Schools, healthcare, taxation, work permits, residence cards.

More and more people are moving to Ibiza from all over the world. Whether you are retiring in Ibiza or moving here with a young family, there are a number of practical considerations to think about. There is no shortcut to good specialist legal and tax advice but here are some pointers to think about beforehand

Inheritance.

Passing your property on is probably at the very bottom of your list of things to think about when moving to abroad – that’s if it even appears on the list at all. However, there are a number of things you will need to take care of, such as making sure that your will covers your Spanish assets. Even how you set up the purchase of your property in the early stages will have enormous bearing on how your estate will be dealt with and taxed in future. As inheritance tax can be as high as 34-per-cent, it is well worth planning thoroughly with your solicitor and financial advisor.

Taxation in Ibiza

Where you are deemed to be resident affects what taxes you pay as well as in which country, and it is vitally important to understand these implications. There is a double taxation agreement between Spain and most countries, which means that you shouldn’t be taxed for the same things twice. However whether you are considered resident in Spain or elsewhere depends on factors such as how much time you spend in each country and where the majority of your assets are held. You should find out about wealth tax, capital gains tax, as well as local taxes – your lawyer should be able to advise you on this as well as how to go about obtaining an NIE – a local spanish tax identification number.

Retirees

People think about retiring abroad for a range of reasons, such as a change of lifestyle, or cheaper cost of living. However, retirees will have specific questions that need to be addressed, whether it is about pensions, healthcare or tax. This is a decision that shouldn’t be rushed, and research, professional advice and good planning are all essential to making the move a successful one.

Work permits and Residence cards in Ibiza

If you are an EU resident, you can work in Spain without a visa or work permit. The type of permit you need, however, depends upon the job, whether it is permanent or temporary and in which region you’ll be working. Some are non-renewable or valid only for a certain period, others are permanent.

You should also find out about Residence cards – which, for example, are necessary if you are retiring to Spain. Again you should seek specialist advice.

Schools in Ibiza.

The first thing to decide is whether to educate your children at a local state school, local private school or whether to put them into a international school. In the Spanish state schools the education is free. The  local private schools and international schools cost somewhere between 4-8000 € per child per year. An exception is the French school in Ibiza where it is free for french nationals.

Public Healthcare in Ibiza

Knowing that you will have access to good-quality healthcare providers is a big consideration when moving abroad. It is also important to know what you are entitled to. It is vital to research what you and your family are entitled to. There are also a number of very good private healthcare programs available in Spain.

Learning the language

If you are planning on moving to Ibiza for the long-term you may find that your ‘restaurant Spainish’ is a hindrance to integrating into local life and dealing with daily tasks of running your home.