget without obligation and give you all the information related to the moving service to Canary Islands (transfer, price of the move, transport route …).

It is important to keep in mind that the price of a move to Canary Islands will depend on several factors and variable costs such as delivery and collection addresses, the geopolitical situation of the country from which the move to Canary Islands is ordered or the circumstances of the transfer. In any case, our agents work every day to offer the best moving service to Canary Islands and taking into account your needs to ensure that your international move to Canary Islands is a success.

Request an immediate quote for your move to Canary Islands

No commitment, free quote, transfers and removals from anywhere in the world.

Request your quote for your international removal to Canary Islands

Associated moving services to Canary Islands

In Mudinmar we offer complementary services of international removals, to cover all the needs you may have during your move to Canary Islands.

Relocation services: We look for your home, we guide you in your new city and we deal with immigration and taxation procedures when you move to Canary Islands.

International vehicle transport: We transport your vehicle to your next place of residence in Canary Islands. We perform export services to Canary Islands and import vehicles to Spain.

International pet transport: We take your pet to Canary Islands so you can be together in your new home.

Transport of works of art: We offer logistic services for the transport of your works of art to Canary Islands.

Car transport to Canary Islands

In Mudinmar we take care of the international transport of vehicles from your country of origin to Canary Islands. We have assistance cranes equipped with a ramp for loading and unloading, and an adequate transport fleet to transfer your vehicle (car or motorcycle) on your international move to Canary Islands.

In addition, we provide both import and export service of vehicles to Canary Islands, being able to import cars and motorcycles from Spain and export all kinds of vehicles to your next destination.

We also manage procedures related to the transport of vehicles: Registration of the vehicle, customs clearance, payment of taxes and fees, compilation of the necessary documentation, etc.

Pet transport to Canary Islands

Do not leave behind that furry member of your family so special in your home country during your next move to Canary Islands, thanks to the international pet transport service provided by our division specialized in relocation and immigration services, you can always take your pet with you.

We move your pet to Canary Islands so you don’t have to leave it and ensure that it stays with you in your next home. We take care of the collection of documents necessary for the transfer, verification of vaccines in order, collection of the pet, accompaniment during the shipment and reception of the same once it has reached its destination in Canary Islands.

Request an immediate quote for your move to Canary Islands

No commitment, free quote, transfers and removals from anywhere in the world.

Request your quote for your international removal to Canary Islands

Relevant information in a move to Canary Islands

Canary Islands is one of the most desirable places if you want to make your move to Spain, because of its climate.

Top destinations moving in the Canary Islands

• Moving to El Hierro
• Family moving to Fuerteventura
• Changing home to La Gomera
• Transfers to La Palma
• Moving from the Peninsula to Lanzarote
• Transfers to Gran Canaria
• Moving family to Las Palmas
• Moving to Tenerife

Look for accommodation in the Canary Islands

There is a wide range of accommodation in the Canary Islands, hotels, cottages, apartments and campsites. We recommend booking accommodation in advance if you are traveling during peak season (July-August), as the high demand during these months could make it almost impossible to find somewhere to stay on these dates.

Choosing an apartment over a hotel has the advantage of providing greater privacy and reduced costs because they allow you to cook for yourself in the kitchen. If you are after a cheap option but also want to enjoy comfort, cleanliness and safety, hostels are a good choice. Renting a house is another possible option, especially for those traveling with children. Last but not least, it is worth mentioning the large amount of hotels these islands host. We include a link to view a wide selection of rural hotels, apartments and villas in the Canary Islands. Source.

Traditions and feasts in Canary Islands

One cannot talk about the festivals held in the Canary Islands without mentioning the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife held in March.

Among the traditional festivals include the large number of Pilgrimages held in different towns of the archipelago, where people dress in traditional Canarian clothing that varies by place and religious beliefs, mixed with a tasting of typical products of the area.

Request an immediate quote for your move to Canary Islands

No commitment, free quote, transfers and removals from anywhere in the world.

Request your quote for your international removal to Canary Islands

Transport in the Canary Islands

The geographical location of the Canary Islands make air and maritime transport the two only ways to reach the peninsula and to travel between the islands in this archipelago. All the islands have airports but  Palma is the main destination of almost all international flights and those leaving from the peninsula. All the others are mainly used for transport between the islands. To move within each island the best option is using a car which explains why the number of new roads being built and allows moving around each of the islands. You will have no problem to rent a car because there are several international and local car hiring companies operating in the area.

Mudinmar International Moving to the Canary Islands

Tourism is the main economic activity in the Canary Islands. Great beaches, pleasant climate and its great hotel infrastructure contribute to be known globally as one of the top tourist destinations. Mudinmar, a specialist in international movings can perform groupage and international transport to the Canary Islands, from the Canary Islands to the Peninsula, the Balearic Islands and to any international destination.

International Moving Mudinmar can perform the following services in the Canary Islands

• Shipping any type of vehicle, motorcycles, cars, boats, etc.
• You can choose between different delivery services: groupage, consolidated, partial shipments, shipping containers (Peninsula, Balearic Islands) with door to door services
• Professional services. national or international cast of new furniture.
• Moving business (office moving, companies moving or executives relocation) from any Spanish or international city to Canary Islands.
• Relocation services for businesses, managers or executives including housing search, school, high supplies, family assistance, etc.
• Customs clearance of export and import (Peninsula, Ceuta, Melilla and third countries).
• In addition, our staff offers information on transportation and paperwork needed in each case, offering the best option for your international move in the Canary Islands. 

Full-service national moving to the Canary Islands

Mudinmar can perform a full door to door service to the Canary Islands, which includes disassembling the moving, re-packing, arranging the parking permits and delivering within the arranged time frame. This service also includes, unpacking, assembling furniture and collection of waste material at the same time of the move. In an international move to the Canary Islands, Mudinmar could perform all necessary administrative procedures. Mudinmar has all the necessary materials for the protection and care of their personal belongings for moving to the Canary Islands:

• Standard cardboard boxes (all sizes)
• Boxes for fragile items, dishes, bottles …
• Plastic boxes
• Plastic bubble / bullkraft
• Edging
• Troqueles
• Wardrobes
• Sofa covers and mattress (all sizes) 

Storage service in the Canary Islands

Mudinmar moving offers our furniture storage service in any Spanish city. Check the  availability of storage service for your move to the Canary Islands.

Insurance for moving to the Canary Islands

After years of experience, Mudinmar movings recommends hiring full insurance coverage to mitigate any issues that may arise during transportation. Along with its budget for national or international moving to the Canary Islands, we will indicate the minimum cost of your insurance.

Our agents will inform you of the benefits and the cost of hiring the insurance for your move.

International Shipment of vehicles to the Canary Islands

Mudinmar International Movings has everything necessary for loading, transport and unloading of your vehicles such as ramps, cranes attendance, wooden boxes for transporting motorcycles, etc. Our moving service offers transfer of your car from any city in Spain or the Canary Islands to all international city along with the rest of their effects, as well as all current legislation for transportation.

Duration of moving to the Canary Islands

The transit time depends on the type of service chosen, groupage or exclusive, national or international moving and the distance to the Canary Islands. It ranges from 12-15 days from the collection of the move.

The Best Place To Live Or Buy Property In The Canary Islands

Are you thinking of moving to the Canary Islands? Are you wondering which would be the best island to move to? With so many great islands to choose from, it can be difficult to know which would be the right one for you and your family.

With this in mind, let us take a look at the pros and cons of each and see which would be the best choice for expats. You may well be familiar with the larger islands such as Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote but there are smaller ones to consider too.

There is no one, best Canary Island to move to. Each has something different to offer, so which is best for you will depend on your preferences and requirements. Each has advantages and disadvantages.

For example, are you a permanent migrant or are you looking for a holiday property? Are you looking for somewhere quiet to retire to or do you want to be closer to the nightlife? Do you want to mix with other UK expats or do you wish to connect with the local Spanish culture?

No matter what you are looking for, you are sure to find it in one of the beautiful Canary Islands.

Contents

• What are the Canary Islands?
• The Pros and Cons of moving to each of the Canary Islands:
• 1: Tenerife – Best for everyone including British Expats
• Buying property on Tenerife
• Facilities on Tenerife
• Healthcare on Tenerife
• Pros of Tenerife
• Cons of Tenerife
• 2: Fuerteventura – Best for beaches and great value properties
• Buying Properties in Fuerteventura
• Healthcare and education in Fuerteventura
• Shopping in Fuerteventura
•  Pros of Fuerteventura
•  Cons of Fuerteventura
• 3: Gran Canaria – Best for laid-back holiday homes
• Buying Property on Gran Canaria
•  Facilities in Gran Canaria
•  Healthcare on Gran Canaria
• Pros of Gran Canaria
• Cons of Gran Canaria
• 4: Lanzarote – Best for families and the young hip crowd
• Buying Properties on Lanzarote
•  Facilities of Lanzarote
• Pros of Lanzarote
•  Cons of Lanzarote
• 5: La Palma – Best for green spaces
• Buying Property in La Palma
• Facilities in La Palma
• Pros of La Palma
• Cons of La Palma 
• 6: La Gomera – Best for timeless beauty
• Buying Property in La Gomera
• Healthcare in La Gomera
• Pros of La Gomera
• Cons of La Gomera
• 7: El Hierro – Best for quiet and tranquillity
• Healthcare and shops in El Hierro
• Buying property in Tenerife
• Pros of living in El Hierro
• Cons of living in El Hierro
• 8: La Graciosa – Best for day trips or weekend breaks!
•  Buying property in La Graciosa
• Shops, facilities and healthcare in La Graciosa
• Pros of La Graciosa
• Cons of La Graciosa
• Moving to the Canary Islands

What are the Canary Islands?

A popular destination with tourists from all over the world, but particularly with Brits, the Canary Islands are a Spanish archipelago located on the north-west coast of Africa. The group of eight main islands are known for their black and white sand beaches – a result of their rugged volcanic terrain.

The Spanish Canary Islands benefit from a warmer climate; the summers are much warmer and drier, and the winter months are usually much milder, although they are more prone to rainfall. As the Islands are surrounded by water, the temperatures, even during the summer, do not become as unbearably warm as those that might be experienced in the African countries on the nearby northwest coast of Africa.

From largest to smallest, the main eight islands that form the Canary Islands are Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa.

Each of these islands has its own unique attractions, with different islands appealing to different groups of individuals. It is a good idea to remember that just because you have enjoyed visiting a particular island on holiday, it may not be the right place for you to consider moving to.

So which is the best place to live in the Canary Islands for you?

The Pros and Cons of moving to each of the Canary Islands:

1: Tenerife – Best for everyone including British Expats

Tenerife is the largest and most populous of the Canary Islands. It is a popular choice with visitors from all over the world, with the largest expat population being Brits. This makes it a great location for those who really want to be part of a large and well-established community.

The south of the island is where you will find the biggest concentration of tourist-heavy resorts, so you may want to avoid this if you are relocating with children.

The most popular destination in Tenerife is Santa Cruz. It has great amenities and shops, access to plenty of local beaches and is a short distance from terrain for exploring. Here, you will find a little something for everyone.

For those who prefer to be in the heart of the action or who are relocating to set up a business in the south of the island, Los Cristianos, Arona and Adeje are also popular areas to live in. Like Santa Cruz, they have access to great shops and beaches.

Laura, who moved to Tenerife, comments on the beaches and villages:

“Tenerife for me has everything, it has nature, mountains, the volcano (Teide), nice beaches, villages, touristic places and guachinche, which are small family restaurants with local food and wine, mostly in the north of the island.”

Buying property on Tenerife

Many of the properties you will find for sale in Tenerife consist of apartments in serviced complexes. This means there is often access to a communal pool and also a communal parking area. A 2 bedroom apartment in one of the less touristy areas of the island could cost you as little as €90,000. However, for a similar-sized property in Callao Salvaje or Adeje you would be looking at a price tag of €280,000.

Villas and townhouses are also popular, with a 3 bedroom villa in Adeje likely to cost you in the region of €310,000. Depending on the area that you select in Tenerife, you could make your money work for you with properties generally being cheaper compared to the UK.

Facilities on Tenerife

There are many larger shopping centres in Tenerife. The majority of these can be found on the southern tip of the island, centred around Costa Adeje and Arona. Here you will find all of the big-name shops that you might expect to find in any big European town. To the north of the island, near Santa Cruz de Tenerife, you will also find several larger shopping locations, again with plenty of the big name stores.

The island has a good number of schools with the British School of Tenerife in the north and Wingate school, which specializes in British education, located in the south. Both of these are understandably popular with English speakers.

Healthcare on Tenerife

For an island of its size, Tenerife has a surprisingly robust number of healthcare facilities. In addition to the 4 hospitals, there are a further 39 primary care and specialist clinics on the island. Healthcare is free, but some payment is usually required for prescriptions. Dental care is not free on the island.

Pros of Tenerife

Tenerife has great amenities, healthcare facilities and schools. There are plenty of properties on the market, and the prices compare very favourably to those in the UK. There is plenty to do on the island in your downtime.

Cons of Tenerife

The cons of Tenerife is that it is the most popular tourist destination so in the high season it will be busy and noisy. If you are looking for somewhere to relax, this may not be the island for you.

2: Fuerteventura – Best for beaches and great value properties

As the second largest of the Canary Islands, Fuerteventura is well known as a holiday destination. The island has plenty of white sandy beaches, and fantastic weather all year round, and is a regular destination for those who like water sports.

At the last count (2020), there were 36,371 foreigners living on the island. Around 3600 of these are Brits. Corralejo, El Cotillo and Lajares in the north are popular places to live and have more inhabitants overall, but the majority of expats live in the south near Costa Calma, Gran Taranjal and Morro Jable, which are a little quieter and more laid back.

“If you want total peace and quiet and away from it all, Fuerteventura, has very very little rain!”  according to Ibizababy on a forum for English-speaking expats in the Canary Islands.

Buying Properties in Fuerteventura

The majority of properties you will find for sale in Fuerteventura are villas and apartments, often on complexes with similar properties and shared facilities like swimming pools. In Corralejo, a 3-bedroom apartment will set you back approximately €250,000 and a villa of the same size $360,000.

A 3-bedroom apartment in Gran Taranjal, one of the popular expat areas, will cost in the region of €150,000. A budget of €430,000 will buy a 4-bedroom villa in Morro Jable, which is very good value. The island has affordable smaller apartment properties in locations that would make great holiday homes as well.

Healthcare and education in Fuerteventura

Whilst Fuerteventura is the second largest of the Canary Islands, it is much less densely populated compared to Tenerife and, as such, there is only one hospital on the island. They can treat a range of illnesses and emergencies, however more serious issues need to be treated at a hospital on the nearby island of Gran Canaria. The first port of call in the case of a non-emergency medical issue should be the pharmacy (chemist), where the staff are very knowledgeable and able to help with a wide range of issues.

There are no British schools on Fuerteventura at the moment, so schooling would be in Spanish, something to consider if you have school-age children. Whilst youngsters can pick languages up very quickly, this may be an issue.

Shopping in Fuerteventura

In addition to all of the smaller shops like bakeries that you would expect to find on an island of this size, Fuerteventura has several malls and shopping centres dotted all over the island, offering many of the well-known brands you would expect to find. This is largely due to the number of tourists that visit the island each year, and so they are mostly found on the north and east of the island, with a high concentration on the southern tip.

 Pros of Fuerteventura

The island has a great culture and nightlife with plenty to do whilst being slightly less touristy than Tenerife. It also has a great infrastructure, and the property prices are very reasonable.

 Cons of Fuerteventura

The cons of relocating with children are the lack of British schools, which could be off-putting unless your children speak enough Spanish to get by. The island will also get busier and noisier in the peak holiday months.

3: Gran Canaria – Best for laid-back holiday homes

The second most populous of the Canary Islands and the third largest in Gran Canaria. This is a bustling island with plenty of black lava and white sandy beaches.

The capital city, Las Palmas is a hub for duty-free shopping and is a major cruise ship docking point. Although the coastal areas of the island can be busy, the interior offers a much more tranquil outlook with its rural and mountainous landscape.

The island is particularly popular with tourists from the UK, and it is therefore little surprise that there is a large migrant community on the island. With English being widely spoken in Gran Canaria, the island is a popular draw for those who speak little Spanish.

“Very pleasant. Nice atmosphere, clean and decent, not too crowded.” A user from Tripadvisor.

Buying Property on Gran Canaria

The most popular areas of Gran Canaria with British property buyers are Puerto Rico and Playa del Ingles, both of which are found on the southern coast of the island. Properties on the island are very similar to those found on the other Canary Islands. A 3-bedroom apartment in Puerto Rico will cost €250,000 with the same type of property in Playa del Ingles coming in at around €40,000 more. A 3 bedroom villa in Las Palmas will cost a very reasonable €310,000 and will offer a little more space for your money.

Overall, property prices in Gran Canaria are comparable to those in the UK, and shopping around may just find you something a little special at a great price.

 Facilities in Gran Canaria

For anyone relocating with children, the island has a very good number of British and international schools for children of all ages, so for those with limited Spanish, schooling is not an issue on the island.

 Healthcare on Gran Canaria

The island is well equipped to deal with medical emergencies, as you will notice two large medical centres that form part of the main University hospital group. Both of these are located in the more touristy area of the island and there is a further hospital on the southern end.

There are plenty of doctors on the island but, as with mainland Spain, the local pharmacy is usually the best port of call for non-emergency medical issues.

Pros of Gran Canaria

Property prices are good, and the island has all of the amenities and facilities you would need to settle into your new life. English is widely spoken as well, and the expat community is well established. Great for families and those who are looking to retire abroad.

Cons of Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is more heavily populated than some of the other Canary Islands, so if you are looking for peace and tranquillity, this may pose a problem. It can also get busy with cruise ship travellers and holidaymakers during the busy season.

4: Lanzarote – Best for families and the young hip crowd

The island of Lanzarote is an enchanting one, with black pebble beaches, volcanic cones, and plenty of surf to entice those who love water sports. The fourth largest of the Canary Islands, there are approximately 150,000 living here, and around 5% of those are British expats.

The island is a very popular choice with expats from all over the world, and they make up around 20% of the population of Lanzarote, giving it a very multicultural feel.

Popular Lanzarote areas include Arrecife, Costa Teguise and San Bartolome. The island is known for its clear water and golden sands. The people are incredibly friendly and full of humour. They also love a good party, and the overall sense of “life is to be enjoyed” is evident everywhere you go.

“If they are retiring, I think Lanzarote would be perfect. They have everything they need there and a near perfect climate. Tenerife and Gran Canaria are lovely, but I adore the peace and tranquillity of Lanzarote.” recommends  Llama

Buying Properties on Lanzarote

The three most popular areas of Lanzarote for holiday homes are Playa Blanca, Puerto del Carmen, and Puerto Calero. A 3-bedroom villa in Playa Blanca will set you back about €390,000, whilst in Puerto Del Carmen; you will need to budget around €490,000 for a villa with three bedrooms.

Puerto Calero is the most expensive area of the three. Property prices in Lanzarote are on the expensive side when compared to some of the other Canary Islands.

 Facilities of Lanzarote

This island is great for those who are interested in art and architecture and has been an important location for artists over the years. You will find many famous museums such as Museo Cesar Manrique and Casa Jose Saramago.

Pros of Lanzarote

For those looking to relax and enjoy a slower pace of life, then Lanzarote is a great choice of location with plenty of things going on all year round. The weather is good, and there are plenty of beaches to enjoy.

 Cons of Lanzarote

Property prices in the more popular areas of the island are on the high side compared to the other Canary Islands, so may not be suited to those retiring on a limited budget.

5: La Palma – Best for green spaces

Known as La Isla Bonita (the beautiful island), La Palma is an island with real character. The capital city of the island has cobbled streets and quaint houses with wooden balconies.

The island also has a substantial national park with volcanic craters, pine forests and waterfalls. Whilst it is certainly the greenest of the Canary Islands, visitors will still find plenty of white sandy beaches to enjoy as well.

The expat community on La Palma is thriving and close-knit. For those who do not speak Spanish, this is a vital connection as the islanders speak little English. Those who do not speak Spanish will struggle to get a job, even within the tourist industry.

Tripadviser user Brian comments:

“La Palma is a wonderful place to live, peaceful, with good scenery, good weather (on most parts of the island), friendly people, reasonable services, little criminality, few tourists, low taxes and is part of the EU.

But as with many islands … you need to have income.”

Buying Property in La Palma

The island has a number of rather enchanting places to live in and, due to its size, the expat population are more widespread than you would perhaps find on the other islands. The price of a 3 bedroom villa will vary widely from one place to another and even within the same location depending on your priorities.

In El Paso, for example, you could spend anywhere between €275,000 to €672,000 on a property with similar specs. Investment opportunities are certainly available on the island, with 10 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms and plenty of character available in El Paso for €695,000.

Facilities in La Palma

There are a good number of schools on the island; however, with no British or International schools, the teaching is all done in Spanish which may pose a problem to those people relocating with children, if they do not speak at least some Spanish.

There are plenty of medical facilities on the island and a couple of larger shopping areas. Larger shopping trips are possible with a regular ferry service.

Pros of La Palma

The pros of La Palma are that it is a great island for people looking for a tranquil life, and it offers great investment opportunities when it comes to properties.

Cons of La Palma 

The cons of La Palma are that there are better islands for those with school-age families or those who like their surroundings to be a little busier.

6: La Gomera – Best for timeless beauty

The second smallest of the original seven islands that made up the Canary Islands, La Gomera, has a prehistoric forest with a UNESCO World Heritage Destination. The island is small, almost circular in shape, and just 25km across. It has an altogether different feel to the larger islands and is not for everyone.

The migrant community on the island is on the small side, and adapting to life on La Gomera is not for the faint-hearted. However, it has its charms.

Blogger Alison Chino explains, “Valle Gran Rey, where amazing hillsides of palm trees and man-made terraces guard the way down to the ocean, where there is a small, neat resort, the word old-fashioned comes to mind. The swimming is safe and great there, unlike some of the other rocky places with strong currents around the island. The island really is a series of what must once have been hidden valleys.”

Buying Property in La Gomera

Houses, villas, apartments and even land are amongst the gems for sale in La Gomera – although it should be noted that properties do not come up that often.

Very good-sized plots of land do come up for sale and could offer an investment opportunity to the right person. However, at €750,000 for 6243m2, even in a prime location, it certainly doesn’t come cheap.

A 4 bedroom villa in San Sebastien, however, will set you back a very reasonable €330,000. Or you could purchase a 5-bedroom villa in Villahermosa in need of a fair bit of updating for just €110,00.

Healthcare in La Gomera

The island has a medical centre and a small hospital which can deal with some, but not all, medical emergencies. Patients requiring more complex treatment need to be airlifted to Tenerife, and this involves waiting for the helicopter to come out to La Gomera first, as it is stationed in Tenerife.

Pros of La Gomera

The island offers a complete escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. This is a dream location for those who love nature and are not afraid of working hard to become part of a small community. Property bargains are available.

Cons of La Gomera

The lack of medical facilities for people with complex conditions makes the island a less-than-ideal location for most people.

7: El Hierro – Best for quiet and tranquillity

Nicknamed Isla del Meridiano, El Hierro is the farthest of the Canary Islands to the South and West. It is also the second smallest, with a population of just under 11,000. The island is known for its diving and its tranquil surroundings. It isn’t for everyone, and there are very few Brits living here, but for those who seek peace and solitude, this is the location.

To quote Bob, a Brit living there:

“We like the island very much for its splendid isolation and tranquillity, the smiling local people, and our South American neighbours.”

Healthcare and shops in El Hierro

There is a small hospital on El Hierro that offers a range of more basic services and more specialised treatment. There are several doctors on El Hierro for day-to-day medical requirements and the majority of the shops, which are mostly small supermarkets and food shops, are located in Valverde, as are the schools, of which there are just a few.

Buying property in Tenerife

Villa de Valverde, Las Puntas and Frontera are the most popular parts of the island to live in. Properties here are predominantly townhouses, and they vary quite significantly in price, with the more traditional style of older houses in Frontera with 3 bedrooms costing around €159,000. Three-bedroomed apartments in a complex in Valverde come in at closer to the €184,000 mark. There are some very cheap properties to be had here that need renovation, as well as some with much higher price tags.

Pros of living in El Hierro

The island is small and easy to get around, peaceful and perfect for those who love the quiet outdoor life and speak Spanish well. It has the basic amenities needed for those in good health to enjoy life.

Cons of living in El Hierro

The expat community is almost non-existent so, if you want that support, you will not necessarily find it here. For larger schools and more complex healthcare, you will need to consider travelling to other islands and possibly residential schools.

8: La Graciosa – Best for day trips or weekend breaks!

A volcanic island, La Graciosa is around 29 square kilometres. There are only two villages on this, the smallest of the Canary Islands. The island’s population is approximately 700 people, and its economy is predominately based on tourism and fishing.

There are no paved roads, but there are plenty of bike paths, isolated mountains and secluded beaches. For some people, this might be the dream location however, as a relocation destination, it certainly won’t be for everyone.

 Buying property in La Graciosa

Caleta del Sebo is the island’s port where the ferries from Lanzarote dock. It is also the most populated of the two villages. Pedro Barba, the original settlement on the island, is the other one.

Those who live on the island can be found in one of these two villages. The rest of the island is predominantly rough terrain. Understandably there are not many houses for sale in La Graciosa; however, a finca (traditional cottage) with 4 bedrooms is likely to set you back around €300,000.

Shops, facilities and healthcare in La Graciosa

As you might expect with an island the size of La Graciosa, there are few shops, just 2 small supermarkets, a bakery and a DIY shop. There are also a couple of bars, restaurants and a small church.

Many of the local children attend school on Lanzarote as boarders and return home at the weekend. The island has an arrangement with Lanzarote with regard to healthcare. Doctors from the nearby island take it in turns to stay on La Graciosa for a month at a time to give basic medical care. More urgent medical cases are either airlifted to Lanzarote or met from the ferry with an ambulance.

Pros of La Graciosa

The island is peaceful, and there is very little pollution.

Cons of La Graciosa

Purchasing property could be difficult. There is limited schooling, healthcare, shopping and other facilities. Employment on the island is very limited. This is, therefore, not a location that will suit many of those looking to relocate.

Moving to the Canary Islands

Each island will have its advantages and disadvantages, so it is important to do your research, however, you will be sure to find an island to suit you whether you have a young family, are retiring or want to be close to the nightlife. We hope this has helped you find the best place to buy property in the Canary Islands. But to find the best place to live in the Canary Islands is to jump on an aeroplane and experience the islands for yourself.

One good thing about moving to the Canary Islands is that they are so popular with British migrants, expats and property buyers that you are not short of relocation and removal services. In fact, container shipping and removal services to the major islands such as Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote are very frequent and quite cost effective.

If you would like to receive information about moving to the Canary Islands, visit our removals page to start the process of moving your personal belongings. As experts in the international removals industry, we provide support throughout the process including assistance with documentation and customs clearance.

If you need help with your property search, A Place in the Sun has properties for sale whether you are on a budget or looking for a luxury home.

Living in the Canary Islands

12 October 2021

Ever wondered what it’s like to live in the Canary Islands? It might be a holidaymaker’s dream but living in the Canaries means a bit more to think about.

In this article, we’re covering buying property, the cost of living and weighing up some of the pros and cons of calling the Canary Islands home.

Situated in the Atlantic Ocean, just off the northwest coast of Africa lie the Canary Islands. Made up of seven main islands, the Canaries are an autonomous region under Spanish rule. This means they can make up their own laws while following many of the same as mainland Spain.

Sun-seeking tourists love a trip to las Islas Canarias. But in this guide, we’re looking past their holiday lure to find out what the Canaries can offer expats.

Buying property in the Canary Islands

Buying property in the Canary Islands as a foreigner requires a few steps. The buying process follows the same rules as buying property in Spain. Firstly, you should seek the help of an estate agent. They can help you through all stages of the buying process like finding a property, opening a bank account, hiring a surveyor and a notary, and securing your NIE.

An NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) is your tax identification number used to follow all financial and legal activities in the Canary Islands. You’ll need one of these if you want to buy property as a non-citizen. With an NIE in your hand, you can make a reservation on a property. This is followed by a deposit contract, committing you to a property, then a contract to finalise the sale.

The Canary Islands are all different and the properties they offer differ too. On the whole, house prices are more affordable in the Canaries than you might think. As of September 2021, the average price per square meter in the Canary Islands is €1,921 (£1,628). In the UK, this is around £3,000 per square meter.

House prices fluctuate depending on which island you buy property on and the area of the island you choose. Your estate agent can help you find your perfect match for location and property.

Cost of living in the Canary Islands

Living in the Canary Islands is affordable. It’s cheaper than the UK in a heap of aspects. For example, data from Numbeo suggests rental prices in the Canary Islands are 73.28% lower than in London, on average.

Groceries are kinder to the bank balance too. Overall, you can expect to pay 31.95% less for your groceries in the Canaries than in the UK’s capital. The food is, generally, of high quality as well. Supermarkets are easily accessible and great for your everyday items, but most islands are also jam-packed with food markets selling meat, fruit and vegetables.

Your utility bill will also be cheaper than in the UK. Savings on heating is likely to be a large contributor to this, but you’ll pay around 51% less for utilities in the Canary Islands than in London. However, the internet isn’t great.

Internet speeds and connectivity differ depending on the island; larger, more densely populated islands will have more efficient internet than the smaller, more remote islands. Additionally, it might be the most expensive aspect of Canaries life when compared to the UK. Be prepared to pay roughly 58% more for internet in the Canary Islands than in London (a monthly bill of around €60 (£50. 50)).

Living in Tenerife pros and cons

The Canary Islands are similar and different in many ways. And there are plenty of advantages and disadvantages to each one.

Tenerife is the largest of the seven islands and the most populated. Here are a few pros and cons to life in Tenerife.

Pros

Climate

Known as ‘the Island of the Eternal Spring’ Tenerife has a wonderful climate with consistent, pleasurable temperatures all year round. Summer lows start around 24ºC, cranking up to roughly 33ºC, and winter temperatures range between 18ºC and 21ºC.

Easy travel

The Canary Islands are conveniently close to one another, and there’s no better base for travelling than Tenerife. It has two airlines flying between the islands and two boat services shifting passengers from coast to coast. It’s affordable too so you won’t have to break the bank whenever you feel like seeing what your neighbours have to offer.

Cons

Life can be slow

If you’re a fan of an action-packed busy lifestyle, Tenerife probably isn’t for you. Locals are no stranger to queuing for just about anything and deliveries to your home take time.

Tourist town

An estimated five million people visit Tenerife every year, making it the Canary Islands’ tourist hot spot. This means you’ll be scrapping for a space on the beach, paying through the nose in certain areas and waiting even longer for a table during high season.

Living in Lanzarote pros and cons

Lanzarote is the fourth largest of the Canaries and is home to around 150,000 people. It’s furthest north of the seven main islands and comes with a bunch of pros and cons to consider.

Pros

Brits abroad

Out of its 150,000-person population, around 5% are British expats. This can help take the sting out of any potential culture shock if you’re moving to Lanzarote from the UK. Get involved with fellow Brits’ community groups and maintain a taste of home.

Great beaches

The Canary Islands are jam-packed with beautiful beaches and Lanzarote is no different. Despite its volcanic origins, many of its impressive bays and lined with incredibly soft golden sand which is a rarity for the Canaries.

Cons

Language

Learning a new language is always a tricky aspect of moving to a new place. And, while some English is spoken on the Canary Islands, due to their tourist-targeting nature, not learning any Spanish may earn you the cold shoulder from some natives.

It ain’t easy being breezy

Because of its lack of protection from the vast Atlantic Ocean, Lanzarote experiences almost constant wind. The blustery weather can make a trip to the beach both stressful and dangerous – whipping up huge waves. However, if you’re a fan of water sports like surfing, Lanzarote’s windy weather might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Living in Gran Canaria pros and cons

Gran Canaria is the third-largest island in terms of area with the second-largest population. It has a much more varied terrain than the other islands, featuring tropical forests and large green hills as well as the Canaries’ signature sandy beaches. Here are a few positives and negatives to living in Gran Canaria.

Pros

Cheap to eat out

Despite its big tourist population, grabbing a meal out in Gran Canaria is very affordable. Alcohol is much cheaper than in the UK’s major cities and dinner at a restaurant is around 50% less expensive than in London.

Nightlife

Gran Canaria has a pumping nightlife scene with bars and clubs open late across the island. It’s also famous for the Yumbo Centre which stays open all night and is home to the island’s popular gay scene.

Cons

Island fever

Living on an island with a land area of only 1,560 km² (London is 1,572 km²) can be a bit of a shock to the system. The inability to travel to mainland Spain and other islands by car can be frustrating for some. You may also find it difficult to get hold of certain items, particularly if they need to be imported.

Difficult to integrate

Although Gran Canaria is home to many expats from around the world, integrating with the locals can be difficult. It’s a popular tourist island and many natives see all foreigners that way. This means even if you’ve been living there for a while, you may still be treated as a tourist.

Send money to the Canary Islands

Regardless of which of the seven you decide to call home, living in the Canary Islands will involve moving your money.

Our services can help you with buying property, sending money to family, moving pensions and much more. We offer market-leading exchange rates and absolutely no hidden fees.

Our Currency Specialists are committed to learning about you and your business, offering guidance on how you can effectively manage your international payments.

Book a chat with a Privalgo Currency Specialist for free today.

Book a chat with a Currency Specialist

Why did we move to Spain?

Introduction: In 2018, I moved my family to the Canary Islands. It was a carefully planned adventure that we had dreamed of for a decade. My daughter is less than thrilled and as a charismatic and firm willed 9 year old, she sat me down so that I could truly explain why we uprooted her life. I shared it with a few friends, and they encouraged me to publish the letter.

Hi Serenity. I know you are pretty upset with our choice to move to Gran Canaria. We sat together this afternoon overlooking the ancient city of Dubrovnik while on a quick holiday, and you managed to really get across how lost and betrayed you feel. You miss our dog. You miss your friends, your home and living somewhere everyone speaks English. You asked me to explain why we moved.

Since you landed yourself in a whole grip of trouble today, you owe me an essay on the importance of respecting the word ‘No!’ As you are writing your paper right now, I am going to write an answer to your question. This is why we moved to a small Spanish island off of the coast of Africa. And unlike what many people seem to assume, it has little to do with a troubled American nation, although getting a break from the intense noise is a real plus.

Why did we leave the States?

Live well & do good work

I have never been all that interested in separating my career and the other parts of my life. You know I have multiple businesses and use them to chase my passions. I wanted to be present as you grew up, craft great work when I felt inspired and surf when the waves are good. I helped shaped our company Modern Tribe to be entirely remote and give us the freedom to be located pretty much anywhere in the world. I can flex my schedule depending on my life priorities. It is a real gift that I treasure and we try to enjoy as much as possible. Living well for me isn’t about stuff or toys, its about choices. But choices don’t mean much if you don’t take advantage of them to do what is important to you. This trip is in part my testimony to you and Sojourn, to mom, to the 115 people who work with me at Tribe and to my friends that you can both live well and do good work. Too often I feel people paint them at odds.

I’ve dreamed my whole life of living right on the beach with good surf. It is the very first item on my list of dreams and aspirations (followed by owning my own billboard on which I can put thoughtful puns, living a life free of socks and getting a thank you card from the Whitehouse). It’s cheaper in the Canaries, so we could afford to be waterfront, which would never be an option in the SF Bay Area. Little lady, you have got to admit that this pad we live in is amazing and walking out to boogie board after school together is a gift. As for mom, Julie got used to the cold of coastal Northern California but always dreamed of somewhere warm.

Create stories

When my grandfather passed away, I was your age. “I’m only taking my memories with me”, were his last words that I really remember, “so make good stories”. I measure the quality of my life by the degree of adventure and the memories we create together. Julie and I treasure the novel experiences that comes with being immersed in another culture. My whole life I dreamed of going deep. Getting past that surface layer we peel back on our shorter trips. Building friendships, seeing local festivals, learning the nuances of a dialect. And for me personally, there is a certain magic to the delightful discomfort tied to new adventures.

Raise good kids

Being able see from multiple points of view is part of being a good adult. I love Santa Cruz and will gladly spend the majority of my life living there. But everyone in Santa Cruz is really pretty darn similar when compared to the day-to-day life of people in other cities and continents. In a world where most people don’t like anyone or anything they don’t understand, I want you to gain empathy. Unlike mom who was born with the gift of empathy, you and I have to work hard to nurture it. When you can understand the context of a situation, then you can make things better. The more perspectives we can give you, the more tools you have available to find solutions to the problems that arise in life.

Adapting to change gracefully is necessary for you to flourish as a adult. Holy cow is this world changing fast. The odds are good that the business you start or the career you choose in 10-15 years doesn’t even exist today. I don’t have the skills to teach you to be a deep sea marine biologist or a technician on the ship to mars. I asked my dad what he would have changed as a parent now that my sister and I are grown up. “I would have taught you to dream beyond college. We thought if we just got you there in one piece, the rest would take care of itself. After all, it worked for us. But, what we needed to do was teach you to adapt if the first plan didn’t pan out.” Julie and I decided that the best way for you to become comfortable with change is to be carefully exposed to a bunch of it. Moving to the Canaries is uncomfortable for you, but overall is pretty safe. It is the best way we could think to stretch you and your brother and teach you to adapt to new situations. And lordie are we finding lots of them. While some have been tough, just as many are delightful. Think how much you love snorkeling every evening out to the Barra to find new types of fish.

Speak Spanish

Julie and I both want to be truly fluent in Spanish and wish the same for you and Sojourn. God I’d love to drop my thick French accent. Spanish is spoken across multiple continents and all throughout California. Speak another language with ease and you have so many more options for friends, fun and a career. Language is a cornerstone for navigating the world. I’ve personally found speaking three languages offered me a number of opportunities in life that are closed to most people. And to be candid, while we tried for about 3 days to have a multilingual household in the states, I just didn’t have the discipline and the energy. So we moved to a place where you can be immersed and become bilingual.

Why did we choose the Canaries?

You’ve explored a number of countries with us since you were young. We tried a month in Hawaii and a couple years later a month in Barbados. We explored living in Japan, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Mom made a list of the top things we looked for in a home.

So I can work

• A strong and dependable Internet connection and electricity
• An international airport in close proximity for business travel
• Daytime overlap with US eastern hours

So we can live well

• Cost of living at least 25% lower than Santa Cruz, CA
• An easily accessible, consistent, quality surf wave
• Weather where we don’t need air conditioning or heating
• A city big enough to have an educated community where we can find friends
• An economy that isn’t just focused on tourism
• Access to a variety of interesting cultural experiences
• Ideally Spanish speaking

So you are safe and healthy

• Quality schools with some multi-language education
• No killer mosquitos or diseases
• Good medical care
• A stable government and low crime

It turned out that getting everything on this list was really difficult. We have been looking for our new home since you were born, over 9 years now. When Papi and Mami convinced us to check out the Canary Islands, we were blown away. Weather is perfect, averaging between 70-80F year round. Surf breaks 300 days a year in front of our new house. You are learning Spanish, Chinese and French at your new school. An ocean front 4 br tricked out apartment costs 1/2 the rent we are getting for our home in California. That apartment has a 1 Gigabit ethernet connection, which is over 10x faster than my old home 40m away from Silicon Valley. There are no mosquitos or diseases!!!! Canary Islands is basically Europe’s cheaper Hawaii without the humidity and bugs. Frankly, I’m stunned how much we love it here and wouldn’t be surprised to see a nomad boom take place in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria in the next decade.

Every time we’ve talked about this trip, before moving here and since, people tell you how lucky you are; That some day, you will thanks us. We’ll, that is the point and I hope its true. This is going to be pretty uncomfortable for a while and pretty magical too. Thank you for joining us on this adventure. We love you.

How to move to permanent residence in Tenerife in Spain — Realnoe Vremya

Society

07:00, 02/25/2018

Plot: Ours abroad

“Our people abroad” – why is paradise life in Tenerife worse than Russian

Athlete Maria Soboleva emigrated to Europe to live with her Scottish husband. But both chose not Foggy Albion as their place of residence, but island Spain, where even professional athletes find the best conditions for their favorite water workouts, and time flows slowly even in an ambulance. Realnoe Vremya continues to map the migration of Tatarstan residents and finds out what it is like to live and work in another country.

Background

I have been involved in rhythmic gymnastics since childhood. For a long time my whole life was connected with sports. Sabantu, New Year trees, May Day celebrations on Freedom Square – there have always been a lot of performances and competitions. I was sincere, emotional and hyper-responsible, which often prevented me from performing well, for as long as I can remember, I was very nervous at every performance, as if my whole life was at stake. And since I saw my future only in gymnastics and in its further teaching, I decided to get a psychologist’s education: I know how to train, but how to set up and calm down – this had to be learned.

After studying at KSPU as a psychologist and teacher of English, a professional choreographic group became a permanent job. Along the way, I taught English, led the children’s direction in the fitness club – taught gymnastics, put on dances, took the children to performances. And all this with a small child who was raised alone. My plans for the move were determined by my personal life, although I did not plan to emigrate, I did not choose the country and did not even set myself such a task, especially since, having a child, I imagined the scale of the event.

My husband is from Scotland, but from December to the end of April he works as a ski instructor in France, and the rest of the time he lives in Spain, in Tenerife, in an ideal place for any water sports that he loves. My emigration took place in two stages – first to France, where he worked, and then to Spain, where he always dreamed of living.

Tenerife is the ideal place for all water sports. Photo vk.com

Preparing for moving

Preparation for the move consisted only in the preparation of documents necessary for a long-term visa. Moreover, the fact that my husband worked in France and paid taxes there complicated the process of collecting documents – I had to request a residence permit where he pays taxes. I had to learn French, which was required to obtain a long-term visa. To do this, I worked with a teacher for several months. We lived in France for five weeks, it was necessary to draw up the same number of documents again in the second round, but my husband said: “Enough bureaucracy, we are going to Spain. ”

I started learning Spanish when I arrived in the country, but not with teachers, but at home: while shopping, at the clinic where I took my child, and so on. Most of all, in terms of understanding Spanish, studying for a driver’s license helped me. I could pass the theoretical exam in English – which I did right away. And it took a year to pass the driving test, I couldn’t pass it right away, and so, listening to instructions, communicating with other students, I learned the language.

Adaptation on site

When we arrived in Spain, it felt like we were in heaven. The weather was wonderful, the eldest son went surfing almost every day, we went to the beach, drove around the island. Somehow, when we went to bed, I caught myself thinking that people buy music discs with the sound of waves in order to relax, and I have these sounds from morning to night. The beauty! Many tourists who stay with us say that this is the perfect place to “disconnect” – it’s easy to disconnect and relax here.

The other side of the move was that a huge number of bureaucratic procedures awaited us. Enroll in school, get a residence permit, get health insurance, etc. And the Spaniards do their job with characteristic relaxation. “Do you want to go to school? Ok, bring some information.” They brought it and we hear: “Ah, so you are foreigners, bring more of this.” And then: “Ah, so you got married in France, then there’s this.” And so on ad infinitum, because the Spaniards do not think far ahead and do not recalculate the possible scenarios for the development of events. They do not like unnecessary stress, they do not like to think for a person. It cannot be said that it disappointed me in Spain. On the contrary, I would say it makes me feel jealous, I try to learn it. So far, five years later, I haven’t made much headway.

“The Spaniards do their work with a relaxed attitude.” Photo dw.com

But there were some disappointments. Readers from Russia will be interested to know that queues exist abroad, and even worse than here. But the essential difference is that people, sitting for a long time waiting, very rarely grumble or otherwise express dissatisfaction. Once, on the way to the store, a friend decided to drop into the hospital for an appointment with an anesthesiologist, as she said, for 5-10 minutes. She entered the office an hour later than the appointed time. The meaning of the reception was to collect information about allergies, about whether there had been anesthesia before. But since the doctor invited me to the office “for company”, we also talked about Russia, and about Kazan, and about football – about everything in the world. That is, there were other patients whose appointment time was pushed further and further. Nobody saw anything wrong with that. There are queues for no apparent reason even in the ambulance. Medicine is generally a big shock for Russians in Spain. But more on that later.

Work in insular Spain

My whole story is about Spain, but its important feature is that we are talking about an insular part of the state. If we say that Spain has a high unemployment rate, we must keep in mind that it is even higher in the islands. Basically, emigrants try to work with their compatriots: Germans with Germans, Belgians with Belgians, and so on – in their native language.

I have not yet confirmed my diploma, but I know that it is troublesome. I talked with the teacher of my son, who went this way, and so for her, an emigrant from the UK, the process took two years – and this was for her, a citizen of the European Union (it was before Brexit). I started to work on confirming my diploma, but I gave up even before retaking all the exams (it costs money and nerves). I stopped because even a confirmed diploma did not guarantee employment, although it would be nice to work as an English teacher (as it is written in my diploma).

At first I thought that the best option for me, having worked as a yoga and Pilates instructor, including with injured people, would be to train as a physiotherapist. It would have taken only two years, but I was forced to abandon this idea on the advice of a physiotherapist friend. He said that in both hospitals on the island, rates are closed, and when new ones appear, for example, during the construction of a new hospital, the competition for the position will be simply huge. The only option is private practice, but this is a difficult path, because the bulk of the locals are not very solvent emigrants. Working in big cities, we are accustomed to the fact that it is easy and fast to build up a customer base. And here people collect their customers bit by bit.

A growing industry is real estate, investment in housing is now generating good returns. We ourselves own several apartments in our house – and it is on the first coastline – most of the apartments belong to people who rent housing to tourists. Many Russians work in the field of tourism, they become guides, sports instructors. Very often they do not even get a license, their clients only need a guide or instructor who speaks Russian, because tourists from Russia, as a rule, do not even speak English.

“Life in Tenerife is not expensive. The Spaniards themselves are looking for opportunities to lead a relaxed lifestyle near the coast, drink coffee by the ocean, and eat well. The same is often sought by foreigners.” Photo dw.com

But the great advantage of Tenerife and Spain in general is that life is inexpensive. The Spaniards themselves are looking for opportunities to lead a relaxed lifestyle near the coast, drink coffee by the ocean, and eat well. The same is often sought by foreigners. I see Italians who work as bartenders for a small salary and spend all their free time on the water. My husband tells the same story: at 18-19For years, he went to Greece for the whole summer to work as a bartender and windsurf for his own pleasure. Many are satisfied with earning exactly as much as they need to live.

Medicine in Spain

In free medicine, you need to remember that as long as a person is not visible to the naked eye that he is sick, he will not receive special attention. I even heard that if you called an ambulance, but you could drive yourself, you can be billed.

Medicine is a sore subject for emigrants, the Spaniards, not knowing other medicine and attitudes, do not express dissatisfaction. What can not be said about the Russians, they are just in shock. A person, faced with an illness in a hospital, may hear: “We don’t have such a specialist, go to the hospital in the north and it’s better to take a taxi, because waiting for an ambulance you will lose precious time.” Public hospitals here are better equipped than private ones.

I had a medical emergency when I took my youngest son to the hospital with a fright after he hit his head. There were several people in line at 12 at night, including an Italian woman, who was also outraged that emergency care was rather “slow” – we sat in line for an hour, no one came to us. Then a nurse slowly came out, who agreed with me, saying, yes, you need to do an MRI. After some time, the doctor came out just as leisurely, who chatted with this nurse for about five minutes about how the weekend went, and only after that he paid attention to us.

As far as polyclinics are concerned, there is a feeling that doctors are rewarded not for treatment, but for not providing medical care, for saving the funds of insurance companies. It is very difficult to get an insurance specialist. For a year and a half it was my turn to see a gynecologist, of course, during this time I have traveled to Spain more than once and visited all the doctors that I needed. No one could believe that in three weeks in Russia I visited my doctor three times. Everyone rolled their eyes.

“The authority of doctors in Spain is indisputable. It would never occur to anyone to google the symptoms and their treatment, change the dosage – they listen to the doctor unquestioningly. Photo espanarusa.com

But despite this approach, which usually amazes emigrants, the authority of doctors in Spain is indisputable. It would never occur to anyone to google the symptoms and their treatment, change the dosage – they listen to the doctor unquestioningly. Therefore, I am very sorry for the teachers and doctors in Russia, who are often harassed by their parents. It is normal for us to intervene in the work process and tell professionals what to do and how to do it.

About education

Education is free in public schools. But in Tenerife, the school does not give the level that I expect from an educational institution. For a long time I could not agree and accept this, and I still think that teachers should have a greater influence on children. Although I still accepted the fact that those children who need it, who plan to enter the university, make great efforts in their studies themselves. But many, especially in the south of Tenerife, come from Uruguay, from Venezuela. For them, the very fact of living in Spain and earning money is already a big step forward, everything suits them. Staying for the second year at school here is not a tragedy. Of course, this is hardly a reason for joy and pride, but the fact is perceived calmly.

My son is very smart, well-read, they say about him here that he has an academic mindset. He managed to learn Spanish right in the course of his studies, coming to school not from the beginning of the year, and finished the year with a good one. I was looking for an opportunity to send my eldest son to a private school, it turned out that there were much fewer places than those who wanted to. The easiest option to send the eldest son to school was to send the youngest to the kindergarten with her first. He went there at the age of two. And this was an occasion to accept the eldest child from the family to school.

Training costs 100 euros per month, another 150 euros for lunches, 50 for a bus.

This school has a completely different approach, completely different control, even the time of study is different. If in a public school education continues until 13.00, in a private school children study until 17.00. And at first it was difficult. Here, teachers also build relationships with parents differently: if in the previous school we had to see grades only at the end of the quarter, here the teachers are always in touch with us. And this is for me the standard of the school, as it should be.

But what makes me very happy is the attitude of teachers towards children. They can be arbitrarily strict in the classroom, but when they meet outside of school, they always show love for the students, they always hug and kiss. It costs a lot. Maybe because Spaniards are generally cheerful and happy people. And this despite the fact that the economy is weak and many live more than modestly.

Recorded by Aigul Chuprina

SocietyEducationMedicineCulture

Barcelona and Real Madrid may move to the Canary Islands0001

April 9, 2020 Thursday

14:54

Season 2019/20 of the Spanish La Liga can finish in the Canary Islands to avoid the threat of infection with coronavirus

Reported by Marca.

According to the source, the rest of the season may be spent in the Canary Islands. Local hotels are ready to accept commands. Given the safety of the archipelago, it is advantageously located geographically, in terms of isolation from the outside world.

The Spanish Championship was suspended on 23 March. 27 rounds played in La Liga. Barcelona top the table with 58 points, followed by Real Madrid with 56 points.

• On March 31, it was reported that if the Spanish football championship was not restored by June 27, the tournament would be cancelled.

Verified information about coronavirus in Ukraine! Subscribe to the Telegram channel: https://t.me/coronavirus_in_ukraine

pandemic

News

See also:

October 3, 2022 Monday

I predict that three states will vote against Ukraine’s accession to NATO, – international political scientist Will

October 3, 2022 Monday

Contradictions have begun in Russia, which can be defined as an internal “war”, – military expert Badrak

October 3, 2022 Monday

Political economist Fukuyama predicted a collapse in Russia “in the coming days”

• Kyiv
• Lviv
• Vinnitsa
• Dnieper
• Donetsk
• Zhitomir
• Zaporozhye
• Ivano-Frankivsk
• Kropyvnytskyi
• Lugansk
• Lutsk
• Nikolaev
• Odessa
• Poltava
• Smooth
• Sumy
• Simferopol
• Ternopil
• Uzhhorod
• Kharkiv
• Kherson
• Khmelnitsky
• Cherkasy
• Chernivtsi
• Chernihiv
• USD
  39. 92

  Purchase
  39.92

  Sale
  40.95

• EUR

  Purchase
  38.7

  Sale
  39.96

LIVE

• Actual
• Important

2022,
Wednesday

October 5

05:05

Updated

Russia attacked Belaya Tserkov with Iranian kamikaze drones. Explosions are heard again in the city

Champions League: results of all matches 4 October

Ukrainian air defense shot down 3 Russian drones and 2 Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters

They are pulling up reserves, blowing up bridges and destroying ammunition: how the occupiers react to the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the South

The Armed Forces of Ukraine killed 31 rashists and destroyed 8 tanks in the South of Ukraine

In different sectors of the front, the Armed Forces of Ukraine managed to deepen from 10 to 20 km – OK ” South”

Biden will run for a second term in 2024

Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed warehouses of Russians in Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions

Russians fired at three communities in Sumy region

EU ambassadors agreed on new sanctions against the Russian Federation, the package includes the maximum price of oil, – mass media

The commander of the tank company of Russians Kareev was liquidated in Ukraine, – officer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Stefan “Liverpool” confidently beat “Rangers” in the Champions League0003

Inter unexpectedly beat Barcelona in the Champions League

Musk is ready to buy Twitter again at a starting price of $44 billion

2022,
Tuesday

October 4

Murashov will no longer act as Director General of the Zaporozhye NPP, – IAEA

The world will no longer talk to Putin, soon we may see unexpected decisions in Moscow, – Ohryzko

Officially: in the Kherson region de-occupied 8 settlements. List

Mining everything: Gaidai told how the invaders are trying to stop the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Kremennaya

Zelensky appointed the heads of 13 military administrations in the de-occupied Kharkiv region

22:01

Interview

Most likely that the Armed Forces of Ukraine will shoot down a nuclear missile, – British colonel

Ukrainian soldiers liberated Malaya Oleksandrivka in the Kherson region

The government introduced maximum wholesale prices for medicines purchased with budget funds

21:27

Exclusive

NATO countries have no choice, Ukraine’s accession should be completed in the coming years, – Ohryzko

21:26

Analytics

The mousetrap for the enemy on the right bank of Kherson is probably closing. Column by Sergei Zgurets

21:22

Updated

HIMARS, artillery systems, ammunition and armored vehicles: Biden confirmed the provision of a new assistance package to Ukraine for $625 million

Ukraine plans to cancel the double taxation agreement with Belarus

There are Russian recruits near the border of the Russian Federation with the Sumy region, – the head of the OVA

20:49

Exclusive

The professional vertical was eliminated in the Russian army, – APU fighter Shandor

Algorithms for the evacuation of the population were developed: the government is preparing for terrorist attacks on critical infrastructure facilities in winter

The Armed Forces of Ukraine inflicted 12 air strikes on the enemy, repelled attacks on about 10 settlements, hit a cluster of invaders and equipment

20:19

Exclusive

Avdiivka is 75% shelled by the enemy, no one knows where he will come from, – the head of the CAA Barabash

The head of the NBU Shevchenko announced his resignation, explaining it with health problems

Kolomoisky visited the NABU office in Kyiv

Not only Putin, but all of Russia is responsible for the war in Ukraine, – Prime Minister of Poland Morawiecki

Human rights activist Masi Naem, who lost an eye in Donbass, became the face of a men’s clothing collection

19:10

Exclusive

The UN is teeming with the Russian segment, – former First Deputy Prosecutor General Golomsh

NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg officially received Ukraine’s application for membership, – OP

More news

Facebook
Twitter

Follow @EspresoTV

How to get permanent residence in Mauritius: ways to move to Mauritius for permanent residence

Mauritius attracts
wealthy individuals and their families from all over the world in a pleasant tropical climate,
cultural diversity and natural beauty, as well as a dynamic economy,
favorable tax system and competitive business environment. Program
obtaining a permanent residence permit (permanent residence) through investment is the most
an effective way to the status of a resident of this island nation. For those, who
invested in real estate, the whole procedure takes from two to six months.

Investments

The minimum amount of investment in real estate within the framework of obtaining permanent residence in Mauritius is from USD 375,000.

Terms of obtaining permanent residence in Mauritius

obtaining permanent residence takes 2-6 months.

Benefits

• Opportunity to rent investment property.

• Residence permit for the entire family of the applicant, including spouses and partners, children under the age of 24 and parents.
• Safe, prosperous country, tropical climate all year round.
• International schools and universities.
• Political, social and economic stability.

Conditions for obtaining permanent residence in Mauritius

To participate in
program a foreigner must invest in one of four types of real estate:

1. Integrated
Resort Scheme (IRS)

Class Residential Property
suite with a minimum cost of USD 375,000 with a plot exceeding 10 hectares.

2. Real Estate
Scheme (RES):

Residential property
luxury class with a minimum cost of USD 375,000 with a land plot, not
over 10 hectares.

3.Property
Development Scheme (PDS):

Residential property
luxury class with a minimum cost of USD 375,000 as part of a comprehensive project,
beneficial to the region. Projects must be built in compliance with
the highest environmental standards.

4. Smart City
Scheme (SCS):

Residential property
luxury class with a minimum cost of USD 375,000 as part of a comprehensive project,
beneficial to a city or town. Projects must be built with
respecting the highest environmental standards and using
environmental technologies, e.g. smart transport, renewable sources
energy for water supply, etc.

In addition,
there are options for obtaining permanent residence for 20 years for the following categories:

·
General
investments (shareholders and directors of companies in Mauritius):
an initial contribution of USD 50,000 to support activities,
bringing the total turnover, for the first ten years of residence in the country.

·
Investments
in high technology (shareholders and directors of the company on
Mauritius): an initial contribution of USD 50,000 to a high-tech
activities that generate a cumulative turnover for the first ten years of residence in
country.

·
Investments
to innovative start-ups : USD initial contribution
40,000 with a minimum R&D expenditure of 20% of
contribution, or registering an incubator in Mauritius with minimal costs for
operation in the amount of 20% of the contribution, for the first ten years of residence.

·
Specialists (foreigners working in Mauritius under a contract):
monthly base salary of at least about USD 1400 (for
sector of information and communication technologies – about USD 700), for the first
ten years of residence.

·
Self-employed
in the service sector (registered under the Law on
Business Registration Year 2002): Down payment of USD 35,000
to a Mauritian bank account for the first ten years of residence.

·
Pensioners
aged 50 and over non-citizens
Mauritius: initial fee of at least USD 1500 in Mauritius
bank account for the first ten years of residence (or USD 54,000 for three
years).

Procedures and deadlines

Application for
participation in the program includes the submission of questionnaires accompanying documents, including
number of up-to-date certificates of non-conviction and the state of health of the applicant with
indicating that he does not have certain diseases, as well as the payment of state
duties.

Investment in
the property must be kept for the duration of the residence permit.
Investments should be financed by external funds transferred to
Mauritius through a bank recognized by the Bank of Mauritius.

After
preliminary due diligence the applicant can choose an object
real estate. Upon receipt of in-principle approval and implementation
investments, an application for a residence permit is submitted to the Council for Economic
development of the Republic of Mauritius. Then comes the due diligence, and
the applicant and his family members receive a Mauritian residence permit.

The application may include
dependent persons: spouses or partners, stepsons, stepdaughters, relatives and adoptive
children as well as parents.

Immigration to Spain for Russians: moving to emigrate from Russia

Standard of living in Spain

The Kingdom of Spain, which has been a member of the European Union since 1986, has been a leader in the quality of life rating table for many years (according to 2018 data, it is second after France) . It’s not just the exceptional climate: despite the not always smooth political environment, the past years of crisis and unemployment, the country is still famous for its high level of medical services, ideal ecology and strong social support. In addition, thanks to innovations in preventive medicine, the Spaniards have the second highest life expectancy in the world, second only to the Japanese.

Migration policy of Spain

Despite the increase in the flow of migrants, the Spanish authorities are still quite tolerant of issuing residence permits to foreigners, providing an opportunity to choose from several methods of legalization. Those who purchase real estate, make investments or open a business with the provision of work for the local population are especially welcome. Those who are wondering “how to move to live in Spain” should know that a request for citizenship can be submitted after several years of official residence in its territory.

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Spain

Paradise climate, warm clear sea, amazing open character of the local population and a high level of social support are the undoubted advantages of the Iberian Peninsula. However, those who yearn to leave their homeland forever and become a Spaniard need to study well all aspects of life in a foreign country. We list the main ones:

Advantages:

• Excellent weather and environmental conditions.

• Decent wages (fourth place in Europe).

• Free movement within the Schengen area.

• Inexpensive housing, consumer basket, food.

• Decent level of development of medicine, education and social security.

• Simplified immigration scheme for investors and businessmen.

• Hospitality towards foreigners.

• Bonuses for entrepreneurs.

Drawbacks:

• Hot spells in some regions.

• Periods of unemployment.

• Expensive utilities.

• A large number of fiscal fees.

• High level of bureaucracy.

Ways to obtain a residence permit

In order to go to live in Spain from Russia for permanent residence and become its full-fledged citizen, as the law says, it is necessary to legally reside in its territory for a certain time, that is, to obtain a residence permit. This can be done for various reasons – most often, through settled life, marriage, training, work or investment. The choice of method depends on the purpose of the move – for example, whether the desire to work or bring relatives with you is fundamental.

The difference between a residence permit and permanent residence

Potential immigrants often confuse these two concepts. Meanwhile, there are fundamental differences. A residence permit is a document confirming the right of a foreigner to long-term residence in the country. A residence permit is required to buy real estate, open a business, use medical services, and travel within the Schengen area. A plastic card is issued for a period of 2 years with an extension, and it happens both with a work permit and without it. The status obliges the owner to stay within Spanish borders for at least 183 days a year.

In contrast to this status, permanent residence has an unlimited validity period and is a guarantee of almost the same rights and benefits as a passport (except for voting and working in the civil service). You can get a long-term residence almost automatically after being in the status of a temporary resident for at least 5 years. At the same time, for a successful outcome of the event, you cannot leave the country for longer than 6 months and violate local laws. A plastic permanent residence card must be renewed every five years.

Study

Thanks to the amendments to the law on migration, today a long-term study visa can be obtained both at the Consulate of Spain in Russia and without leaving the country, at the police station. For the application, you only need a receipt for the payment of the first installment and an invitation from the training center – any, but certified by the local Ministry of Education. Such a residence gives the right to work in their free time (20 hours a week).

School leavers

Studying at the oldest universities in Barcelona, ​​Madrid, Seville or Salamanca is considered prestigious all over the world, while the prices, unlike neighboring countries, are quite democratic, which makes obtaining a residence permit through education doubly valuable. School graduates can choose from hundreds of private and public schools, including those specializing in religious, sports or multilingual education, in the British or American system. When registering a course, a student card is issued for one academic year, which can be extended on the spot, without the need to travel home.

For students

To issue a card, you need to contact the police station in your place of residence. This must be done within 1 month from the date of entry into the Kingdom with a type D visa, after registration. After the expiration of the document, renewal is possible only if you provide a certificate from the educational institution on the extension of the course and proof of funds for living. Such a residence allows you to move freely within the Schengen area.

For those with higher education

For legalization through studies, it is not at all necessary to enter a university: it is enough to enroll in advanced training or language courses, MBA programs, etc. Despite the fact that the restriction on work also applies to postgraduate studies, after three years of card renewal, you can apply for a full-fledged residence permit with the right to work.

Marriage

A foreigner who marries a Spaniard or Spanish woman becomes the owner of a “residence for a family member of a European citizen”, issued for 5 years. The document allows you to engage in labor activities and apply for citizenship a year after painting. The only drawback of this method is the waiting time for the ceremony (up to 1-2 years in megacities) and the need to pass an interview with the registry office staff for the validity of the union.

Buying a property or long-term lease

Legalization through the purchase of a home is a suitable option for those who are planning to emigrate from Russia, and at the same time want to spend most of their time in Spain. In this case, it will be issued:

• Residence permit card for a financially independent person, issued for a year with renewal. This option is feasible for long-term rental housing or buying a house or apartment of any value, so it does not require impressive investments. At the same time, the status allows you to live in the country for up to 180 days and provide family members with a multi-visa.

• “Golden visa”, which is issued when buying expensive real estate (at least 500 thousand euros). The document is valid for 2 years and allows you to legally stay within Spanish borders up to 365 days a year, work and transport your family. There is no requirement to be present throughout the year.

Starting a business

Starting a business with a stable income is a direct path to business immigration with the right to work. The authorities of the Kingdom are quite willing to legalize foreigners using this method, as this helps create jobs for the local population and improves the economic situation in the regions. A residence permit for businessmen is issued for 2 years with an extension and requires constant confirmation of income, payment of taxes and fees, and social care for employees. To start your own business, you need to present a detailed business project, including market analysis and funding sources.

Work visa

Legalization through a work contract is a lengthy and not always easy process. Firstly, you will have to find a company that will be so interested in you as a specialist that it will be ready to provide a package of documents confirming its solvency, lack of debts and other things. The applicant, in turn, must prove his qualifications and knowledge of the Spanish language. And only if there is no response from the Spaniards for some time to the vacancy announcement posted by the employer, the company can proceed to issue an official invitation for a foreigner.

Family reunification

Family ties also entitle retired parents, spouses or minor children to become residents. To process a request, the reuniting person needs to live in the country for at least a year, apply for an extension of the status and document family ties. It is also required to prove the existence of conditions for the reception and maintenance of relatives: bank transfers for at least a year, a work contract, information about the availability of suitable housing, income declaration, credit cards, etc. If the reuniting person has a residence permit by marriage with a Spaniard / Spaniard, the procedure takes place in a simplified mode, that is, without age restrictions of the parents and as soon as possible.

Refugee status

To obtain a residence permit on this basis, you must provide a good reason and supporting documents, that is, evidence of discrimination in the homeland on the basis of ethnic, religious, social or political affiliation. Suitable arguments: medical certificates, photo and video materials, the press, testimonies). When applying for asylum and considering the application, which can take quite a decent time, the applicant has the legal right to be in the country.

Settled residence permit in Spain

Illegal stay is not welcome and is severely pursued by the migration authorities, but this does not prevent some foreigners from relying on this “method” of moving. Indeed, having lived in the state without a break for 2-3 years, having an employment contract and evidence of integration into Spanish society, you can try to get a residence permit. Settlement can be social, working or family, for all categories the following rules apply:

• No criminal record in the last 5 years.

• No entry bans to Schengen.

• The presence of a residence permit and documents indicating active integration into society (language courses, bank accounts, participation in social events).

The term for consideration of an application for this type of permit is 1-3 months. After receiving a positive response, the applicant has 1 month to submit documents to the police.

The most demanded occupations in Spain

As in recent years, technical and IT specialties are highly rated on the European labor market. Application designers and artificial intelligence experts, information security and data scientists, cloud computing specialists and user interface developers are the professionals that headhunting agencies are hunting for today. Energy engineers, managers, sales and promotion specialists, CRM managers and Inbound marketers, international tourism experts, doctors and pharmacists are also in demand. Jobs for seasonal work will be of interest to those who see themselves as a tourist guide, nanny, harvester, maid, gardener, driver.

Peculiarities of permanent residence and obtaining citizenship

After five years of legal residence in Spain (or a year later in case of marriage), any native of Russia, like any foreigner, receives permanent residence, which is the last step on the way to final emigration, then Yes, a Spanish passport. Long-term residence gives the right to stay in the country for an unlimited time, work and conduct business.

According to the law, the following can apply for citizenship under the simplified scheme:

• Foreigners making large investments in the regional economy;

• Residents who have legally resided in the Kingdom for at least 5 years;

• Spouses of Spaniards;

• Refugees.

Having lived in the country legally for 10 years, knowing its traditions well and not violating the laws, you can count on obtaining citizenship. At the same time, the Russians will have to give up their native passport due to the lack of a Spanish-Russian agreement on dual citizenship. Applying for citizenship involves passing two exams: knowledge of the Spanish language and a written test for knowledge of local laws and socio-cultural characteristics. Therefore, if you are wondering how to emigrate to Spain from Russia and stay in this wonderful country, you should start improving your knowledge about it from the very first days. And then put them into practice.

How to start the process of moving and immigration to Spain

The first step on the way to the cherished immigration should be the issuance of a passport and a visa. After that, you can submit a request for temporary residence to the Consulate General in Moscow. Based on the results of the review, a visado tipo D is issued, a permit, according to which you need to enter the country and contact the police to obtain a resident card.

List of documents

Basic documentation for Russians when applying for any type of residence and moving to Spain includes:

1. Original and copy of the international passport.

2. Application in 2 copies.

3. Two photographs ( 35*45mm ).

4. Justification (purchase deed, work contract, invitation of the training center.).

5. Medical policy valid throughout the European Union.

6. Agreement on the lease of housing or bill of sale.

7. Evidence of the applicant’s solvency (salary statements, bank statements, income declarations).

8. Certificate of non-conviction.

Where to go

To apply, you need to contact the Consulate General in Moscow or the migration authorities in Spanish territory. There are no guarantees of a positive decision, much depends on correctly collected and executed documents and applications. Sometimes one incorrectly completed form can lead to a refusal without explanation, which even a subsequent appeal cannot correct, which is why it is so important to know all the intricacies of collecting and processing a package, or to choose the right intermediary agency.

Processing time

The application is usually considered within 1-3 months, the decision of the consulate will be sent to the applicant by mail. Having received a positive notice, you can start the immigration procedure, that is, leave Russia for Spain and contact the local migration authorities to take fingerprints for a resident card. The waiting time for issuing a card after giving fingerprints is 30 days.

Ways to find a job

Despite the continued rise in unemployment in Europe, there are several ways to find a job. Most Spaniards turn to relatives and acquaintances, as well as to employment agencies, most often temporary. Other search channels include:

Trade Unions and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Curiously, more than 20% of job seekers find jobs by contacting a company of interest directly. To do this, they receive employers’ contacts by contacting public and state organizations that own a database of all enterprises in the country.

mass media

The recruitment of workers “the old fashioned way” is still working, that is, through advertisements in the press and the Internet. Specialized TV and radio programs or vacancies in the press are no less useful resources than information portals on the Internet. According to statistics, 10% of Spaniards find work there.

Employment centers

The State Employment Service strongly recommends registering with employment centers at the place of residence. The centralized labor exchange of these points has a large number of vacancies for all categories, among which there are sometimes very worthy ones.

Average salary

Another reason that makes Spain such an attractive option for Russians to move for permanent residence is decent wages: the fourth place in Europe in terms of the minimum wage, behind only Germany, Great Britain and France. Yes, for 2019year, the minimum wage per month was 1,050 euros/gross (900 net), the average salary will be approximately 2,000 before taxes.

Where is it better for Russians to live in Spain

The Russian-speaking diaspora of the Iberian Peninsula is quite large – currently about 324,000 people from the former Soviet Union live here, of which about 85,000 are Russians. The favorite regions of our compatriots are traditionally Catalonia, Costa Blanca, Andalusia, the Canary and Balearic Islands. At the same time, according to polls, the majority of emigrants from Russia are satisfied with their new life – thanks to the climate, the possibility of a decent income, especially when starting a business, low levels of corruption and security. The situation is a little more complicated with the search for a job, since it is not easy to find a decent salary in your specialty, but Russians who want to settle on the peninsula easily adapt to the local labor market, relying on its most demanded areas – tourism, construction, services or IT.

Pension for residents of Russia and CIS countries in Spain

According to Spanish law, Russians and immigrants from other CIS countries have the right to claim a pension, provided that they have worked in the Kingdom for at least a year. In this case, it is necessary to have the status of a residence permit, permanent residence or citizenship and have a total work experience of at least 15 years. If these conditions are met, you can count on receiving a monthly minimum pension of 650 euros (or in proportion to the length of service). It is worth remembering that when you retire before the age of 65, the payment will be made not from the local, but from the Russian budget – using bank transfers.

Feedback from those who moved to Spain

Irina S., Madrid, residence permit for study:

In 2009, I left for Barcelona on an MBA program to study the intricacies of tourism and study the language. I liked the local climate and culture so much that I decided to stay, the family, fortunately, supported me. During the holidays and on weekends, she worked part-time at a travel agency on the coast. After graduating from business school and getting prestigious “crusts”, I met my Spanish “half”, and now I live in Madrid. I got a job in one solid international corporation (knowledge of English and Russian helped!), and as soon as I can, I will help my parents also move to live from Russia to Spain for permanent residence.

Anna and Pavel L., Alicante, Golden Visa:

My husband and I received an investor visa D with a stay of 365 days in January 2017. We have real estate in the new area of ​​​​San Juan de Alicante, a great villa by the sea, as I dreamed. We did not know Spanish, we spoke fluently only in English, which is almost useless in the case of the Spaniards, so we had to turn to intermediaries. We received the card quickly – in 10 days everything was on hand. We are very pleased with the move, I take care of children, my husband plans to open a small hotel. The main plus for him is that there is no need to live here permanently, since business requires a presence in Moscow, constant flights and business trips around the world.

Alexander S., Malaga, business immigration:

I can be counted among the happy owners of one of the most “difficult” permanent residence in Spain for Russians – through opening my own business. Of course, there were many problems, I especially shudder when I remember the Spanish red tape, but on the whole everything went easier than I expected. The development of a business plan was a matter of technique, and the purchase of a business is a streamlined process here, most of the time was spent on considering the request. I didn’t know Spanish, and since the status of a merchant obliges you to open faster, otherwise your visa simply won’t be extended, I had to learn the language and plunge into the process at the same time. After all, a company must not only be created, it must work and bring demonstrable income. For example, in my first year, my profit was only 15,000 euros, but this was enough to extend the residence permit. Now I am opening a third point, three more Spaniards – for a permanent contract. The “cons” are obvious to me – the terrible heat in the summer, food different from ours, the Spaniards are slobs. But there is no heaven on earth, and local pluses cover all the shortcomings.

The success of obtaining a Spanish passport largely depends on the literacy of the paperwork, and one mistake can lead to refusal without explanation. If you are already wondering how to immigrate to Spain from Russia and want to do everything right, Barcelona Realty Group will help you go through all the necessary procedures and formalities necessary to obtain a residence permit, permanent residence or citizenship of the sunny Kingdom, without interference and obstacles. We specialize in immigration support for citizens of the former USSR and are ready to provide a package of services that includes the work of lawyers, financial and business consultants and real estate experts. You can request a specialist consultation by contacting our managers, contacts are listed on the website.

How to move to Spain from Ukraine in 2022

Moving to Spain in 2022: types and methods

Are you considering moving to Europe or specifically to Spain? Here are the main ways to make your plans a reality:

• Student visa to Spain
  Suitable for teenagers after graduation or students who are going to study at a university or language school.
• Investor visa
  The best option for those who want to invest in the Spanish economy from 500,000 euros.
• Business visa
  Suitable if you want to open an innovative start-up or a traditional international or local business.
• No lucrativa
  The best way to move is a residence permit without the right to work in Spain, which is the easiest to obtain if you have the necessary details. It is loyally issued to families, especially those who want to move to Spain from Ukraine.

In this article, we will explain in detail why it is beneficial to obtain this particular Spanish residence permit, rather than buying a Polish work visa or a Hungarian passport.

Even if you do not have a single document on hand, we will collect everything for you, and in just a month we will receive a residence permit in Spain for your entire family.
Payment for our services only after obtaining visas!

Get a free consultation

No lucrativa vs student visa

So, a Spanish residence permit without a work permit is the most comfortable way to move to Europe with the whole family. Especially if the family has small children, this is the best option. The consulates of our countries like to refuse visas to students over 20-25 years old. The authorities think that it is already too late to study at this age, so they often put refusals. The main disadvantage of being a student is that each member of the family will have to pay for education, and the children will also be sent to a private school. As a result, only education will cost 10,000 – 20,000 euros, and there will also be expenses for food, travel, food and transport.

The student visa will expire in a year, and you have to wait three years to move to a residence with a right to work. That is, two more times to renew, spending huge sums. It’s not good for a family.

We know stories of families selling houses, spending everything on student visas, and then being denied modifications and returning to their home countries with nothing.

Suppose you are interested in moving to Europe for permanent residence, but you know how difficult (or impossible) it is to become a legal immigrant in countries like Switzerland or Denmark. However, as long as the European Union exists, legalization in any other country in Europe opens the door for you to the country of your dreams.

Immigration to Spain is an opportunity to become a resident of the European Union. But you risk … falling in love with this country and staying in it forever. This is exactly what happened with numerous members of the Russian-speaking community in Spain, whose reviews are only positive.

Why Spain?

This is a land of opportunities where there is always a reason to be happy!

Climate

The mild Mediterranean climate within the country varies from very hot and dry in Andalusia, temperate and humid in Catalonia, to cool and rainy similar to Russia in Galicia or Cantabria. Inside the country, you can arrange any climate for yourself at any time of the year! If you want to swim in the sea in December, buy a ticket to the Canary Islands! If you want to take a break from the heat in August, Bilbao and San Sebastian are waiting for you!

Ecology

Excellent ecology (the farther from big cities, the better), which is important for the younger generation.

Prices

Inexpensive fresh fruits and vegetables of excellent quality – all year round, selected wines and cheeses at the prices of a provincial supermarket.

And also

Culture, history, endless opportunities for all kinds of sports and leisure.

Get a free consultation

Family relocation to Spain

What to do for adults and how to adapt to children

It is important to understand that children here are the center of the Universe!

Every child has the right to a free education in Spain and is surrounded by care and attention from the first day in kindergarten or school. And for children who have just arrived in the country, there are special programs for language and social adaptation.

The local education system is very different from the Russian one. Sometimes our people, not understanding the system, are frightened by the fact that children are “not taught anything” in school. But the first stages of local education are concerned with ensuring that children have a happy childhood. This is a concern for their social adaptation and instilling a love of learning.

When a child acquires the skills of independent work, the program becomes more complicated – and differentiates to the upper grades according to the student’s abilities. Spanish education meets European standards and opens the way to further study or work around the world.

Families with children (even from successful European countries) note the excellent social policy of Spain.

Large cities such as Madrid and Barcelona have centers of Russian culture and language schools. In them you will meet Spaniards who are learning Russian in order to read Dostoevsky in the original.

If you are planning a further trip to Europe, then time in Spain will be a real gift of fate at a relatively modest cost. Spain is one of the cheapest EU countries. After receiving the first residence permit, you will be able to visit the EU countries.

Due to the large outflow of immigrants due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it is expected that residences without the right to work will be issued more often than before the pandemic. A lot of housing for rent is empty in the country, and many businesses need new customers to replace those who left. Therefore, now is the best time to move to Spain.
Adults with a language will be able to find work in different directions, and children will receive an excellent European education, so now is the best time to move with the whole family.

Spain treats visitors peacefully and respects the culture of the former republics of the Soviet Union.

Residence permit without the right to work

Pros, cons, pitfalls. Spoiler alert: no pitfalls found

This residence permit is for those who can afford to live in Spain without having to work for a year.

• Relocation to Spain for pensioners. If a pension or savings allow you to live without additional sources of finance.
• Those whose passive income or savings can make a living in Spain without having to work for a whole year.
• Those who can “live in two countries”, since this residence permit does not prohibit working in other countries.

Important: after a year, the residence permit can be modified to one that gives the right to work.

Get a free consultation

Why is this residence permit good?

• If you prove your financial solvency, you can go to Spain with the whole family on the first day. You do not have to wait for permission to reunite with your family. Namely, this condition is often encountered when obtaining other residence permits.
• It is possible to obtain Spanish citizenship. The first residence permit is given for a period of one year, after it – for 2 years, again – for 2 years, then – for 5 years. After a 5-year residence permit, you are entitled to a permanent residence permit, for the renewal of which you only need proof that you continue to permanently reside in the country (such proof is, for example, registration at the place of residence). Also, after a 5-year residence permit, you get the right to apply for Spanish citizenship, because. the minimum period of residence in the country to apply for citizenship is 10 years.
• Although you won’t be able to work during the year, you can invest in businesses or stocks. And that’s how you earn money.
• A residence permit without the right to work does not deprive you of the right to study in Spain, as well as to undertake a paid work experience.
• You can work in other countries, travel without a visa within the Schengen countries, or work and travel at the same time. And vlog!

For a residence permit in Spain, real estate is optional, as is the case with another type of residence permit, the so-called “investor”. You can rent a house all this time, open accounts in Spanish banks and take out a mortgage.

Package of documents for obtaining a residence permit without the right to work

Visa application form

Residence permit application form

Medical insurance (mandatory Spanish)

Financial confirmations

Medical certificate confirming the absence of diseases that prevent you from leaving the country of residence

Photos 3×4 on a white background

Police clearance certificate (certified translation with apostille)

We will collect all the documents for you and 100% we will get the coveted visa D 9 for you0003

Get in touch! Payment for our services only after the visa settles in your passport!

Get a free consultation

Emigration to Spain: what else you need to present:

• All family members must have a full, covering all areas of medical services, medical insurance for a year.
• The insurance contract must be concluded with a Spanish insurance company. During the first year, you do not have the right to use public health services.
• Official translation of the certificate of no criminal record in the country of origin and no criminal record in Spain.
• Your legal situation in your country of residence must be regulated – without a ban on entry into the Schengen area.

What is taken into account when demonstrating passive income

Bank statements for the last 6 months. It can be different banks, not just one account. And it can be banks from different countries. However, there are countries that separately require that all the applicant’s accounts are in Spanish banks. Your total income may include credit cards or your bank-valued properties.

What happens after the first year?

There are two options: to renew the old residence permit or to apply for modification. 1. In the first case, the residence permit will be issued for 2 years, so the amount of annual income should be twice as much.

2. And now consider the modification! To obtain a residence permit with the right to work, you must either find a job with a contract, or draw up documents for individual entrepreneurship.

Due to the exodus of immigrants over the past year, the likelihood of finding a contract increases. But it’s still not the easiest way. And individual entrepreneurship in Spain is available to everyone who is ready to work for themselves!

Residence permit without the right to work in Spain – the perfect way to take root in Europe

Where to start?

Refusals happen for the following reasons:

• documents for moving to Spain are not translated correctly;
• finances were not shown correctly;
• residency documents are incorrect.

And a million other reasons.

As experts, we cannot let you lose the chance of a better life and free travel because of the wrong point or the wrong piece of paper.

Therefore, we will collect the right package of documents for you (even if you think that this is not possible in your case), arrange insurance, find housing, take a sieve to the consulate and have a cup of coffee with you when you move to Spain.

Contact us for a free consultation – and you will find out the latest information about the package of documents, and most importantly – get the coveted residence permit in Spain quickly and easily.

Get a free consultation

Fill out the form and you can open a Spanish dictionary. We are already calling to bring you closer to your dream.

E-mail: [email protected]
Mobile (WhatsApp): +34 644 754 934

Latest Articles

Property in Spain. Rent and purchase – FUNBCN

Immigration to Spain. All about moving to Spain in 2022. – FUNBCN

Study visa and language schools in Barcelona – FUNBCN

Immigration to Madeira WithPortugal

Is there a place on Earth where it’s spring all year long, the level of security is high, and the ocean is visible from any point. The answer is obvious, and this place is the Portuguese island of Madeira, lost in the Atlantic Ocean. For those looking for a different pace of life than in mainland Portugal, Madeira may be the ideal option, and there are a number of positive factors to consider before taking the big step of immigrating.

But first, a little about where this amazing island is located. Madeira is located in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 500 km west of the African coast and 1000 km south of Portugal, a 1.5 hour flight from Lisbon. Madeira covers an area of ​​750 sq. km. The archipelago includes the islands of Madeira, Porto Santo, and the uninhabited islands of Desertas and Selvagens. Madeira was discovered by the Portuguese sailor João Gonçalves Zarco around 1418-1420. And the discovery of the island is considered one of the first discoveries of the Age of Discovery.

Here are 10 reasons to move here:

When the whole world stopped

Living in Madeira has certain advantages that allow you to continue a relatively familiar lifestyle even during a pandemic. Since Madeira is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, and there is only one airport, this made it easier to control the borders. Also, Madeira is an autonomous region of Portugal, so the rules may differ from those on the mainland. This was evident during the Covid 19 pandemic.winter 2020 and early 2021. Madeira had an evening curfew, but normal life continued during the day. At the same time, mainland Portugal was completely closed, all restaurants, bars and gyms were closed. The Madeiran government has also introduced free Covid testing at the airport for all arrivals. And we lived according to strict rules, non-compliance with which was punishable by a fine of 100 euros to 500 euros. We were forbidden to go out without masks, move on the street after 19:00, all establishments were open until 18:00, and authorities switched to appointment mode, there was a limited number of people in restaurants and gyms, there was even such a case when I was not allowed on the bus without a mask. It seems to me that during the entire time of the pandemic, we in Madeira experienced this period quite calmly and without such mass panic as in other countries. There were several weeks in Madeira when the numbers were rising, but overall the situation remained under control. For a long time, Madeira was the only region in Portugal without deaths from Covid 19, the first case was registered on November 1, 2020, which is almost nine months from the start of the global pandemic.

Safety first

Madeira is extremely safe, with a very low rate of all types of crime including pickpocketing, burglary and violent crime. There are very common cases when they do not even close the car. Walking the streets of Funchal at any time of the day or night you feel safe. Police patrol the city, and the streets are always well lit. This may be good news for those who are planning to move with children. Also, in the entire history of the island, there have not been any terrorist attacks. A nice addition is the culture of behavior on the roads. It’s probably not a secret that Madeira is a very hilly island, with many thin streets and turns over cliffs, which in some cases can be very unsafe, but drivers always treat each other with respect and accidents are not very common.

Build a family nest with a nice bonus

When it comes to moving, it’s time to think about your own home. And Madeira offers some of the most favorable conditions for foreigners. In addition to buying real estate, the Golden Visa program gives investors from non-EU countries the opportunity to obtain a residence permit in Portugal. In the future – the right to citizenship in five years and free movement in the Schengen area. From January 1, 2022, the Portuguese government will make important changes to the Visa Gold program. Portugal’s most popular real estate investment destinations, Lisbon, Porto and most of the Algarve, will no longer be eligible for the Golden Visa program after December 31, 2021. But central Portugal, along with the Azores and Madeira, will be eligible for the Visa Gold program next year. The government explains this by redirecting foreign funds from areas of the country saturated with real estate investment to less popular regions. The decision to obtain a golden visa further increases the attractiveness of Madeira, and will also increase the prices of its properties. According to Diario das noticias, the value of homes in the Autonomous Region of Madeira rose by 14.2% year-on-year, taking into account data for June 2021 and the same month last year. According to the price index on the idealista website, at the end of June 2021, the cost per square meter of residential real estate was 1,777 euros.

Nominated island

Madeira is celebrated not only by tourists, but also by serious publications. The October 2021 edition of Forbes magazine featured a special article describing Madeira as “a separate world”. The author talks not only about delicious local cuisine, unforgettable landscapes and local people, but also about how the pandemic has changed the concept of tourism development in Madeira. After the Covid pandemic, older people were afraid to travel, and they made up the bulk of the tourists. Madeira has begun to position itself as a place worth visiting at any time of the year and an active destination for people of all ages. Shortly before this, in July of this year, the Madeira government announced a direct flight connection with Kyiv. By the way, at that time it was the longest route to Madeira, which was about 6 hours. Now Madeira is also open to the American continent. Since November of this year, there is a direct flight connection with New York, and the flight time is already almost 8 hours. Madeira was named the “Best Island Destination in the World” in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019and 2020 according to the World Travel Awards. And in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, the island won the “Best Island Destination in Europe” award, competing in this category along with major tourist destinations such as the Canary Islands, Sardinia, Malta, Cyprus. The very same World Travel Awards, also known as the “Oscars of Tourism”. And on the eve of the New Year holidays, it is worth noting that during the 2020 pandemic, according to European Best Destinations, Madeira was recognized as the safest place in Europe for Christmas holidays.

First Digital Nomad Village

Contrary to popular belief that Madeira is a place for the elderly only, in February 2021 the regional government launched a unique project in the world to attract digital nomads and remote workers to the Digital Nomad Village. This project aims to attract digital nomads and entrepreneurs from all over the world who come to Madeira for a period of one to six months, making the island one of the best places to work remotely, where they can enjoy the infrastructure created specifically for this purpose, with workers places, events and communities. The “Digital Nomad Village” is located in the city of Ponta do Sol, on the south coast of the island of Madeira.

Language will take you to Rome

One of the main problems faced by everyone who decides to immigrate to Portugal is the language barrier. Fortunately, in this case, Madeira is a very convenient place, as almost all locals speak English well, especially in restaurants, tourist places and government offices. On the island, there are also a lot of immigrants from the countries of the post-Soviet space and there is a cultural and educational association “Russian Wave” (“Onda russa”) – a community of compatriots on the island of Madeira. And for those who, as they say, are tem muitas saudades da Ucrania/Russia and are not yet accustomed to local cuisine, there are shops with our products where you can find buckwheat, herring, marshmallows and other delicacies. For the most daring who express a desire to learn the Portuguese language, I would like to immediately note from my experience that “the wolf is not as scary as it is painted. ” The locals are very friendly and always ready to help. At first it seemed that I would never speak this foreign and difficult language in my life, but in the process of learning and subsequent communication, I can say with confidence that Portuguese is a logical and beautiful language. There are several schools on the island that teach Portuguese. Note to those who think that Spanish and Portuguese are almost the same languages, this is not entirely true, or rather, not at all. Even with the most perfect command of English, it is worth learning Portuguese to plunge into Portuguese society. As of May 2021, Madeira is home to 8,600 foreigners from 111 countries.

Madeira style Alma mater

What a pleasant and unexpected surprise it was for me and my friends to have a university in Madeira. I remember a funny situation when my friend, after my story about the university, exclaimed: “You even have a university there, but I thought you only had a resort, the ocean and palm trees there. ” The university began its activity in 1988, and this is relatively recent, if we take into account the 600-year history of the island of Madeira. There is also a variety of educational institutions for children. Madeira International School offers a bilingual curriculum where young children can study the entire Portuguese curriculum in two languages: Portuguese and English. The British School of Madeira accepts international students and also encourages further studies outside of Portugal. There are also many language courses, including Wall Street English, Cambridge School, Academia de linguas da Madeira.

Island of Records

Madeira, being a very small island, has achieved great achievements and records. The observation deck at Cabo Girão is located on the highest promontory in Europe at 580 m above sea level, famous for its suspended glass platform. Ronaldo Airport is one of the most dangerous in the world – part of the runway is built over the sea, and the terrain exposes planes to strong and unpredictable winds. An interesting fact – in the entire history there was only one accident at 1977, as a result of which the authorities expanded the runway. The Laurissilva da Madeira Forest became a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in December 1999. Laurissilva has a uniform appearance, always green throughout the year, as almost all the trees and shrubs that make it up never lose their leaves. The Guinness Book of Records, the organization that certifies world records, awarded the 8-minute fireworks display on New Year’s Day in Madeira from 2006 to 2007 the title of “The Greatest Fireworks Show in the World”. Madeira retained this title until 2012.

What to do on the “island of eternal spring”

With all the abundance of tourist spots, unexplored trails, marine activities and simply incredible nature, only those who are really tired are left in a hotel near the pool or at home near the TV. Only in Madeira in one day you can meet the dawn high in the mountains, where it can be +15, and for lunch go down to the beach and swim in the ocean. One of the main tourist attractions of Madeira Island is its rich and varied vegetation, warm climate that attracts tourists all year round. Therefore, Madeira is deservedly called “the island of eternal spring”. Apart from several botanical parks, the whole of Madeira seems to be one single botanical park. Everything that grows in flowerpots at home grows here just on the street. In addition, Madeira hosts a flower festival. A unique offer will also be a walk along the levadas. These are man-made canals created to irrigate fields and gardens with rainwater that accumulates on mountaintops. The first of them were built over 500 years ago, and now it is a must visit in Madeira. The presence of the ocean has greatly influenced the lifestyle of Madeira, people go to the beach even in winter. True, there are almost no sandy beaches here, but there is always an alternative – you will go by ferry to the neighboring island of Porto Santo and enjoy 9km sandy beach. Here you can try windsurfing, diving, sailing, fishing.