Siestas and Sangrias: Is The Spanish Life Calling You?

Spanish life isn’t all about siestas and sangria, but you best believe a Spanish sangria in the sun and the subsequent siesta that follows (depending on if you have a jar or a glass) will be the best you’ll ever have.

And there’s so much more to life in this Mediterranean gem that will call out to UK nationals. We could have said the sun, the food, the beaches, and our list would seemingly never end.
If you hear even a hint of Spanish life calling you, this post is for you.

Not that we need to convince you, but read on to learn about Spanish life, how to move there from the UK, and the best places to live.

The Way of The Spaniards

Spaniards don’t seem to be in a hurry. They take life at their own pace and prioritize living, and that was the main calling for a lot of British expats in Spain.

Long conversations and family life are part of their culture, but not as much of the food. Ask any Spaniard, and they’ll say a lot of their life revolves around food and the socialisation that comes with it. Once you get caught up in your first sombre mesa (Google it), you’ll understand how food and conversation blend into one.

If you are planning on finding people having their dinner at 6 pm, then that is not going to happen. People in Spain begin serving dinner around 9 to 10 pm. Not to say that you can’t eat at 6 pm, but later dinners will soon become the norm, especially in the intense summer sun.

Sundays are for Rest. Most shops also close on Sundays (all day!). A Spaniard Sunday loves to disconnect from technology and indulge in venturing without distractions, focusing on interacting with people.

Unlike UK and American culture, Spaniards hold on to their traditions. Flamenco, fiestas, parades, and even feast of paella are standard. We challenge you to find a weekend in Spain where there isn’t a fiesta or parade.

And yet, Spain’s not stuck in time. Major metropolitan areas are alive with new ideas and young professionals are still having vermouth with their grandparents. It is a mixture of something ancient with a modern twist that, in some way, comes together.

To sum up, there’s nothing quite like it. Learning how to relocate to Spain and actually relocating to Spain might just be the best thing you ever decide to do.

Can You Still Move to Spain From The UK?

Yes, of course. Brexit complicated things but did not make it impossible. All that is required is some planning, stress, lots of waiting, and tears. And emphasis on the quite a bit of waiting, which is alright—after all, you are getting accustomed to the laid-back Spanish pace, right?

There are numerous visa options available for UK nationals.

Digital Nomad Visa

First, there’s the Digital Nomad Visa. This visa is best for you if you work remotely for overseas companies and have a contract that allows you to work abroad. As the applicant, you would need to prove that you have been working remotely for at least three months and provide a contract from a non-Spanish company or evidence of consistent freelance work. The Spanish government requires your monthly income to be at least €2,300. In return, you can spend up to five years in Spain with tax advantages for the first four years. There’s more to it – follow this link for information.

Non Lucrative Visa

Then we have the Non Lucrative Visa. This option works as intended for individuals who do not want to work. Perfect for retirees, but not for everyone. At a minimum, you need €28,000 in the bank and private health insurance. The non-lucrative visa grants one year upon temporary residency and renews in two-year increments.

Work Visa

The Work Visa can also be a good option. This one includes British nationals who have a work contract with a Spanish company. You can’t just show up and job hunt—you need that offer before applying. But you can go on holiday and job hunt or look online.

Your employer has some responsibility. They must obtain a permit from the Ministry of Labour in Spain which verifies that this position cannot be filled by a Spanish resident candidate. You also need no criminal record and private health insurance.

There are so many other visa options, which you can explore here – scroll down slightly and click on the different visa options to read about them and the exact requirements.

We wouldn’t say it’s easy, but there are multiple visa options to explore and if you meet the requirements, Spain won’t say no.

The Best Areas to Live as an Expat

There’s somewhere for everyone, but some are more suited to expats in Spain. Our favourite locations include:

• Barcelona
• Madrid
• Valencia
• Alicante
• Malaga
• Seville

Does life in Spain sound appealing to you? Maybe it’s a soft whisper that we hope is becoming louder after reading this. Either way, Spain is more than its sun and siestas, and it’s waiting for you.