Learning national language may be one of crucial points of diving into the social life in Spain. The only language with official status throughout Spain is Spanish or Castilian. Various other languages have co-official status in specific parts of Spain and there are also a number of other unofficial languages and dialects spoken. Nearly everyone can speak Castilian either as a first (89%) or second language. For around 9% of Spanish people Catalan or Valencian is the first language, Galician is spoken by 5%, and Basque by 1%. All these have publishing and media interest and in the cases of Catalan and Galician, they are the main languages used by the Catalan and Galician regional governments and local administrations.
Read moreIf you exclude the popular tourist destinations in the season, you’ll find that the cost of living in Spain is much lower than in the UK. To compare Barcelona and London:
Read moreOnce you are registered to work in Spain and make National Insurance contributions, you’ll be entitled to state-run healthcare on the same basis as a Spanish national. For further information, visit the Seguridad Social website (http://www.seg-social.es/Internet_6/index.htm) which gives up-to-date information, appropriate for you.
Read moreDriving can become your favourite mean of transportation in Spain. There is spectacular scenery and little, or no congestion, but speed limits often change.
Read moreThere are around 90 000 fewer UK nationals registered in Spain in 2013. This means that nearly a quarter of Britons who dreamed of a life in the sun have had their dreams shattered. The rising cost of living, the loneliness, and possibility of losing a partner, together with the seemingly endless struggle to legalise the ownership of their homes, has caused many Britons to return home.
Read moreBritain is not a member of the Schengen area, and therefore customs formalities apply. However because UK is a member of the EU, there is little of consequence to concern the average Briton relocating to Spain. You will need prior permission if you wish to bring arms in, and there is no free import of technical drawings. Otherwise you can bring in most things, with no currency restrictions. That’s including a limited quantity of alcohol and cigarettes. You can check this site for more information: http://www.iatatravelcentre.com
Read moreEmigrating is a serious decision so take your time before deciding to relocate your family to Spain. Every year holidaymakers return home in love with Spain – but what would it be like to actually live there? The article describes common traps you should avoid when buying a house in Spain.
Read moreMoving to Spain is an exciting prospect for many but it can also be a huge culture shock. However if you are prepared to embrace the culture, lifestyle, people and customs, and immerse yourself in it then you can reap so many rewards. Here’s what I found…
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