Ten reasons to live in Spain

10 REASONS TO LIVE IN SPAIN!

6 ESSENTIAL LEGAL SERVICES TO MAKE YOUR DREAM OF LIVING IN SPAIN COME TRUE

todos-cuerpo-entero-24-mayo2023-definitivo

"YOUR LAWYERS IN SPAIN"

JLCA & AS.- Lawyers is a Spanish Law Firm with more than 25 years of experience, and an international presence through our own offices in Spain-Europe, United Kingdom and Colombia. Thanks to a team of more than 50 professionals, we cover all the legal aspects that a foreigner may need both before their arrival in Spain or when already living in our country.

6 ESSENTIAL LEGAL SERVICES TO LIVE IN SPAIN

REAL ESTATE CONSULTANCY

Asesoramiento-Compraventa-Vivienda-Espana-2

We advise on the purchase and sale of properties and we manage the legal part of real estate investment, both for private clients and investors.

We can refer you to trusted Real Estate Agents to help you to find the home that suits you, anywhere in Spain.

IMMIGRATION, RESIDENCY, NATIONALITY

We advise on obtaining Spanish Nationality or any type of visa: Non Lucrative Visa (NLV), Investment Visa (Golden Visa), Digital Nomad Visa, Student Visa and Work Permit Visa.

read more jlca lawyers legal services 2 Ten reasons to live in Spain

IMMIGRATION: ADVICE ON OBTAINING SPANISH NATIONALITY OR ANY TYPE OF VISA

MANAGEMENT OF VISAS AND SPANISH NATIONALITY:

NON LUCRATIVE VISA (NLV)

INVESTMENT VISA (GOLDEN VISA)

DIGITAL NOMAD VISA

STUDENT VISA

WORK PERMIT VISAS

SPANISH NATIONALITY

There are several routes to obtain Spanish Nationaility - through the New "Grandchildren’s Law" (Law 20/2022) that is currently in force (applies to descendants of Spanish grandparents or parents), by having Spanish parents, or by residence in Spain (In this final option mentioned, in the case of Latin Americans there is a special regime applied in comparison with other countries, where with just 2 years of residency in Spain they could apply for Nationality, which is very advantageous in that situation).

NON LUCRATIVE RESIDENCY VISA

The NLV, is also known as the "retirement visa" because it allows you to reside in the country without carrying out a professional activity and by demonstrating that you have sufficient economic means (that you have €28,800 a year to support yourself, and an additional €7,200 for each family member added to the application). (* This is as of March 2023; based on 400% of IPREM per applicant and 100% of IPREM per family member).

INVESTMENT VISA (Golden Visa)

Visa that allows you to reside in the country based on making an investment in real estate in Spanish territory for an equity value equal to or greater than €500,000 without mortgage or encumbrance. It is the ideal visa if you want to buy a property, be it a villa or an apartment (or more than one property), allowing both the applicant and their attached family members to work in Spain should they wish. Likewise, this visa also allows you to reside in Spain without the need to become a tax resident, unless you remain in Spanish territory for more than 183 days a year.

“DIGITAL NOMAD” VISA

Visa that allows you to move to Spain together with your family under one of these two criteria; employed workers whose company allows them to travel and work remotely from another country (in this case Spain) or self-employed workers with various clients throughout the world or sources of income derived from online activities but outside of Spain.

STUDENT VISA

Visa that allows you to reside in Spain as a student for as long as you are studying and also allows you to work legally for a total of 30 hours a week; depending on the study/course being carried out.

*** Important and from a general standpoint

In the cases of residency for citizens of Latin American origin, these types of residencies count for the application of Spanish nationality after 2 years of legal and continuous residence.

NEGOTIATION AND ADVICE ON CONTRACTS

We advise you on the management of any type of rental contract, sale, investment, banking law, acquisition of goods or services, etc.

INHERITANCE AND WILLS

We have extensive experience managing inheritances of all kinds in Spain. We also provide tax advice, in order to reduce inheritance taxes as much as possible within the current regulatory framework, depending on the region of Spain where the assets are located, as well as working with the deadlines set to avoid fines, as part of our main objectives in the interest of our clients.

JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS

We have extensive experience in the Courts for both private clients and companies. We can represent you in all areas, from debt claims, enforcement of Foreign Judgments, against Insurers, Banks, and so on.

ADVICE FOR COMPANIES

We have an area specialised in Commercial and Corporate Law to provide comprehensive legal advice to companies in all those matters that arise in their day to day activity.

10 REASONS TO LIVE IN SPAIN

QUALITY OF LIFE. IDEAL CLIMATE 365 DAYS A YEAR. “SUNNY SPAIN”

read more jlca lawyer left 2 Ten reasons to live in Spain

“SUNNY SPAIN”

In Spain we have the perfect year-round climate.

When someone thinks of Spain, they think immediately of the Sun.

The sun shines here more than 300 days a year. Spain is known for its long Summers, however, not only the rays of the sun itself, but also accompanied by clear blue skies. Huelva, Seville and Alicante are the 3 provinces that account for the greatest number of hours of sunshine per year.

https://www.lasexta.com/viajestic/curioso/ordenamos-ciudades-mas-sol-espana

To see the hours of sun across Spain, you can visit: https://powen.es/numero-horas-solares-en-espana/

If you prefer a cooler, greener climate, the northern area would be perfect for you, you can choose between Galicia, Asturias, and the Basque Country. Those who love winter sports can enjoy 38 ski resorts spread out between the south and north of Spain.

On the other hand, if your preference is to enjoy an “eternal” summer, the cities nearest the coast would be a great choice, from Cataluña to Andalucía, not forgetting also the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera), as well as the Canary Islands, a popular haven to escape the winter cold, where the average temperature during the year is 22ºC.

Lower levels of stress and a relaxed lifestyle!

It is well known that suffering stress has a series of negative consequences for our bodies; Spain offers a more tranquil alternative with great benefits for our health, both physically and emotionally.

Spain boasts some of the best beaches in the world, mountains, and natural landscapes.

COUNTRY CREATED FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF FOREIGNERS

A COUNTRY CREATED FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF TOURISTS AND EX-PATS ALIKE. TOURISM IS ONE OF OUR LARGEST INDUSTRIES. DIVERSITY OF EXPATRIATE GROUPS AND LANGUAGES

For more than 70 years, Spain, due to its good climate and quality of life, has been open to International Tourism, and as a result, an "ideal Spain" germinated and grew, culminating in a region where all those groups of European or non-EU citizens could live - integrated and settling in areas with various nationalities as well as ex- pat support. The number of foreigners residing in Spain is 6,250,000.

Add to this also foreigners non-resident in Spain, with Holiday homes and of course tourist visitors.

The European Countries with the greatest presence in Spain are in this order:

Romania
UK (Non-EU)
Italy
Germany
France

The Latin American Countries with the greatest presence in Spain are in this order:

Colombia
Venezuela
Honduras
Ecuador
Peru

Notwithstanding, the INE (National Statistics Institute) establishes that the largest increases in the first half of the year in 2022 occurred among the Colombian (60,142 more), Ukrainian (48,396 more) and Venezuelan (31,703 more) populations. And the greatest decreases were in Romania (11,751 fewer people), the United Kingdom (-8,381) and China (-5,058).

https://www.ine.es/prensa/

https://es.statista.com/estadisticas/

US citizens residing in Spain: 51,396 in 2022, compared to 48,834 in 2021 - the increase is evident.

Spain is the second country in the world in terms of reception of tourists, only behind France, and the third being the United States:

https://datosmacro.expansion.com/comercio/turismo-internacional/

https://www.lasexta.com/viajestic/destinos/

CHEAP COST OF LIVING COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTRIES

LOWER COST OF LIVING COMPARING TO THE USA, CANADA, UK, AND THE REST OF THE EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES. Properties, Restaurants, Transport, Leisure, “lifestyle”

Although Spain is the fourth economy in the € zone, only behind Germany, France and Italy, it is a country where the cost of living is much cheaper than even in other countries that are behind Spain in this classification (for example, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, etc.).

https://www.investinspain.org/es/por-que-espana/

Spain is also ranked 14th in the world ranking by GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and is also among the 15 countries in the world that receive investment. By the same token, around 15,000 international companies have chosen our country to establish themselves.

Below is a comparison between several countries, the USA, the UK, France and the Netherlands to see the advantages of residing in Spain.

Regardless of the graphs that we show below, and for information purposes only, going out to dinner in Spain with another person can be around €75 with wine included, the gym fee or a sports club fee can be around €60, the weekly shopping basket, well organised, can reach €120 for a family of 2-4 people, a single trip on the metro €2 in Madrid, a monthly voucher between €20 and €50 depending on the zone.

COMPARISON: COST OF LIVING IN SPAIN WITH OTHER COUNTRIES

Prices were last updated on 16th March 16 2023. Exchange rate: 0.944 EUR/USD.

This comparison is based on abundant and consistent data, 31,908 prices added by 3,965 different people.

https://www.expatistan.com/es/costo-de-vida/

SPANISH CULTURE. CUISINE, LIFESTYLE, LEISURE, POPULAR FESTIVALS, LANGUAGE

SPANISH CULTURE. CUISINE, MEDITERRANEAN DIET, LIFESTYLE, LEISURE, POPULAR FESTIVALS. SPANISH LANGUAGE

Spain has a complicated and interesting history, as it has been home to different peoples over the centuries. This is reflected in the great variety and prosperity of today's culture. Romans, Iberians, Arabs, French, Latin Americans and, more recently, foreign residents from the UK and Northern Europe have lived here and have become part of its culture.

Spain has 17 autonomous communities, each one with its own history, traditions and, in most cases, also its language. As mentioned above, the Spanish speak Castilian, Catalan, Basque or some of its variants. Language is the mirror of culture, which is why in Spain it is so rich and diverse. Our country has incredible architecture, home to 44 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including historical, cultural and archaeological treasures, third in number of sites only after Italy and China. This makes it a paradise for culture lovers. This country has been home to some of the greatest artists in the world: Velázquez, Picasso, Dalí, Gaudí, to name but a few.

There is a current trend where many Latin Americans or Americans of Latin origin want to come to Spain to retire or partially retire.

However, for non-Spanish speaking foreigners, it provides an ideal opportunity to learn the language and being the second most important language in the world after English, it can help to open more doors in a more competitive professional future.

Spain is also one of the best countries to experience nightlife. Mainly due to the attractive climate of this country, which invites you enjoy more time outdoors. In every city in Spain, you can find a wide range of pubs, clubs, bars and cafes to suit all ages and tastes.

Popular Fiestas. In Spain, life is enjoyed “in the streets”, meaning the popular fiestas held year-round. Everyone is welcome to enjoy popular festivities such as San Fermines, Las Fallas in Valencia, Las Hogueras in San Juan in Alicante, La Feria de Sevilla, Los Carnavales de Tenerife and the Canary Islands, the Albacete Fair, La Tomatina in Buñol, the Big Week in Bilbao, the San Isidro Fair in Madrid, and so many more.

https://www.spain.info/es/consulta/fiestas-espana/

The Spanish are considered some of the warmest in Europe in terms welcoming foreigners and their integration into Spanish society.

Spanish Cuisine. Living in Spain also means enjoying the benefits of Spanish cuisine. Well known throughout the world, in particular paella and of course "tapas". Each region has its own dishes, because almost all the dishes are based on local, seasonal produce. For the Spanish, food is very important; fresh vegetables, freshly baked bread and shellfish pulled from the sea the same morning are always available.

“Spain is considered to have one of the best cuisines in the world”.

https://www.elmundo.es/metropoli/gastronomia/

https://www.larazon.es/gastronomia/

The Mediterranean Diet, that prevails in Spain; is globally recognised for its beneficial effects on health:

https://www.businessinsider.es/mediterranea-mejor-dieta-ano-quinta-ocasion-consecutiva/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/es-es/healthy-lifestyle/

HIGH QUALITY OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND PRIVATE HEALTH AT LOW COST

HIGH QUALITY OF PUBLIC HEALTH CARE AND PRIVATE HEALTH CARE AT LOWER COST

Quality Public and Private Health Facilities: In Spain there is a high level of life expectancy for the population. In recent years, our country has ranked third globally in health, behind only Japan and Switzerland. Healthcare in Spain, high quality and efficient.

The WHO considers that the country in the world with the best healthcare system is France.

They are followed by Italy, San Marino, Andorra, Malta, Singapore, Spain, Oman, Austria and Japan in a mostly European top ten.

https://www.generali.es/blog/tuasesorsalud/

https://www.william-russell.com/blog/countries-worlds-best-healthcare-systems/

In addition, Spain has sometimes been considered the healthiest country in the world:

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/

Private Health care in Spain reaches more than 11 Million People. Many of them are foreign citizens, where a monthly fee from €200 per month, can have all their health needs covered.

https://www.infosalus.com/asistencia/

https://www.cope.es/actualidad/sociedad/noticias/

The cost comparison of a Private Health Insurance between Spain and the USA, for example, is approximately 1 x 10, i.e., that in Spain, the same would be 10 times cheaper; More reason why there is even talk of "Health Tourism in Spain".

https://www.lanacion.com.ar/estados-unidos/

https://www.expatica.com/es/healthcare/

QUALITY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EDUCATION. PRIVILEGED ACADEMIC DESTINATION

QUALITY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EDUCATION. TRADITION OF ALL KINDS OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS, SUCH BRITISH SCHOOLS AND FRENCH SCHOOLS

University activity has a high level and is a priority throughout the national territory. After England and Ireland, Spain is the third European country of destination for foreign university students.

Quality in education: Every year, at least three education centres in Spain are ranked in the top positions for the best education centres in Europe. The teaching methods established in Spain are aimed at developing quality professionals.

In addition, Spain has the best International Schools, including vehicle education in different languages. It is very common for families to settle in Spain and enroll their children in these schools so as not lose their original culture or education, whilst also enjoying "the Mediterranean sun” with the additional benefits the life and culture brings – whichever language environment you choose (British, French, German, etc.)

List of the best International Schools in Spain:

https://forbes.es/listas/

https://www.bankinter.com/blog/finanzas-personales/

CONNECTIONS. EASY ACCESS FROM SPAIN TO ALL COUNTRIES

CONNECTIONS. EASY ACCESS FROM SPAIN TO ALL EUROPEAN, USA AND LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES. GOOD TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURES AND VERY MODERN AND FAST TRANSPORTATION- HIGH SPEED TRAIN (AVE)

International travel to and from Spain is not expensive. Spain being very much a touristic destination means that moving around or crossing destinations across the country is quite easy. From Spain you can travel to the 27 European countries, by plane, train and car. Transport in Spain is characterised by an extensive network of roads, railways and airports and ports. The country has the longest motorway/highway network in the European Union and the third in the world, only behind China and the United States.

Spain is also the European country with the most flight connections to Latin America, through the AIG-IBERIA Company and Air Europa (in the process of being acquired by AIG-Iberia):

https://www.reportur.com/aerolineas/

Spain, due to its tourism industry, both residential and vacation, is permanently connected with all of Europe, and is the third country ranked with the most flights in all of Europe:

https://www.europapress.es/turismo/transportes/

Likewise with the USA:

In 2022 the company Iberia began to exceed 120 weekly flights with the United States.

https://www.preferente.com/rss1/

Spain boasts one of the most modern railway lines in the world, connecting Madrid with the Mediterranean coast (Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, Malaga, etc.) in an average of just 2 hours; which allows you to come and go the same day, with the comfort of travelling by train. Graph of fast connections and long distance:

https://www.renfe.com/es/es/viajar/informacion-util/

SAFE COUNTRY

IT IS A VERY SAFE COUNTRY

According to expert data, Spain has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. The European Statistical Office (Eurostat) pointed out that Spain is among the countries with a low murder rate.

https://www.safetyps.com/espana-un-pais-seguro/

Although there are other countries such as Iceland and Portugal that are overall “safer”, the reality is that Spain is the 23rd safest country in the world, and Madrid, the third safest city in Europe.

https://blog.prosegur.es/paises-mas-seguros-de-europa/

DESPITE BREXIT, NUMBER OF BRITISH EXPATS IS STILL RISING IN SPAIN

NUMBER OF BRISTISH NATIONAL IS STILL RISING IN SPAIN DESPITE POST-BREXIT HASSLES

In the aftermath of Brexit, it was widely reported in the British tabloids that there would be a mass exodus of Britons from Spain. Tens of thousands would sell their properties and leave, Brits were told. British pubs and snooker bars up and down the country would be forced to close down for lack of business, it was thought. A combination of Brexit red tape and notoriously difficult Spanish bureaucracy would, the story went, force Britons from the Costa Brava to the Costa Blanca out in droves. But the reality hasn’t been that simple.

In fact, according to recent data of foreign residents in Spain from the Spanish Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Immigration, the number of Britons resident in Spain increased by 7 percent in 2021 compared to 2020.

By December 31st 2021, there were 407,628 UK nationals officially living in Spain. In the previous year's report, the number was 381,448 Britons, and in 2019 the figure stood at 359,471. This comes as part of a broader trend in Spain's population. The number of foreign residents in Spain stands, officially, at a whopping 6 million, a figure which represents an increase of 3.6 percent (equivalent to 207,093 people) in the last year alone.

https://www.thelocal.es/20220422/how-many-britons-live-in-spain-in-2022

By the same token, the Spanish Passport is among the 3 strongest in the world, after Japan and Singapore, which allows you to travel to more than 190 countries in the world without the need for a travel visa.

INVESTMENT AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

INVESTMENT AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES. PROPERTY ACQUISITION. NON-PROFIT RESIDENCE PERMIT, DIGITAL NOMAD VISA, GOLDEN VISA, AND MORE

It is easy and convenient to access the housing market in Spain, and acquiring a property can offer foreigners many advantages:

1 - It is a good investment. Spanish property can be easily rented , or you can wait a few years for capital growth in your investment. Spain is a dynamic market, particularly in the largest and most important cities as well as tourist areas, as there is a high demand for property.

2 - It can help regularise your legal situation in Spain. Option to acquire residence such as with the Golden Visa.

3 - Obtain Mortgages. Possibility of Financing. Banks in Spain are granting non-resident clients an amount of 60% of the value of the Property/Appraisal (the lowest value); which facilitates the acquisition of homes. The current average interest rate for mortgages stands at 3.19% (data from January 2023 from the Bank of Spain). This value includes both fixed and variable rates.

4 - Property maintenance is cheap compared to other countries in Europe or the USA. The Community Owners (Association) or Property Tax (IBI) (Council Tax in the UK) costs are among the cheapest on the European continent.

Estimated expenses eg. of a Property value of around €500,000 in Spain per year (depending on the City/autonomous area, it can vary):

a) Community owners fees (“Association”) can be around €200-250 per month.

b) Annual Property Tax (IBI), a single payment of around €500 per year (normally it is between 0.1% - 0.5% of its value). It depends on the Townhall where the Property is located.

c) Home Insurance, the average price of a multi-risk policy for a 120 m2 home is around €250 per year, according to the latest report from the OCU (Organisation of Consumers and Users). However, for a home of around €500,000 where the Content is also insured, the Policy Premium can cost around €450 - €600.

d) Rubbish Collection Fees: About €100 on average per year.

e) Other payments / utilities: As a guide to other typical costs/utility fees to take into account in owning a property, basic services to consider, and their average monthly cost of (*as of March 2023):

* Electricity bill: €63 per month.

* Water bill: From €8 to €20€ per month.

* Gas bill: €50 per month. (*** this has flucuated a great deal this year)

* Telephone and Internet: €47 per month.

There are various visa options to become resident in Spain, depending on your plans and circumstances. You can, through the acquisition of a property above €500,000 in Spain, apply for the Investment Visa (Golden Visa) - this does not oblige you to live permanently in Spain, nor pay taxes here if in Spain less than 183 days per year). There is the option of the Digital Nomad Visa; that would be to continue your employment in the USA, Canada, UK (whichever country outside of Spain it is based) remotely from Spain, thus maintaining your existing salary level but actually living in Spain, where the cost of living itself is less. A popular option for those planning to retire or just enjoy life in Spain from savings and investment income, there is the Non-Lucrative Visa (which is to live but not work in Spain).