“Buenas días, vecinos!” Emily cheerfully greets her neighbors as she steps onto her sun-drenched terrace in Torrevieja. It’s been six months since she and her husband Jack made the move from Dover, and they couldn’t be happier. But their journey to this Spanish paradise wasn’t an overnight success – it was a dream years in the making.
The Spark of a Dream
It all began in 2008 during a holiday in Lloret de Mar. “We were sitting on a café terrace, sipping cortados, when Jack turned to me and said, ‘This is it, Em. This is where we need to retire,'” Emily recalls with a smile. That moment planted the seed for their future in Spain.
From Dream to Reality
Fast forward to 2023, and the couple was finally ready to make their move. Their family business in Dover was thriving under new management, and they had purchased a house in Torrevieja years earlier. “We’d been visiting our Spanish home every year, dreaming of the day we’d make it permanent,” Jack shares. “When we realized we could finally do it, we were ecstatic!”
Navigating the Non-Lucrative Residence Permit
Excited but unsure about the legal process, Emily and Jack reached out to ClickToSpain. “I was impressed by their ratings and how quickly they responded,” Emily says. “They assigned us a personal expert who became our guiding light through the whole process.”
ClickToSpain assessed the couple’s situation and recommended a non-lucrative residence permit. This required proving stable, passive income – which the couple had from various sources:
- Dividends from Emily’s company
- Profits from Jack’s business
- Rental income from UK properties
“The trickiest part was proving we were truly retiring,” Jack explains. “I had to hand over my business responsibilities, and Emily stepped down as CEO. But our ClickToSpain expert made sure we had all our bases covered.”
A Smooth Transition
Thanks to ClickToSpain’s thorough preparation, the application process went off without a hitch. “We submitted our documents to the Consulate, and two months later, we had our permits!” Emily exclaims. “I kept waiting for some problem to pop up, but it never did.”
Living the Spanish Dream
Now settled in Torrevieja, Emily and Jack are embracing their new life. “We start each day with a walk on the beach,” Jack says. “The pace of life here is just what we needed.”
Emily adds, “ClickToSpain didn’t just help us with paperwork – they gave us the confidence to make this leap. Now, when friends back home ask about moving to Spain, I tell them two things: do it, and call ClickToSpain!”
Tips for Future Expats
For those dreaming of their own Spanish adventure, Emily and Jack offer this advice:
- Start planning early, but don’t wait to make the move once you’re ready.
- Choose a location that fits your lifestyle – visit during different seasons if possible.
- Work with experts who know the ins and outs of the Spanish system.
- Be prepared for some cultural adjustments, but embrace them with an open mind.
- Learn some Spanish – it goes a long way in connecting with your new community.
With the right preparation and support, your Spanish dream can become a reality sooner than you think!