Moving to Spain with income from a UK online business how will this work?

spanishbookseller · #1 (**permalink**) 17th June 2012, 09:44 AM

Hi everyone

Ok, I'll try and keep this short. I, my partner and our 3 kids (5, 2 and 7 months) are moving over to Spain (Fuengirola area) to live fir a while. We have relatives who live there whom we want to be closer too.

My question is this - what steps do I need to take to register so our kids can go to school? I'm aware of the recent requirement to prove income etc and as my business is selling books online that are fulfilled by Amazon in the UK and the business is registered in the uk but can be ran from anywhere in the world, just commuting back to oversee restocking once a month.

How easy is it to register as residing in Spain with these circumstances?

Thanks

Rich

xabiachica · #2 (**permalink**) 17th June 2012, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spanishbookseller

Hi everyone

Ok, I'll try and keep this short. I, my partner and our 3 kids (5, 2 and 7 months) are moving over to Spain (Fuengirola area) to live fir a while. We have relatives who live there whom we want to be closer too.

My question is this - what steps do I need to take to register so our kids can go to school? I'm aware of the recent requirement to prove income etc and as my business is selling books online that are fulfilled by Amazon in the UK and the business is registered in the uk but can be ran from anywhere in the world, just commuting back to oversee restocking once a month.

How easy is it to register as residing in Spain with these circumstances?

Thanks

Rich

are you moving from the UK?

as to exactly what they'll accept as proof of income for you to get the resident certs in the first place I have no idea - bank statements showing regular income maybe?

once you have fulfilled the resident registration requirements, you need to contact the local ayuntamiento to sort out which school your kids will go to....... they'll give you a list of paperwork you'll need, which will include medicals, padrón, photos, passports, resident certs, tarjetas sanitarias/private health cover & maybe more - when all that is done the kids who are old enough can start school in September

have a look at the 'forms, education etc etc............' sticky thread above- there's a post with links to lots of info about education in Spain, including which school year your children would be expected to start in

spanishbookseller · #3 (**permalink**) 17th June 2012, 11:03 AM

Hi

Yes we are coming over from the UK. I wondered if I needed a permanent residence certificate in order for the kids to get schooled or if just adding myself to the register enough?

Also if I am registered in Spain as permanent resident how will that affect my UK business?

xabiachica · #4 (**permalink**) 17th June 2012, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spanishbookseller

Hi

Yes we are coming over from the UK. I wondered if I needed a permanent residence certificate in order for the kids to get schooled or if just adding myself to the register enough?

Also if I am registered in Spain as permanent resident how will that affect my UK business?

yes, the kids will need resident certs & NIE numbers each

if you are here for more than 183 days a year you will be automatically tax resident in Spain

you might be better off transferring the business here - you'd need to see an accountant who understands the tax situation to be certain of the tax implications

spanishbookseller · #5 (**permalink**) 17th June 2012, 11:08 AM

Could my partner and the kids register as permanent but I just go back and forth?

xabiachica · #6 (**permalink**) 17th June 2012, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spanishbookseller

Could my partner and the kids register as permanent but I just go back and forth?

yes they can register as resident & you remain non-resident, but you would have to be here for less than 183 days a year

that has the advantage that they could access the Spanish health system with a form S1 as you would still be paying NI in the UK

although of course Spain might decide that you are resident simply because your family is..............

Solwriter · #7 (**permalink**) 17th June 2012, 11:19 AM

You say that you and your family will be living in Spain for a while.
If I was in your circumstances, I personally would not transfer my business to Spain, especially as it relies upon sending out orders from the UK.

The problem at the moment is that no one knows for sure what you will all need to obtain residencia and health coverage, as the system is in a state of flux.

But as regards proof of income, bank statements may do this, but I would be inclined to also provide evidence in the form of invoices, receipts and an up to date set of books.
Of course, you then may come upon an official who wants to see proof in Spanish....

It may help to open a Spanish bank account and transfer enough money to it each month to cover all your living costs out here.
You would need to open an account as a non-resident and then transfer it to a resident account once residencia is obtained.

But to be honest, I dont think there is any concrete advice we can give on the residencia part of your question at the moment.
Except, to find a gestor (perhaps recommended by your relatives) who can help you with this.

And yes, find a good accountant who understands both systems for the tax part of the question.

spanishbookseller · #8 (**permalink**) 17th June 2012, 11:55 AM

Thanks for the prompt replies and advice. I have been checking in on the forum for a year or two now and always found it a great read.

jojo · #9 (**permalink**) 17th June 2012, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spanishbookseller

Could my partner and the kids register as permanent but I just go back and forth?

We did that. My husband was "a visitor" and I was the spanish resident with the children. My husband owned nothing in Spain, his name wasnt on the rental, the car, nor did he have an NIE - he didnt even have a residents bank account. However, he was mindful (too much so!) that he couldnt be in Spain for more than 183 days a year and we had a house in the UK, where he lived. No one ever checked up on him, but you can bet your life if we'd not adhered to the rules they would have done. It also meant that we were still able to claim child allowance in the UK (under his name) and we could use the S1 form for our healthcare - he used the EHIC!

that said the commute in the end got too much for him, not only that, he wasnt in spain long enough to form any sort of bond with it and preferred to be in the UK - especially in the winter! The UK do better winters lol (warm, cosy houses, carpets, central heating...)!!!!

Jo xxx

FamilyInSpain · #10 (**permalink**) 18th June 2012, 07:17 AM

Hi Rich
We live between Fuengirola and Mijas so know the area very well. Our children are now 4 and 7 years old.
Your children are a perfect age to be moving over and the fact you have a UK based business is an added bonus as the work situation is not great as I am sure you are aware.
A few months ago, we helped some friends of ours get their children into the local state school. They too have a UK based business and are not yet sure if they will form a Spanish company so have not yet applied for residency. Just a padron certificate with the required application form was enough to get the boys in school.
Give me a shout if I can help in any way.
Have fun!
Lisa