Residency

[jongood]

If you do not have to be there why does it matter how far away it is, Jon?

It doesn't really but you do have to spend E250K on a property of some kind, so its probably a good idea to keep an eye on it.

Greece Golden Visa Program - Residence

The Greece Golden Visa Program is one of the most affordable residence-by-investment programs that provide access to Europe. Apply now from EUR 250,000.

www.henleyglobal.com

 

[Widge]

I presume that as you aren't specifiying a country, you do not intend to work there. We have lived in france for 17 years and been very happy here.

but we were lucky, the occupants of small hamlet we moved into were majority french but were all in a similar age range or younger and most had traveled.

Some english friends who had bought in a hamet about 6km from us only had some old farmers as perminant neighbours, they got on with them fine, but the only other people they knew there all had holiday homes, mainly french but also an american couple, so busyish from spring to autumn, but very isolated in the winter, they were a bit older than us and have since moved to a town in Spain where there is a thriving english. community.

Having said that, we have a lovely stone house that we have renovated over the last 16 years, but there is still work to do, we are both now in our 60s and it getting a lot harder, and although it is the last thing we would want to do, it is going through our minds about whether we will need to move to somewhere more practical, probably loosing most of our friends and having to start again.

French administration can be a bit complicated and long winded at times, but we have always recearched properly before doing anything and very rearly had any problems, most expats I have spoken to who have had problems and moan, has been mainly down to them not providing the required information or documentation.

If you are going to buy a house in the country, do it in the winter, i have seen pleanty of realy nice houses for sale, beautiful setting and lovely in the summer, but under the shadow of a hill from october to march and cold and damp and in the winter.

Before moving here we did lots of research, and watched loads of moving to the sun type programs, the best ones of those to watch are the disaster story ones, again most cases are mainly down to poor research and planning.

Finaly language, unless you are going to an english enclave in spain you need to have at least some language skills, even the french are very accomodating and dig up a little english if you try, which is more than I could say for the reverse in the uk.

Anyway sorry i have waffled on too much, but hopefully a couple of usefull tips.
But remember it is not only Location Location Location, it is also research research research.

 

[Lynne Roy]

Evening Funsters, we’re looking at possibly moving abroad, but need some intel on which of our chosen countries may be our easiest to get in to. The list is not unusual, Spain, France and Portugal. We look forward sifting through your responses

We are trying to do the same , good luck

 

[Lynne Roy]

Someone mentioned that if we reside in Southern Ireland on a Uk passport we may be able to have the benefits of free Schengen travel, I have found it very difficult to research if this is true, so if anyone knows the answer I would be grateful, and purchase a house there due to how easy the move would be regarding health care and pension x

 

[Widge]

Someone mentioned that if we reside in Southern Ireland on a Uk passport we may be able to have the benefits of free Schengen travel, I have found it very difficult to research if this is true, so if anyone knows the answer I would be grateful, and purchase a house there due to how easy the move would be regarding health care and pension x

I would be surprised if it is true, unless you have some sort of resedency card for ireland, when you travel usualy it is your passport that is scanned, when i go between uk and france i also show my french residency card which stops the 90 days stsrting, but I am not sure if it would be accepted if i flew from uk to spain, you have got me thinking now.

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[SpeedyDux]

Our family experience is that French locals can be very standoffish even to other French incomers who were born in a village not far away, in the same Department.

 

[Widge]

Our family experience is that French locals can be very standoffish even to other French incomers who were born in a village not far away, in the same Department.

As i said, we were very lucky, i think our hamlet was pretty much deserted in the 50s and 60s hence even most of the french living here are incommers, and have all travelled so we have been excepted without problem, and it was suprising how many reassured us that we were part if the community and not to worry in 2016 after the brexit vote.

 

[nicholsong]

You coukd remove the Gas altogether and replace hob and heater with a Wallas XC duo diesel heater/hob, saves carryibg gas bottles, a cupboard and running around looking for gas

Someone mentioned that if we reside in Southern Ireland on a Uk passport we may be able to have the benefits of free Schengen travel, I have found it very difficult to research if this is true, so if anyone knows the answer I would be grateful, and purchase a house there due to how easy the move would be regarding health care and pension x

I think that cannot be true since RoI while in the EU is not in Schengen

I would be surprised if it is true, unless you have some sort of resedency card for ireland, when you travel usualy it is your passport that is scanned, when i go between uk and france i also show my french residency card which stops the 90 days stsrting, but I am not sure if it would be accepted if i flew from uk to spain, you have got me thinking now.

I understand that I can enter Schengen on my Polish Resident's card, which I intend to do if travelling from UK to France on way to Poland in the MH, because obviously I cannot travel direct to Poland.

Therefore I would think you could use a French Residency card entering Spain..

 

[StephandJohn]

I never thought that I'd hear myself saying this.....But I can see theattraction now about living in an expat community and having all the benefit of being able to speak the language, hobbies like dancing and maybe other classes. A little bit of the good side of Britain hopefully with the plus of the weather and the culture of that county easily accessible.

 

[Yorick]

We looked at the islands. But wanted to be able to drive somewhere more easily. How do you find the weather in winter (what is it like)?.

I find costa Blanca very good in winter with only about 3 months where it can be very cold.

The weather is great in winter. Can guarantee 20/21 every day. It's 25c right now and will get a bit warmer. Only rains twice a year

Getting around is easy as all the islands are close and only 3 hour ferry journeys

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[Widge]

I never thought that I'd hear myself saying this.....But I can see theattraction now about living in an expat community and having all the benefit of being able to speak the language, hobbies like dancing and maybe other classes. A little bit of the good side of Britain hopefully with the plus of the weather and the culture of that county easily accessible.

For us there were many reasons but being part of an english community was certainly not one of them, maybe when i am a bit older i might see more of an attraction, unfortunatly the ex pat community can be a mixed bag of people, our friends who moved to spain before the brexit vote were amazed how many local english voted to leave, when asked why, too many times it was, to get all these f***ing foreigners out of our country, when pointed out to them that they were now also foreigners in spain, they seemed to think that wasn't an issue becouse they were british and it wouldn't affect them, I am sure there are many that aren't like that. But i guess that you have to take the rough with the smooth.

 

[Widge]

The weather is great in winter. Can guarantee 20/21 every day. It's 25c right now and will get a bit warmer. Only rains twice a year

Getting around is easy as all the islands are close and only 3 hour ferry journeys

We went to lanzarote in February 2012 (I think) lovely place and very interesting, unfortunatly it was the coldest february for about 20 years, we didnt ever get out of our jeans and sweatshirts all week.

Still here in france it was about -15C with the wind chill factor, so we cant complain.

 

[Yorick]

We went to lanzarote in February 2012 (I think) lovely place and very interesting, unfortunatly it was the coldest february for about 20 years, we didnt ever get out of our jeans and sweatshirts all week.

Still here in france it was about -15C with the wind chill factor, so we cant complain.

Sometimes the wind does chill a bit. But generally great weather all year round.

 

[Widge]

Sometimes the wind does chill a bit. But generally great weather all year round.

I think it was exceptionaly cold the week we were there, the forcast for here before we left was just below freezing for a couple of days, but actualy had -5 to -10 + windchill for most of the week, so a bit of a freaky week everywhere. It would be nice to go back sometime.

 

[Yorick]

I think it was exceptionaly cold the week we were there, the forcast for here before we left was just below freezing for a couple of days, but actualy had -5 to -10 + windchill for most of the week, so a bit of a freaky week everywhere. It would be nice to go back sometime.

I've lived here 7 years and it's never gone below 15c overnight here.
I head into town a couple of nights a week in winter and very few bars have inside seating. Always mild enough to sit outside.
I wear a fleece but the holiday makers just t-shirts

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[Widge]

I've lived here 7 years and it's never gone below 15c overnight here.
I head into town a couple of nights a week in winter and very few bars have inside seating. Always mild enough to sit outside.
I wear a fleece but the holiday makers just t-shirts

Just had a look at our blog, it was early feb 2012 daytime tempreture was about 16C but windy, the nights were a bit chilly as the apartment we rented was really designed for summer lets, none the less we had a good time.

 

[gus-lopez]

As I understand it the Greek golden visa doesnt even require you to be there

There are a few members on here who have greek residency .

UA registered cars

Few about here as well.

It doesn't really but you do have to spend E250K on a property of some kind,

Not for some ? Offagain are greek residents

i also show my french residency card which stops the 90 days stsrting, but I am not sure if it would be accepted if i flew from uk to spain,

As soon as I show my spanish one in France all interest is lost & last time everything was returned without even being looked at.

when pointed out to them that they were now also foreigners in spain, they seemed to think that wasn't an issue becouse they were british and it wouldn't affect them,

Yes I laugh now when the Africans take the piss about the brits being the same as them.

 

[SmithsInFrance]

We've lived in France for 18 years and found everything Widge said very true for us. We loved Italy, Spain never really appealed (though love it now) but France always felt like "home", plus we speak the language.
Definitely do you research as Widge says, the key things in our experience:
- a lot of Brits buy huge places with loads of land, because they are so much cheaper here. But they require a lot of maintenance, are often quite isolated, and we only get older not younger
- we live in a very small village (approx 100 inhabitants), no facilities, but we know everyone and feel part of the community. I've done 2 mandates on the local council which gave huge insight into how France works, and was a good way to get to know people
- It's important to mix with local people, so language skills are essential - but Brits are important too. Morecambe & Wise at Christmas, Victoria Wood, you will always have that cultural link with your roots.
- Didn't even think of it 18 years ago, but now we are doing our best to future-proof as we get older - building a modern house in a bigger village with shops, docs etc etc. Only 15 mins away, so we don't have to start all over again with friends, etc though
- Moving to a new country is a big test of a relationship! We've seen a few fall by the wayside, make sure it is what you both want and can handle the challenges you will face together
- Think about the practicalities of keeping in touch with family and friends - we have a good, cheap Ryanair link to Stansted, but with family in the West Country not always practicable, a long journey by car and ferry/tunnel.

Having said all that, we have never once regretted the move, we love our life here. So do your research, especially for post Br***t issues (health in particular) wherever you decide to go. Good luck and hope that helps. Feel free to PM me if you want any more info
Mrs S

 

[StephandJohn]

Thats a very interesting read SmithsinFrance. It does seem like the key is to get a good grasp of the language.

 

[Drum Major]

Very sound advise if moving to a different country

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[SmithsInFrance]

Thats a very interesting read SmithsinFrance. It does seem like the key is to get a good grasp of the language.

Language is crucial I think

 

[GerTee]

Thank you to all you wonderful Funsters for your superb advice. Mr GerTee and I certainly have a lot of serious thinking and research to be getting on with over the coming months.

 

[EuroTrotters]

There was someone on here who bought in Eastern Europe. From memory, very cheap house, I think way under £100,000 got EU residency.

I can't find the post though

 

[jerryz]

My cousin Sarah has lived in France in Versailles for 30 years she has been an interpreter for UN offices in Paris, fluent in French,Italian , Spanish, German and English ,, she says France is much cheaper than UK but when she retires next year she is moving to Madrid for a nicer life ,,, she actually hates the french as she has had to work with them for 30 years and has been married to 2 of them ....she has already bought a flat in central Madrid

 

[Minxy]

There was someone on here who bought in Eastern Europe. From memory, very cheap house, I think way under £100,000 got EU residency.

I can't find the post though

Are you thinking of maz?

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[maz]

Are you thinking of maz?

We gained Slovenian residency a year and a bit ago. Annual income requirement was just under 5,000€. We bought two houses in 1.5 acres of land for 185,000€. The exchange rate then was 1.20€ to the pound so we paid around £155,000.

 

[BrochMike]

"£100,000 got EU residency..."

Aren't residence permits only for the one country, with 'usual' 90/180 rule still applying to rest of EU? (albeit clearly impossible to police if no border checks)

 

[nicholsong]

"£100,000 got EU residency..."

Aren't residence permits only for the one country, with 'usual' 90/180 rule still applying to rest of EU? (albeit clearly impossible to police if no border checks)

Correct.

Last year I breached 90/180, but that was in one trip from Poland to France and another Poland to Greece. Had I been stopped towards end of second trip there was no evidence of first trip having happened, or when.

 

[HKF]

"£100,000 got EU residency..."

Aren't residence permits only for the one country, with 'usual' 90/180 rule still applying to rest of EU? (albeit clearly impossible to police if no border checks)

Correct.

Last year I breached 90/180, but that was in one trip from Poland to France and another Poland to Greece. Had I been stopped towards end of second trip there was no evidence of first trip having happened, or when.

Are you talking about residence since Brexit? Because we moved to France before Brexit and have retained our freedom of movement throughout the EU, as part of the WARP agreement (Withdrawal Agreement Residence Permit).

 

[gus-lopez]

"£100,000 got EU residency..."

Aren't residence permits only for the one country, with 'usual' 90/180 rule still applying to rest of EU? (albeit clearly impossible to police if no border checks)

Yes but as it is impossible to check on as soon as a residents card is produced ,all interest is generally lost.

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