More and more people are choosing to move overseas to retire, and retiring abroad requires careful consideration of many factors in order to maximize the enjoyment of old age.
Spain is a top destination for retireesSpain stands out for its favorable climate, rich cultural experiences and high quality of life. Spain is one of the longest-lived countries in the world, with one of the highest levels of national happiness and health.
Spain, located on the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe, is located at the junction of Europe and Africa. Living in Spain means having access to great local and expat communities, a cheaper cost of living, and incredible scenery and cuisine.
Benefits of moving to Spain to live
Climate
One of the biggest attractions of Spain is its warm, sunny climate. The average temperature in Spain is around 16°C, but temperatures can vary from region to region. In general, the south and east of Spain are warmer and drier than the north and west.
Spain is the perfect place for those who love the outdoors and sunbathing. The country has some of the world's most beautiful beaches and stunning natural landscapes, such as the Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada.
Medical
Spanish social security doctors are salaried workers at the National Institute of Health Management, and it is not the patient who pays directly for medical care, but the state. If you seek medical treatment in Spain, the cost of medicines and medical equipment incurred in the hospital will be borne by ** or the insurance company, and residents do not need to pay additional fees.
In addition, Spain has a system of separation of medicines, which requires medicines to be used by residents after leaving the hospital, which are prescribed by doctors and purchased by people at any pharmacy.
With the public medical card, you only need to pay a certain percentage of the drug fee, and you do not need to pay the full amount, which is generally 40-60% of the original price of the drug. If the resident is a patient with a chronic or serious disease, he only needs to pay 10% of the original price of the drug, which greatly reduces the medical burden of people.
Education
As a traditionally advanced capitalist country, Spain's education system is similar to that of most EU countries, with basic education free of charge until the age of 16 and English as the first foreign language. Spanish citizens, as well as foreigners with legal residency status, are entitled to free basic education.
There are no high sponsorship fees, no sky-high school district housing, and students can apply for admission to other prestigious universities in their home country or the world after graduating from high school. Public universities in Spain are tuition-free, with only a small registration fee for the course.
Similarly, if the child holds a local residence card, he or she can attend the best international school, bilingual school or free public school in Spain, and enjoy the treatment of overseas Chinese students in the college entrance examination when returning to China. In Spain, there are a considerable number of high-quality international schools, both local international schools and schools that follow the education systems of the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Switzerland, etc., and the tuition fees are low, which is only half or even a third of the fees charged by domestic international schools!
Transportation
Transportation in Spain is very well developed. Locally, you can take advantage of the local public transport system, including trams, buses, metro, or local trains. You can also use high-speed trains to reach various cities in Spain. Internationally, Spain has several airports that allow expatriates to travel visa-free to destinations in other EU countries.
Gastronomy
Spain has the fifth-highest Michelin-starred restaurant in the world, so it's clear that Spanish cuisine is one of the best in the world. However, when people name their favorite type of food, you won't often hear "Spanish food" included in their top pick. Spain has plenty of locally grown fruits and vegetables, fresh fish and seafood, Spanish cheeses and meats. You'll see fruit shops and meat markets around every corner, with every cutting method you can imagine.
** for grocery stores is affordable for local products. Spain follows the Mediterranean diet, which is one of the healthiest diets in the world (which is probably why Spain has one of the highest life expectancies in the world). Typical tapas allow you to share food with whoever you dine and find samples of each dish interesting. Top Spanish cuisine includes paella in Valencia, fabada in Asturias, Solomillo al whiskey, albondigas, pisto, gazpacho and more.
Culture
Historically, it is not difficult to see that Spain is a country with a diverse culture. Spain was once a maritime hegemon, with colonies in Europe, the United States, Africa, and Asia, and religion, Islam, and Judaism coexisted and flourished here for centuries. It is precisely because of this unique cultural blend that a series of famous artists such as Picasso, Goya, Gaudí, and Dalí were born.
According to the 2024 Global Retirement Index published by the authoritative lifestyle magazine International Living,SpainThere is no suspense on the listRanked 5th in the "World's Best Countries for Retirement in 2024".
Spanish Non-Profit Permanent Residency Program
Applicants must have sufficient funds to cover their own and their family's living expenses in Spain without the need to work.
Applicants need to have sufficient financial means to cover their and their family's living expenses during the period of residence, or to demonstrate a regular income**.
Have lived in Spain for at least 183 days in a year.
Eligibility criteria for non-profit application in Spain:
Have a permanent residence (purchase or lease) in Spain
No criminal record in the past 5 years.
Medical examination certificate.
Buy health insurance in Spain.
Have a minimum of €4-50,000 in a Spanish bank account.
The current balance of the domestic bank account is maintained at 80-1 million yuan.
There are supporting documents that can prove income** (shareholder dividends, salary, pension, rent income, etc.).
Spain Non-Profit Suitable For:
Basic financial freedom, people who want to go to Spain for retirement and vacation.
Parents who want to take their children to a foreign country for education.
They have business or family ties with Europe and want to travel freely.
Those who can handle their work and business remotely in China, and who can balance their lives abroad and domestic business.