Hi all
Apologies for these dumb questions but any help would be apreciated.
Myself, my fiancee and our 2 kids (3 years & 1 year) are thinking of leaving the UK and moving to Spain.
1. We run an internet business so can work from anywhere in the world really with an internet connection. Has Spain got better with broadband/phone access now (costal areas)?
What is the average broadband speed compared to the UK.
2. Can we register our business in Spain and pay tax/VAT in Spain rather than the UK? Are bank accounts easy enough to set up? We are currently a Limited company in the UK.
3. How are schools for our kids - are they Spanish speaking only?
4. We have around 15 computers and 30 external hard drives - is getting these over to Spain easy enough? IE: On a removal truck with our household items?
Thanks!
Hi Aurora and welcome!!
Your questions :
1) Internet connections (had to check with my OH on this one!!): Speed of broadband is dictated by technological availability and commercial interests, which is available both here and in the UK. So, if you live in an area of large population close to a digital distribution switch, you'll get 20mg ADSL at brilliant prices. If you live in less populated areas, you could go as low as 1mb ADSL for just under 30 euros a month, including national land line calls. If you live out in the sticks, you may be lucky and get ADSL rural cover as the Spanish government have an incentive of providing this, but that is 512kb and about 45 euros per month which is ridiculously expensive in today's market, but one has little choice when 100 people and two dogs are complaining about it.
Other than that, in the extreme cases, you will be left with the usual remote options, such as standard V90 modem, satellite ADSL and other slow and/or expensive options. So, if you get a chance, take a look at where you want to be in Spain, find someone's number locally (a bar perhaps), go to the Telefonica website and see what ADSL coverage is for that number. Do bear in mind that even 2 or 3 kms distance from that bar away from the telephony switch, could mean the bar has 3mb ADSL and you may only get 1mb ADSL.
2) The answer is yes for the Spanish and/or a Spanish Gestoria doing it for you, however, you really must do this properly through a Gestoria. There are issues for both the business and for setting up an account and you don't want any surprises when you realise the impact of being resident here, but providing a service outside of Spanish borders. Implications of monthly international business returns, quarterly VAT and a whole load of other scenarios dependant upon your business model and client base. The only thing I can add is that there are many banks here which have UK connections and although they consider themselves as separate entities (I know this personally from dealing with Lloyds UK and Lloyds Spain), you might get assistance from either the UK entities or the likes of banks like BBVA or Santander who have a presence in the UK also and might be able to assist with a Spanish account with them, for example - certainly assist you with the official line regarding a business account in Spain.
3) The schools - you have a choice. Spanish state schools, private schools, private international schools (following the English curriculum). As your children are so young, I would strongly suggest they enter into a Spanish state school (of course, depending on where you end up). But at that age, please be reassured that they would have no problem whatsoever in integrating and learning the language extremely quickly. Check out other threads on this forum regarding information on education. Do bear in mind that some areas of Spain have their own language as well as Castellano (Spanish). This would still not be a problem for your children at their age.
4) Moving computers and hard drives with household goods. This question needs a lot more information, as I'm sure you realise if you think about it. So, sling it in the back of the boot (military grade ruggerdised portables) or organise air bed transporters for your super computers and their hard drives.:juggle:
If normal desk tops and HDDs, bubble wrap and a treat with care sticker should do with a good removal company, but I would seriously consider making sure all your systems and data are fully backed up in an easily restorable fashion.
Tallulah.
