Considering Extended Stays in Spain or Italy, Resources to Help us Figure Out How?
Jan 20th, 2013, 12:26 PM
#22
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Lugano is beautiful but as part of Schengen the OP would face the same 90-day restriction and I believe long-term residency requirements much stricter than Italy or Spain.
Schengen Agreement is separate from the EU.
Schengen Agreement is separate from the EU.
Jan 20th, 2013, 01:36 PM
#27
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Thanks to everyone who contributed info here..I'm just one of so many who entertain the dream of living part-time in Spain or Italy someday. Good to learn that dream is not an impossible one.
Marigross, I am sure I speak for many here when I say that I wish you all the best in your quest.
Marigross, I am sure I speak for many here when I say that I wish you all the best in your quest.
Jan 20th, 2013, 02:09 PM
#28
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Brava goldenautumn! I couldn't have said it better myself! I am one of the lucky (or brave or crazy?) ones that made the move. I have now lived here in beautiful Verona, Italy for almost four years, and I remember when I first talked about making the move and everyone told me it was impossible. Evidently not! Seeing that your husband has EU citizenship, you guys should have no problems. Good luck!
Jan 20th, 2013, 07:52 PM
#30
In the paper today, an article about Spain considering offering residency to those who buy property:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...,5524568.story
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...,5524568.story
Jan 21st, 2013, 02:50 AM
#31
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DH is Swiss German but has no desire whatsover to return to that area for extended periods, though it would be the easiest solution by far.
His sister lives close to Lugano and we enjoy it very much when we visit. We would love to go to settle in there (and have not completely ruled it out) but it is very, very expensive to live in Switzerland. One can make it in Spain with almost half of what it costs to live in Switzerland. And then, we just love Spain and it is really where we would want to be.
I checked out the SS links and yes, apparently DH misread some info. Thank you all, I will read through all the other links as time is available.
Again, thanks to all!
-----------------------
eks, maybe one day
hi Cruise!!!!
His sister lives close to Lugano and we enjoy it very much when we visit. We would love to go to settle in there (and have not completely ruled it out) but it is very, very expensive to live in Switzerland. One can make it in Spain with almost half of what it costs to live in Switzerland. And then, we just love Spain and it is really where we would want to be.
I checked out the SS links and yes, apparently DH misread some info. Thank you all, I will read through all the other links as time is available.
Again, thanks to all!
-----------------------
eks, maybe one day
hi Cruise!!!!
Jan 22nd, 2013, 12:34 AM
#36
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One issue this "Spain offers residency" myth doesn't understand is the reaction of other European countries.
Under current laws, individual countries can offer citizenship as part of, or accelerated by, "residency for property purchase" deals. Citizenship of country A means unrestricted access to residency, employment, subsidised education and some social security benefits of all 27 (going on 28) EU countries.
There's a limit to how long Britain, Holland, Germany and Scandinavia will put up with this, and projects like the one touted here may well be shelved by other EU countries' pressure.
Don't count on the benefits of a law till it's been passed by the legislature and survived any constitutional challenges in its own courts or the European courts.
Under current laws, individual countries can offer citizenship as part of, or accelerated by, "residency for property purchase" deals. Citizenship of country A means unrestricted access to residency, employment, subsidised education and some social security benefits of all 27 (going on 28) EU countries.
There's a limit to how long Britain, Holland, Germany and Scandinavia will put up with this, and projects like the one touted here may well be shelved by other EU countries' pressure.
Don't count on the benefits of a law till it's been passed by the legislature and survived any constitutional challenges in its own courts or the European courts.
Jan 25th, 2013, 02:08 PM
#37
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Mari- Be sure to check out theolivepress.es soon. There are two articles about taxation in Spain. One has to do with non-residents owning property and owing tax as though they were receiving rental income (not applicable for you). The other is about people spending 183 days there and having to declare all off-shore assets over €50K including bank accts, investments, property, and assets held in trust. This document is due March 31st. Probably these would be taxed, a wealth tax !
Jan 25th, 2013, 04:56 PM
#38
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Also go to Expatforum.com and click on Spain or Italy, there is lots of info there as we too are considering a move...
http://www.expatforum.com/expats/spa...-living-spain/
That's the link for spain otherwise google..
http://www.expatforum.com/expats/spa...-living-spain/
That's the link for spain otherwise google..
Jan 26th, 2013, 09:38 AM
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In General:
You do not have to buy property or be a millionaire to come to live in Spain for more than 90 days, But getting that visa will take you, all told, probably close to a year and many, many papers and frustration. BUT, once you hand in ALL the papers and meet the financial requirements and have proof of insurance, etc..( background finger print check finished), you will be fine.
However, you can come here for 90 days before the visa is ready and then go back and get it when it is ready.
You should do your "stint" then in two parts or wait it all out ( the several months) and just come with the visa paper in your passport from the beginning.
You could rent a flat for 90 days. then go back.. wrap things up and come when the visa is ready.
Get in touch with the Embassy as, as mentioned above, if one spouse is an EU member, then you can be "pulled" in under his residency intention and as his dependent.
Really not so difficult. Just papers after papers.
( And don't turn them in in the wrong order.. like a client did in Chicago.. he got the nasty look)
I will warn everyone though. Once you have the visa in your passport, you STILL have to turn in duplicate paperwork once in your new city of residence , at the police department, and then WAIT for it to be APPROVED, then when you receive the approval letter go and get finger printed onto ID card and wait 40 days for it to come back form Madrid ( or wherever they process them now).
Your first residency card may expire after one or two years. So you will need to repeat the process if you have decided to stay longer than that. The renewals are done in Spain and are also not difficult, just another list of papers again reconfirming you are still on insurance plan, still live at same address ( police visit) and have sufficient funds.
Hope to see some of you over here.
You will need to rent cars as no insurance company I have found will insure US drivers' license if you own the car. Rental companies have a different systems.
Taking the intricate, tricky test to get a Spanish license is VERY difficult with a lot of technical questions and requires studying for several months. That is the only option now open to long term US, Australian , South African and other countries' drivers who cannot exchange their license for a Spanish one.
One solution would be to talk to Peugeot n bay back program that included insurance. Might work out that way. I'm not sure. I'm working on this glitch right now. If I find anything out will let you know.
Next stop: Call Spanish Embassy.
You do not have to buy property or be a millionaire to come to live in Spain for more than 90 days, But getting that visa will take you, all told, probably close to a year and many, many papers and frustration. BUT, once you hand in ALL the papers and meet the financial requirements and have proof of insurance, etc..( background finger print check finished), you will be fine.
However, you can come here for 90 days before the visa is ready and then go back and get it when it is ready.
You should do your "stint" then in two parts or wait it all out ( the several months) and just come with the visa paper in your passport from the beginning.
You could rent a flat for 90 days. then go back.. wrap things up and come when the visa is ready.
Get in touch with the Embassy as, as mentioned above, if one spouse is an EU member, then you can be "pulled" in under his residency intention and as his dependent.
Really not so difficult. Just papers after papers.
( And don't turn them in in the wrong order.. like a client did in Chicago.. he got the nasty look)
I will warn everyone though. Once you have the visa in your passport, you STILL have to turn in duplicate paperwork once in your new city of residence , at the police department, and then WAIT for it to be APPROVED, then when you receive the approval letter go and get finger printed onto ID card and wait 40 days for it to come back form Madrid ( or wherever they process them now).
Your first residency card may expire after one or two years. So you will need to repeat the process if you have decided to stay longer than that. The renewals are done in Spain and are also not difficult, just another list of papers again reconfirming you are still on insurance plan, still live at same address ( police visit) and have sufficient funds.
Hope to see some of you over here.
You will need to rent cars as no insurance company I have found will insure US drivers' license if you own the car. Rental companies have a different systems.
Taking the intricate, tricky test to get a Spanish license is VERY difficult with a lot of technical questions and requires studying for several months. That is the only option now open to long term US, Australian , South African and other countries' drivers who cannot exchange their license for a Spanish one.
One solution would be to talk to Peugeot n bay back program that included insurance. Might work out that way. I'm not sure. I'm working on this glitch right now. If I find anything out will let you know.
Next stop: Call Spanish Embassy.
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