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Find Hector here: https://es.vidalmarinabogados.com/nosotros

In this episode of Spainly Living, Michelle speaks with Hector Vidal, an Alicante based Spanish lawyer who helps international clients with immigration, relocation, real estate and residency matters in Spain.

Hector shares practical guidance for anyone thinking about moving to Spain, applying for Spanish residency, getting an NIE, understanding the TIE, registering on the padrón or navigating visa and residence permit options. As a Spanish lawyer from Alicante who also lived in the UK for many years, Hector brings both local legal knowledge and personal experience of immigration systems, including life in the UK during Brexit.

This episode is especially useful for EU citizens, UK citizens, US citizens, digital nomads, retirees, remote workers, self employed people, business owners, families and international movers who want to understand how the Spanish immigration and relocation process works before arriving in Spain.

Michelle and Hector discuss the key differences between moving to Spain as an EU citizen and moving as a non EU citizen. Hector explains why the process is usually simpler for EU nationals, EEA nationals and Swiss citizens because of freedom of movement, while UK and US citizens are generally treated as non EU nationals for Spanish immigration purposes.

They also discuss common Spanish residency routes, including the non lucrative visa, work permits, self employment routes, remote worker permits and the Spanish digital nomad visa. Hector explains who these routes are generally designed for, including retirees, people with independent financial means, people who want to work in Spain, remote workers, online professionals and people employed by companies outside Spain.

Michelle and Hector also cover the difference between a visa and a residence permit, and why many people arrive in Spain with one type of permission and later need to modify or renew their status. Hector explains how his firm often helps people who are already in Spain and need to move from one status to another, such as from a non lucrative visa to a work permit or self employment route.

The episode also explains key Spanish relocation terms, including the white NIE, green NIE, TIE and padrón. Hector explains why the NIE is essential for many practical steps in Spain, why EU citizens receive a green residency document, why non EU citizens usually receive a TIE card, and why the padrón is important for proving where you live and accessing local services such as schooling and healthcare.

Michelle and Hector discuss why paperwork can be more complicated than people expect, including appointment delays, missing documents, changing requirements, expired or incorrectly prepared documents, apostilles, translations, health insurance, proof of financial means and criminal record checks.

They also talk about the value of preparing documents before leaving your home country, applying for an NIE through a Spanish consulate where possible, bringing more supporting paperwork than you think you need, and avoiding missed deadlines. Hector shares examples of how applications can be delayed or put at risk when people miss appointments, fail to submit documents in time or misunderstand what the authorities require.

This episode also explores the practical reality of Spanish bureaucracy, including how much can depend on the specific office, appointment and person reviewing your paperwork.

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Find Shaun here: https://www.solvstream.io/about

In this episode of Spainly Living, Michelle speaks with Shaun Richardson, originally from Cape Town, South Africa, about moving to Spain with his wife and children after living in the UK and Romania.

Shaun shares his family’s journey from Cape Town to the UK, then Romania, and finally to Elche, near Alicante, where they have now been living for a year.

This is a warm, honest and practical conversation for anyone thinking about moving to Spain with children, relocating to Alicante, living in Elche, applying for Spanish residency, renting in Spain, choosing schools in Spain or building a more relaxed lifestyle as a remote worker (autonimo) or self employed person.

Shaun explains why his family chose Spain, why Elche became the right place for them, and how their children have adapted. He shares how his teenage son moved from Romania with no Spanish background, started public school in Spain, learned Spanish quickly, made Spanish friends and became passionate about football. He also talks about how the outdoor lifestyle, parks, beach access, clean air and relaxed daily rhythm have benefited his younger child.

Michelle and Shaun discuss the practical reality of moving to Spain as a family, including residency paperwork, the NIE, the difference between the white NIE and residency documentation, the value of using a trusted local adviser or gestor, and why the Spanish admin process can be difficult to manage alone if you do not speak Spanish.

Shaun shares his experience as a British and South African passport holder married to an EU citizen, and explains how his wife’s Romanian EU citizenship helped with the relocation process. He talks about applying for residency, waiting for his card, dealing with appointments, travelling to Denia for police appointments and learning to accept that Spanish bureaucracy does not always work in a straight line.

The episode also covers renting in Spain, including why landlords can be cautious with foreigners, why it can be harder to rent without a Spanish employment contract, why having someone on the ground can help, and why families may need temporary accommodation while waiting for a long term rental to become available.

Michelle and Shaun also discuss schools in Spain, including the public school system, private school options, concertado schools, language immersion, school catchment areas, points systems, oversubscribed schools, kindergarten places, matriculation paperwork and what parents should know before moving with children.

Shaun also shares his experience of becoming autónomo in Spain, accessing public healthcare, applying for the SIP card, running an online AI business, teaching English remotely and building a working life that allows him to enjoy the Spanish lifestyle.

This episode is full of practical tips, real life lessons and honest reflections on the emotional side of moving to Spain. Shaun talks about the frustration of paperwork, unexpected obstacles, shops closing on Sundays, restaurants closing in the afternoon, different routines for children, Spanish nap culture, and the need to go with the flow rather than fight the system.

Michelle and Shaun also reflect on the positives of life in Spain: better weather, more time outdoors, healthier routines, friendlier daily interactions, a calmer lifestyle, beach access, family time, safety, fresh air and the sense that the hard first year is worth pushing through.

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Find Hector here: https://es.vidalmarinabogados.com/nosotros

In this episode of Spainly Living, Michelle speaks with Hector Vidal, an Alicante based lawyer with experience in law, business economics, real estate and immigration, about buying property in Spain safely and confidently.

Hector explains what international buyers need to know before buying a home, holiday apartment, investment property or relocation property in Alicante, the Valencian region or elsewhere in Spain. This episode is especially useful for buyers from the UK, US, EU and other countries who want to understand the Spanish property purchase process before signing contracts or transferring money.

Michelle and Hector discuss when to speak to a lawyer or gestor, what checks should be carried out before buying, and why property purchases in Spain can feel very different from other countries. Hector explains key Spanish property documents and checks, including the nota simple, land registry, catastro, city council position, energy efficiency certificate, community of owners certificate and community debts.

They also cover legal due diligence, technical property checks and why an architect’s report can be valuable, especially for rural properties, older homes, renovated apartments, high value purchases or properties affected by planning issues, damp, mould, hidden defects, infrastructure problems or community rules.

The episode walks through the main stages of buying property in Spain, including making an offer, paying a reservation deposit, signing the contrato de arras, preparing for the notary appointment, paying the balance, signing the purchase deed, receiving the keys, paying property transfer tax and registering ownership with the land registry.

Hector also explains the risks of paying a reservation deposit too quickly, what to check before transferring money, why refund rights should be clear, and what red flags to watch for when dealing with estate agents, agencies or private sellers.

Michelle and Hector discuss the main costs and taxes when buying property in the Valencian region, including ITP property transfer tax, VAT on new builds, notary fees, land registry fees, gestor fees, IBI property tax, rubbish collection tax and the 3 percent withholding where the seller is a non resident. They also explain why buyers should budget beyond the purchase price and should not assume that a cash purchase will be simple or instant.

The conversation also covers resale property versus new build property in Spain, including different tax treatment, staged payments, developer contracts, community rules, warranties and why new builds may not yet have the same documentary history as existing homes.

For non Spanish buyers, Hector explains why an NIE is essential, why a Spanish bank account may be needed, why anti money laundering checks matter when transferring funds into Spain, and why mortgage conditions can differ for residents and non residents.

This is a practical and reassuring episode for anyone dreaming of buying property in Alicante, relocating to Spain, purchasing a holiday home, investing in Spanish real estate or simply trying to understand how the Spanish property process works. It will help you understand what to check, what to ask, what to budget for and when to get professional help before buying property in Spain.