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Problem with moving to foreign country threads is some people think of solutions and others look for problems.
@Edukator, I'll take a closer look through those sites tonight.
My French isn't as good as it should be (you'd think being shacked up with a French lady up all these years I'd be fluent) to get a comparable job. I could have before brexit, worked remotely and still be paid through the UK. Now I believe that can't happen because our French office would have to pick my salary to pay tax in France. This would mean that their tax burden would increase for non of their benefit, they are not prepared to do. Clearly if I were retired it would be a different story.
We have three to years to pay off our mortgage which occurs at the same time our kids finishing Uni. So thing will be very different by then.
I pretty much detest everything about the UK and will leave at the first opportunity.
I pretty much detest everything about the UK and will leave at the first opportunity.
People who say this do make me smile. Whilst Covid makes it marginally more difficult to leave and Brexit has certainly made the logistics and paperwork harder, there really isn't much stopping you, if you really want to go. If you genuinely detest everything then you might as well get on with going - what's this sudden opportunity you are waiting for?
there really isn’t much stopping you, if you really want to go.
Says someone who clearly hasn't looked into moving anywhere in much detail, or is a top surgeon.
A successful move for most people means a new job (unless they are retired or have a lot of capital), learning a language for most of the world, a pile of paperwork for almost anywhere, selling up unless there's enough capital available to duplicate, integrating a new community, sorting out kids' education if you have them... .
The "opportunity" might be kids finishing education, a suitable job, saving enough cash... .
I quit my job, sold everything, quit my girlfriend and arrived in Royan with a rucksac when I first left the UK - about three months to sort everything out. If I wanted to move to Quebec now I reckon it would take years and I'd still be up shit creek without a paddle if they let me in.
I pretty much detest everything about the UK and will leave at the first opportunity.
Interesting. Do you mean ‘everything’? Any examples of anything you do like or not. If not, I’ve no idea why you’re still here.
Can’t be that hard to move. My mates lad went to NZ in January 2020, not sure what visa but he didn’t have a job when he went & the only qualifications he has is that he’s a 360 earthmover operator. He got a job on a farm within days & hasn't been back here since!
Suppose it depends on where you want to go though.
My mate's lad went to NZ too and got jobs on building sites using a working holiday visa, he's French so only had a year but Brits get two years. Age limit is 35.
+1 what Edukator said.
The 'just do it' crowd likely haven't tried to just do it themselves.
I'd hazard a guess your mate's lad is young, @esselgruntfuttock?
As above, might be on a temp visa, might have got sponsored.
I came back from Oz after a year there and was distraught to be back in the UK. I'd worked in a bar out there and no chance of getting sponsored. My mother informed me that I clearly wanted to come back because otherwise I would have stayed.
I nearly did a PGCE to become a teacher to get the points for a visa but couldn't go through with it. So yeah, it's possible but it's not easy and it's gets much harder as you get older.
If in the future my wife and I want to retire to Spain, will an Irish passport be any advantage then? Will my wife be able to piggy back on to it in any way? Our savings and pensions will cover the issue of evidencing an ability to financial support ourselves.
Due to EU rules you can go anywhere, yes there are rules that need to be followed, but not to the level of visas etc. The only thing to note, it is potentially easier to go to a country other than your partners passport. So if piggy backing on a French, go anywhere but France.
The reason, as a French national you have to abide by French rules in France, but in Germany you fall back on freedom of movement.
@Dogbone. Interesting choice. Quite an unusual part of (or not part of) Spain i thought when we visited last year. It wasn't very motorhome or dog friendly so didn't spend a lot of time round there but had some great surfs at Zarrutz and San Vincente.
I’d hazard a guess your mate’s lad is young, @esselgruntfuttock?
As above, might be on a temp visa, might have got sponsored.
Yeah late 20’s. COVID did help mind cos when his 1st visa ran out NZ couldn’t let him out so they renewed it. He was going to come back in May to ride the SSDT but didn’t get an entry so he’s staying over there.
Sounds like a temp visa to me and he'll eventually either have to make the points requirement or get sponsored or married or something. I might be wrong.
Anyhow, good luck to him. It's a wonderful country is NZ. That's where I'd live out of choice.
People who say this do make me smile. Whilst Covid makes it marginally more difficult to leave and Brexit has certainly made the logistics and paperwork harder, there really isn’t much stopping you, if you really want to go. If you genuinely detest everything then you might as well get on with going – what’s this sudden opportunity you are waiting for?
The days when you could go anyway are gone, it isn't just the UK that has made it harder. If you are rich, young and have a skill you have a chance, for most forget it. It isn't just paperwork, have you got the money for the visa, proof of income, a sponsor, a job, etc. For many countries if you don't fit into one of the in demand categories forget it.
Want to work as a holiday rep in Spain or in a ski resort, well there are plenty of English speakers in the EU so no need for a monolingual English person to do the job etc.
Anyway gives those of us with dual nationality more opportunities than those stuck with worthless blue passports.
An example of how easy it is in the US.
Whilst I agree that it can be easier to "piggy back", mrmo,France is a poor example as it favours regrouping of immediate family. You can bring a wife/husband in so long as you only have one. If you can think of anywhere easier than France I'm all ears.
We retired early to France nearly six years ago.
My best advice would be to try before you decide. We bought our house as a holiday home but then decided to retire a couple of years earlier and moved down. Whilst we both love the area and the house, had we known then what we do now, we would have likely chosen somewhere else. For me, it's far too quiet and lacking in like minded friends. It's all very well having other brits around but not if they are older in age, interests and attitude.
We live in a very rural area, 15 minutes from the nearest shop. Our neighbours are mostly french and are incredibly welcoming and kind. The attitude here is one of respect for each other, belonging to a community and ignoring what car you drive, what clothes you wear, it's all about you as a person. So very different to the UK we knew.
Someone mentioned Portugal has good tax rates, but sadly that changed a couple of years ago. In comparison to there, Spain (afaik) and France, France wins on income tax. We pay a lot less (as retirees) than in the UK.
Having our time again we would have tried southern Spain, Portugal and SW France, where we are now. Renting for at least 6 months should give you a good idea of what each area is like and whether that suits you.
SW France
I'm in Pau. MTB club, ski mountaineering and walking club, neighbours, friends made when junior was at school. Music has gone dead though as my regular jamming mate moved away. STW is what's left of my UK life. I don't get involved with the virtual world in Pau, I prefer real life, but enjoy the banter on STW with people I'll probably never meet.
I spent a year in Catalonia but wouldn't want to return. Northern Spain I like a lot but don't speak Basque and my Spanish is poor. Germany I enjoyed. If Berlin were where Munich is I'd be tempted for a year or two.
I prefer real life, but enjoy the banter on STW with people I’ll probably never meet.
I enjoy the banter too mate. Have a glass of wine on me. I'm drinking mine just now in a canalside pub listening to Carole King's Tapestry and marvelling at Earth Move Under My Feet.
Perfect wind down before tomorrow at the test centre...
Oh, and back on track, two years living in Havana for me. I'd go back in a heartbeat.
Not sure I would want to move 100% but I have the spare cash a cheap small place somewhere in Spain / Portugal for 3-4 month a year over winter sounds nice
Terribly expensive in Spain - the DoD batcave has a council tax of 46euros a year 🙂
The DoD Batmobile was showing an internal temp of -1c and a frosty roof at 10 this morning, although the winters are more pleasant its not exactly shorts weather every day(and I'm in the sunny bit)
I'm not retired and still listed as 'denied' on the residency status, although Im in the system so in theory they shouldn't deport me but if I left I may not be allowed in, (overstaying and all that).
It's funny being the other side of the fence.
(Sneaky Edit)
Here before Brxit so covered under the WA so its a bit different for me.