n2j2ryan

We are a Canadian family of four (2 girls aged 8 and 10) looking to spend 6 months to a year in Europe next year. We speak a little french and a little less spanish, but are willing to spend time learning any language before we travel and more importantly while we are away. We are looking for a smaller village, town or city where we can experience a different culture. We would love to be near the water, but that would not be the most important factor. I would love to put the girls into a local school. I do hold a british passport and the girls are qualified to get theirs. We are definitely people persons and would like somewhere that we are near other families rather than too rural. We would like to go from July to January or June. Really open to any country but don't really want to go somewhere really cold.
Any ideas, suggestions etc., would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Alec

First about the red tape. Your British passport does make this a lot easier to accomplish. Get your daughters' British passports without delay. This leaves your spouse, who is presumably a Canadian citizen. He/she needs a visa, but how to go about it depends mainly on your destination. For some countries like France, Spain and Germany, your spouse can just come over with their passport and simply apply for a residence permit as spouse of a British (EU) national. This will normally for up to a year. For other countries, they may need a pre-obtained long-stay visa. There is a general EU rule that non-EU spouse must not become a burden on the host country, so you need to show adequate funds or an income from a job etc. You all need a private medical insurance, because even though you have British passport you don't live in UK or other EU country in an economic capacity (so ineligible for European health insurance card).

About school for your children. You should normally be able to enrol them in a local state school, but they may not cater very well to children without local language skills. Home schooling may be possible, though some European countries have no concept of it (but you are unlikely to get into trouble). Before you can enrol, you may have to get a proof of residence from local town hall.

Now about possible destinations. Many people opt for warmer Mediterranean countries for a long stay, and Spain, France and Italy are well geared to British and other Northern European expats. Rental properties are plentiful, and there are British or English-speaking letting agents, and there is plenty of help available on numerous expat sites, such as www.expatforum.com. While all these countries have areas that have traditionally appealed to expats, such as Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca in Spain, the Dordogne and Province in France and Tuscany in Italy, there are other areas equally suitable, but the further away you go, the greater the need to integrate and learn the local language. Apart from certain Costas in Spain, the need to speak local language is pretty universal.

kimhe

Take a look at Nerja at Costa del Sol (Pop 20 000). Some of the best year round climate in Europe and all the amenities that makes it popular with tourists. Still the town has retained much of its Andalusian charm. Close to great cities such as Málaga and Granada (with the Alhambra). Spectacular scenery inland up in the different mountain areas.
http://www.nerjatoday.com/

Nerja photo:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2622/...de6a8146_o.jpg

Nerja old town street:
http://www.minube.com/fotos/rincon/131879/629455

grrr

Weird plan.

kimhe

Here's a language school in Nerja. In business since 1980 and lots of optional social/cultural activities around classes. Courses from 1 to 32 weeks: http://www.idnerja.es/default.aspx

Five elementary schools in Nerja (Colegio de Educación Primaria). Up to age 14. http://www.nerja.org/informacion-gen...s-municipales/

n2j2ryan

I just watched a really great show on Dubrovnik, Croatia. It looks like a really great place.

uhoh_busted

My favorite place in Europe recently is the Languedoc-Roussillon region. We spent a month there last November and the weather was quite nice for most of the month...plus it is an area that has a lot going on, in terms of families living there and raising children, etc. I think you may want to look at towns like Ceret, or small cities like Perpignon, or even the larger city of Montpellier. We also fell in love with Pezenas. There is a lot you can do/see in the region, from the mountains to the lovely seaside resort areas (although I think enough is going on inland and a beach-town is a beach-town the world over!)

bilboburgler

well i'd go for france or spain for the quality of the education and the cultural difference/benefits.

If you want culture you need to decide what that means to you. For example you want a small town which will lack big city culture.

Good luck seems like a real dream

bilboburgler

I chatted to a few friends and Cahors looks a good bet for this sort of thing

n2j2ryan

We spent last summer touring around and spent time in Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona, but really enjoyed the smaller towns. I know the opportunities will be less to experience the cultural parts (museums etc), but I would hope that being a part of the community would be easier. Maybe life is a little slower in a smaller town??

ribeirasacra

Whilst your UK passporrt8s) may smooth some paths what about your health care. Seeing as you have not paid into any European national health care system you could find yourself without cover. What about Driving Licenses too? If you hold a non European one you will have to resit your driving test before you can have an EU one.
Good luck with your plans

kanadajin

"What about Driving Licenses too? If you hold a non European one you will have to resit your driving test before you can have an EU one."

Not true if they have an Ontario or Quebec licence and if they go to France - first the validity of the canadian licence would be 1 year (at least for Quebec, and I think also for Ont), and moreover, there exists a reciprocal exchange agreement where you are able to swap licences without testing, just pay the licence fee.

This would NOT be the case in Spain. Also I am not sure about the other canadian provinces, I do not believe such agreements are in place for them.

bilboburgler

I guess you could do with some of these https://www.ehic.org.uk/Internet/home.do but not sure how non residents apply

hetismij

They don't qualify for EHICs. They are only for those insured under an EU health care scheme, which OP is not. They will need to take out separate health insurance.

Also they need to be able to support themselves for the duration of the stay as they have not contributed to any social security system, so do not qualify for any sort of benefits.

lobo_mau

I think that enrolling in a local school, without any previous local language skills can be very frustrating for you children.
When I 1st read your post, the American School in Sintra came to my mind.
http://www.caislisbon.org/

Coquelicot

I've occasionally followed a blog by two parents and their young daughter who've been traveling for years through Europe and parts of Asia. They spent one or two winters in a Spanish hillside village that sounded very appealing. Their young daughter thrived in the school there. There are several posts on their blog about finding a place to stay over the winter. The rest of the time, they move around in an RV.

http://www.soultravelers3.com/2009/1...ion-.html#more

kanadajin

The OP does not mention whether they are Quebec residents, but again if they do end up going to France, there are a number of reciprocal agreements between these 2 states regarding health care coverage, social security, drivers licence, working permits, etc...

I am certainly no expert on the details, but I do know that the red tape is considerably reduced, and the requirement for private insurance (health or otherwise) would likely be low to non-existent, depending on their exact circumstances.

Spaniola

We live and have lived, for 15 years, in a small agricultural town.

Our 3 boys, now 20, 18 and 12 have all been to the local school and started with no knowledge of Spanish. We have a holiday rental home that we also let for longer periods in a hamlet of all Spanish locals.

I´d be happy to give you more details if you wish.

All the best with your plans, go for it while you can.

Rachel

jamikins

CDN drivers licenses are valid for 1 year in Britain - after that you can swap it over for an automatic license without sitting a test, you need to do a test to get a manual license. Hubby just took his test and I just swapped mine (we were from BC but as far as I can tell it doesnt matter what province you are from, its based on the country).

ribeirasacra

All theses suggestions I wonder what has happened to the OP???? Lost in the paperwork?