Thinking of buying a property in Spain? On 28th April 2020 we hosted a live webinar "Ask the Experts: Buying in Spain" (watch the full session here). Below we answer the most popular questions about the process of buying a property in Spain, with input from a Spanish lawyer. For more FAQs from this webinar, including the buying process, rentals, mortgages and more, click here.
All answers are correct as of the date of publication.
Can you apply for a residency before you have completed a purchase?
Yes, but you need a permanent address - a 12-month rental contract - on a (different) property as you will need to have been residing in Spain already.
How long do you have to be in Spain to receive free healthcare?
EU citizens can immediately obtain this with the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), but at the end of the transition period, Britons won’t be able to do this unless a reciprocal agreement is made with Spain. Pensioners who live in Spain can access healthcare with the S1 form, but if you are under 65 and seek to move to Spain, you will need to take out private healthcare until you are officially a resident and can take advantage of options such as the universal health system in Spain.
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Is there a minimum amount of money you must have in the bank before you move?
If you are applying for residency then you will need to prove your financial self-sufficiency by showing a certain amount of money in your bank account. This varies from town to town, but is generally between €6,000 and €9,000. Check local requirements with a company specialising in residency.
Would staying on a camping site in a caravan work as an address for residency?
Yes it would so long as you can live there permanently for up to 12 months (holiday sites may and caravan parks may not permit full-time occupation).
(with contributions from Alex Radford of My Lawyer in Spain and Mortgage Direct)
