Ex pat community

Hi Terry. Like you, we holidayed in Roquetas and in other coastal areas such as Vera and Mojacar in the last two years before plumping for Roquetas urbanisation, next to Las Marinas. We drove out here a year ago and rented an apartment. We might eventually buy a place here but in the meantime our own property in the U.K. is being rented out.

There is a local walking group of British immigrants and also ‘swallows’ (Brits who fly south for the winter but remain resident in the U.K.). We meet up weekly to explore places on foot, finishing with a tapas or two. There is also a local ‘tapas trail’ group who meet up weekly to sample a local outlet’s product.

In general it’s up to the individual how much or how little contact they have with other English speakers. Roquetas is primarily a Spanish ciudad and it is important - and fun - to learn the language.

Thanks for the information. Whilst we intend to integrate into the community as much as possible we didn’t want to feel too isolated initially when/if we eventually move out to Almería. We will be driving round and looking at other areas as we did last October but we just feel the Roquetas area has all the things we would want . Obviously things may change as the Brexit debacle unfolds but as it stands the process of residency application doesn’t look too complicated , however, there is a lot of contradictory information out there which can be confusing . Are we correct in thinking the the best way forward is to hire a gestor to process and translate the residency application ? How did you go about it when you moved to Roquetas? What is actually required ? Can you recommend a local gestor .

Sorry lots of questions but any insight would be really appreciated . 

Personal message me if required .

Kind regards and many thanks

Terry and Lesley

“... there is a lot of contradictory information out there which can be confusing . Are we correct in thinking the the best way forward is to hire a gestor to process and translate the residency application? How did you go about it when you moved to Roquetas? What is actually required ? Can you recommend a local gestor?”

Terry and Lesley - indeed, there is a lot of contradictory information out here, mainly because local regional practice in Spanish autonomous regions seems to override national regulations. 

We did use a gestor in Roquetas once we arrived a year ago - and posted on this forum our various experiences. That might help. I suggest that when you arrive here you private message me and we can meet up for a chat at a local cafe in the urbanisation where we live.

We began by getting a Spanish bank account in Roquetas, then getting a rented property, then the padron certificate, then getting an NIE ourselves (but in retrospect need not have bothered as you get this with the residency application process) and then the residency documents - requiredwithin 90 days of arriving;  then medical registration at local state clinic, then obtaining a car and then Spanish driving licences. Within a few months of obtaining residence you will need to exchange your driving licence/s for Spanish ones. We did this ourselves after a simple medical test in Roquetas. It is possible to move out here and use public transport, however we bought a Spanish left hand drive car and are glad we did so.

We contacted Sabadell bank in Roquetas which has two English speakers and were told whilst in the U.K. which documents to produce. We opened a non-resident account here during a holiday visit and used Transferwise to post monies to it. Once we got residency last August we changed the account easily, to a residents free banking account. I’m sure that some can get by without a Spanish bank account but we found it makes things much easier. So I’d suggest that is the first thing to do whilst still in the U.K.

Good luck!

Chris

Hi Chris

Many thanks for all this info. Would love to meet up with you when we come out in The first two weeks of July. We are actually staying in Aguadulce this time but will be hiring a car so no problem in getting to see you . Once again many thanks for your help and look forward to meeting you.

Regards Terry and Les

That will be fine, we are here those weeks. We can meet up in Aguadulce - it’s no problem. Try out the Playa Hotel bar terrace - great views!

Hi Chris

That sounds fine . We are staying at Hotel Playadulce , is that the hotel you mean ? 

Many thanks 

Terry 

Yes, that's the one! I could not recall the exact name...

Chris

Great , will contact you nearer the time . Once again many thanks Chris .

Regards

Terry and Lesley

Hi speak to my friend rafa really good can sort out nie number which is a must and if you decide to want residencia( which is not obligatory) he can also do this  WhatsApp me Darrell, 0034 672578496