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Work

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2022 1:36pm
5 replies193 views5 members subscribed
Michele

Posts: 2

Location: Torrox

Joined: 9 Jan 2022

Hello

We are both over 50 and looking to move in 2023.  We are currently teaching ourselves basic Spanish.  I would be looking for admin work, either in a workplace or remotely and my partner, who currently works in Post Office Security will be looking for bar work or similar.

Before you can apply for a working visa, do you need to secure a job?  If so, how long will the Employer hold the job for you until you can move over to Spain and how long does it take to obtain the working visa?

We would be grateful for any advice.

Michele and Steven

clifton1971

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2022 6:43pm

clifton1971

Helpful member

Posts: 372

144 helpful points

Location: Estepona

Joined: 11 Oct 2019

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2022 6:43pm

Hi Michele and Steven

Welcome to the forum.

It is much harder to work in Spain post Brexit. The Spanish make you jump through many hoops and hurdles before you get your Visa. It look like it might take up to 8 Months to obtain your Work Visa.See link below for further information. As Unemployment is  still high in Spain  you can  not expect any employer to hold a job for you indefinitely.

https://www.expatica.com/es/moving/visas/spain-work-visa-103258/

Good Luck

Nigel


Holaitsdavid

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2022 11:20pm

Holaitsdavid

Very helpful member

Posts: 1447

542 helpful points

Location: Mijas Costa

Joined: 30 Mar 2021

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2022 11:20pm

clifton1971 wrote on Wed Nov 16, 2022 6:43pm:

Hi Michele and Steven

Welcome to the forum.

It is much harder to work in Spain post Brexit. The Spanish make you jump through many hoops and hurdles before you get your Visa. It look like it might take up to 8 Months to obtain your Work Visa.See link below for further information. As Unemployment is  still high in Spain  you can  not expect any employer to hold a job for you indefinitely.

https://www.expatica.com/es/moving/visas/spain-work-visa-103258/

Good Luck

Nigel


Agreed, slim chance of any work in Spain, Andalucia unemployment huge.

https://countryeconomy.com/labour-force-survey/spain-autonomous-communities/andalusia

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Michele

Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2022 2:51pm

Michele

Original Poster

Posts: 2

Location: Torrox

Joined: 9 Jan 2022

Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2022 2:51pm

clifton1971 wrote on Wed Nov 16, 2022 6:43pm:

Hi Michele and Steven

Welcome to the forum.

It is much harder to work in Spain post Brexit. The Spanish make you jump through many hoops and hurdles before you get your Visa. It look like it might take up to 8 Months to obtain your Work Visa.See link below for further information. As Unemployment is  still high in Spain  you can  not expect any employer to hold a job for you indefinitely.

https://www.expatica.com/es/moving/visas/spain-work-visa-103258/

Good Luck

Nigel


Many thanks for your help

Kerri

Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2022 8:20am

Kerri

Helpful member

Posts: 539

237 helpful points

Location: Estepona

Joined: 5 Sep 2018

Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2022 8:20am

Michele wrote on Wed Nov 16, 2022 1:36pm:

Hello

We are both over 50 and looking to move in 2023.  We are currently teaching ourselves basic Spanish.  I would be looking for admin work, either in a workplace or remotely and my partner, who currently works in Post Office Security will be looking for bar work or similar.

Before you can apply for a working visa, do you need to secure a job?  If so, how long will the Employer hold the job for you until you can move over to Spain and how long does it take to obtain the working visa?

We would be grateful for any advice.

Michele and Steven

We do hear from alot of people who say it is their dream to move to Spain and I often wonder why that is?  What is it about Spain specifically that people believe life here is what they want?

Portugal is just up around the corner and is much less expensive to get into if you are not in the EU.  Just as an option.  They also speak alot more English there for some reason and seem to enjoy it.

I would never be one to suggest to anyone to not follow their dream because we only have one life to live but maybe it isn't 'Spain' per se as it is a change from the life you have.  Maybe there is some sort of compromise situation you can create for yourselves rather than moving 100% to a foreign country with all its inherent challenges.

Moving to Spain is a bit of a 'crap shoot' as they say.  It could work out splendidly with everything falling into place and you love it or it could be a disaster with your going home with alot less cash in your pocket.  Are you ready to take this risk?  I do think people need to say "YES" to this question.

Being out of the EU presents problems there were not here before for Brits.  Rising democracy has increased the value of property both to buy and rent.  Work is best found online unless you have exceptional skills and/or get lucky.  Unfortunately the Spanish Govt still doesn't make small business ownership a really affordable option legally so people stay in the black market making their lives precarious.  However, there are so many opportunities here for people.  I know of several people who prepare restaurant quality food and deliver it.  People are generally ingenious when they need to be.

Buying a place in Spain and moving around as one feels is easy if you have the financial resources to do so and are not dependent on income.  Personally, I would suggest, if you need income, to figure the work thing out first and foremost so that your income is satisfactory to even make a Visa claim. Learning Spanish is not easy for most people who have only ever spoken English. 

With all that said I hear that Gibraltar is still an easy place to get work and pays well.  Living in La Linea the only option there as you can walk across the border daily.  But people do drive in each day too.  Definitely an option to get you started in this transition.

As people have said here that most of us are happy we made the move but it was pre Brexit and things were easier and many people did not need to find income.  The world really has changed in 2 years but hopefully you won't let any of this put you off if its what you really want to do.  One step after another is my motto.  Good luck, Kerri

Holaitsdavid

Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2022 10:16pm

Holaitsdavid

Very helpful member

Posts: 1447

542 helpful points

Location: Mijas Costa

Joined: 30 Mar 2021

Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2022 10:16pm

Kerri wrote on Sun Nov 20, 2022 8:20am:

We do hear from alot of people who say it is their dream to move to Spain and I often wonder why that is?  What is it about Spain specifically that people believe life here is what they want?

Portugal is just up around the corner and is much less expensive to get into if you are not in the EU.  Just as an option.  They also speak alot more English there for some reason and seem to enjoy it....

...

I would never be one to suggest to anyone to not follow their dream because we only have one life to live but maybe it isn't 'Spain' per se as it is a change from the life you have.  Maybe there is some sort of compromise situation you can create for yourselves rather than moving 100% to a foreign country with all its inherent challenges.

Moving to Spain is a bit of a 'crap shoot' as they say.  It could work out splendidly with everything falling into place and you love it or it could be a disaster with your going home with alot less cash in your pocket.  Are you ready to take this risk?  I do think people need to say "YES" to this question.

Being out of the EU presents problems there were not here before for Brits.  Rising democracy has increased the value of property both to buy and rent.  Work is best found online unless you have exceptional skills and/or get lucky.  Unfortunately the Spanish Govt still doesn't make small business ownership a really affordable option legally so people stay in the black market making their lives precarious.  However, there are so many opportunities here for people.  I know of several people who prepare restaurant quality food and deliver it.  People are generally ingenious when they need to be.

Buying a place in Spain and moving around as one feels is easy if you have the financial resources to do so and are not dependent on income.  Personally, I would suggest, if you need income, to figure the work thing out first and foremost so that your income is satisfactory to even make a Visa claim. Learning Spanish is not easy for most people who have only ever spoken English. 

With all that said I hear that Gibraltar is still an easy place to get work and pays well.  Living in La Linea the only option there as you can walk across the border daily.  But people do drive in each day too.  Definitely an option to get you started in this transition.

As people have said here that most of us are happy we made the move but it was pre Brexit and things were easier and many people did not need to find income.  The world really has changed in 2 years but hopefully you won't let any of this put you off if its what you really want to do.  One step after another is my motto.  Good luck, Kerri

Good words of wisdom, people need to think really hard, the winter weather is wonderful compared to UK, but by comparison starting a business UK is 'the land of opportunity', in particular for start-ups. You have to pay €294. Euro a month social security in Spain just to be self-employed and be registered for VAT plus submit returns, even if don't earn a cent. As for getting work, hard for Spanish, English speakers almost impossible. Kerri is correct, cross border work possible Gib if live near border, accommodation and property very expensive there.     

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