Why I chose Spain for my move and how to legalize myself there?

Before taking the decisive step to move, I had the opportunity to learn about many countries from which the residents of Kazakhstan come. After completing my studies at the Moscow Institute of Management, now known as the State University of Management, I began my career in the banking sector, later started my own business, and worked on various projects in investment consulting, tourism, and trade. My work often took me on long trips to different countries, which helped me improve my English, develop skills in the international business environment, and make many friends across Europe. Because of this, I was able to immerse myself in different cultures, including France, Latvia, Italy, Georgia, and Thailand.

The beginning of the path to emigration

A few years ago, I never even imagined that one day I would choose Spain for my move. While traveling across the European continent, thoughts of emigration gradually began to arise. The time came when I decisively took a step towards change in my life in February 2020, heading to Spain, a country I had never been to before. I had a biased opinion about this country due to an unfortunate experience interacting with Spaniards. I had no acquaintances in Spain, and those who went there returned with dissatisfaction and negative memories.

Searching for a new place to live

Nevertheless, when the thought of moving to Europe became more concrete, I started looking for a place for a new life. For six months, I researched and compared countries such as:

• France
• Latvia
• Italy
• Northern Cyprus
• Spain

I spent a lot of time studying blogs, watching videos, and talking to people who had already lived in these countries, analyzing each option and thinking about what I could do abroad. Although Latvia attracted me, I was not satisfied with its climate at all. Northern Cyprus seemed too small and had a limited range of opportunities, and the mentality reminded me of Kazakhstan. France, on the other hand, was complicated by the language barrier, difficulties in finding a job, and a high cost of living. In Italy, economic challenges made employment even more uncertain, and registration was quite expensive.

Benefits of living in Spain

Fortunately, the legalization process in Spain turned out to be simpler and more accessible than in other countries. I found an opportunity to earn money by converting commercial spaces into residential properties in Benalmádena, which is near Malaga. I received an interesting offer that I carefully studied for several months, coordinating all the details with my partner. Thus, I confidently came to the decision to move to Spain.

Disadvantages and challenges

Nevertheless, this wonderful place has its drawbacks. For example, it can be difficult for employed professionals to find work due to a lack of job openings. However, for specialists in fields such as:

• medical
• beauty industry
• pedagogy
• fitness

There are plenty of opportunities. I am confident that, thanks to my experience and skills, I will be able to find my place in the sun here. Spain seems like a great choice for me, and I am ready to face any challenges that may arise along the way.

Legalization of foreigners in Spain

At the moment, there are many options for legalization for foreigners looking to move to Spain. One of the most common ways is to obtain a residence permit for financially independent individuals. Before making a final decision, I strongly recommend consulting with specialists who can explain all the nuances of this process in detail. Agencies will help determine the necessary documents and provide support during the residency application process.

Immigration programs

There are several immigration programs, each with its unique features and requirements. For example, there is a program for entrepreneurs aimed at those who intend to start their own business in Spain. To take advantage of this program, an investment of 25,560 euros is required, and the entire process can take about 15 months.

It is also important to note the options intended for financially independent individuals, where the minimum amount must be 28,800 euros. After just 6 months, it is possible to obtain a temporary residence visa. There is also an option for digital nomads: a separate program is provided for them. To obtain a residence permit, an income of at least 31,000 euros is required, and the entire process will take only three months.

Real estate investments

There is a particular interest in the program related to acquiring real estate in Spain. By investing 500,000 euros in Spanish property, one can obtain residency in just two months. There are also programs available for those willing to invest 1 million euros, which will also ensure a quick processing time.

Option for financially independent individuals

I chose the option for financially independent individuals, which does not allow for employment. To obtain this visa, it is necessary to confirm a certain level of income. My daughter and I needed to prove an annual income of around 34,000 euros. All funds must come from countries outside of Spain and be officially documented. In my case, the income was derived from the sale of real estate in Kazakhstan.

Deadlines for obtaining a residence permit

Initially, the residence permit is issued for one year, after which it can be extended twice for two years each. After this period, it is possible to obtain permanent residency, and after five years, the opportunity to apply for Spanish citizenship opens up.

Problems on the path to legalization

However, my situation turned out to be more complicated than I expected. I encountered an issue — one of the certificates turned out to be invalid, and I had to reissue it, which significantly slowed down the process. At that moment, I had a date set for submitting documents to the Spanish consulate located in Nur-Sultan, and I had already purchased plane tickets. Considering the time needed to correct the mistake, translate the document, and legalize it, I was completely unable to meet the planned deadline.

A new approach to document submission

In the end, I decided to postpone the submission of documents for the D visa (my daughter and I agreed to return to Kazakhstan) and temporarily apply for tourist visas (type C). This decision allowed us to go to Spain, and upon arrival, we could enroll in courses and subsequently submit documents for a long-term student visa. This approach seemed more optimal to me, as the Spanish authorities generally show leniency towards students.

Assistance with adaptation and choosing an educational institution

To quickly arrange all the necessary documents, choose an educational institution, and receive full support for adapting in Spain, I followed my friends' recommendations and contacted a company from Alicante, which significantly eased the process.

Preparation of documents for relocation to Spain

To move to Spain, we needed various important documents. The main ones were our passports, our child's birth certificate, a criminal record certificate, and a medical certificate.

An important requirement has also become the need for proof of financial means to support living in the country during studies. In our case, this amount was13 thousand euros a year for two people.

We agreed with the agent to prepare the necessary documents upon arrival in the country. Among these documents were:

• confirmation of legal residence in Spain (for example, a rental agreement or registration at the place of residence);
• medical insurance;
• school report card for a child;
• taxpayer identification number.

Arrival in Malaga

We arrived in the Spanish city of Malaga at the end of February 2020, having traveled through Paris. Since both countries are part of the Schengen Area, the stamp was placed at the border of France.

It was important to take into account and record the date of our arrival in Spain — according to the rules of student residency, it is necessary to notify the local police department withinthree daysabout our arrival.

The beginning of adventures

Our adventures began at the airport: we landed in Malaga on the evening of Friday, February 28, when the city was celebrating Andalusia Day. Because of this, all government offices were closed until Monday.

After the weekend, I went to the local immigration office, where I submitted the passports and boarding passes. As a result, I was issued a document confirming our arrival in the country.

Problems with the visa due to quarantine

Although the submission of documents for the student visa was scheduled for April, in March the authorities announced a two-week quarantine, which was then extended several times. This created certain inconveniences, as we needed to leave the country beforeMay 28since our Schengen visa was expiring on the 90th day.

Fortunately, the authorities have made a decision aboutextension of visasfor citizens for six months, which meant the possibility of legally staying in the country until September 21.

The process of obtaining a student visa

I have already applied for a student visa.July 2020By that time, the requirements for obtaining a visa had become much stricter, and we found ourselves among those families who faced rejection.

However, our agents promptly filed an appeal, and during the time it was being considered, we were legally in Spain.

A new life in Spain

Despite all the difficulties, I don't consider 2020 to be a wasted year, even though it didn't count towards my experience for obtaining permanent residency. This time became a period of our adaptation, and I also launched my own business project.

Moreover, this summer we managed to fly to Kazakhstan, where we obtained a type D visa within a week, which allowed us to return to Spain and apply for residency.

Our story highlights how important it is to be prepared for unexpected changes in fate when moving to another country, as well as the significance of the ability to adapt to new realities of life.

Finding suitable housing has become a real challenge for me. I started looking at rental options in advance, even before my arrival, and focused on the Malaga area where our project was planned. A Russian-speaking agent helped me, who found a satisfactory option in Benalmádena. I immediately paid a deposit of €500, which corresponded to one month's rent, and we agreed that I would pay the remaining amount upon arrival.

Moving and renting housing

Together with the landlord, we quickly signed a one-year lease, paid the deposit, and moved in September. In Benidorm, the rent for one-bedroom apartments starts at 600 euros per month. Utility costs are added to this amount. We pay a similar amount for a three-bedroom apartment.

Utilities

The average utility costs are about 100 euros per month, which is quite an acceptable option. This is because our house uses gas for heating water, which is cheaper than electricity, and the monthly expenses for it range from 8 to 9 euros. As for electricity, in the summer the bills are around 40-45 euros, while in winter they can reach 70-90 euros. Water costs approximately 20-25 euros per month.

The education system in Spain

When we talk about the education system in Spain, it's important to note that school enrollment is based solely on the child's age. We looked for an educational institution after our arrival, as our daughter had previously studied remotely at a Russian-speaking school. Initially, we chose a school in Alicante just for visa purposes. However, in the summer, we needed to decide on a permanent place of residence.

Choosing an educational institution

We stopped in the suburbs of Benidorm, where there are several public schools, but they were temporarily closed due to quarantine, so exploring their options turned out to be impossible. In a Russian-speaking group on Facebook, we were recommended a school that most children from Russian-speaking families attend.

We submitted the documents, and our daughter was admitted to the school without any additional entrance exams.

Start of the school year

September marked the beginning of a new stage for our daughter, who immediately moved up to the fourth grade, skipping the third. The Spanish education system has such rules:

• Enrollment is based on age.
• It doesn't matter that she has only completed the second grade if, based on her age, she is eligible for the fourth grade.

Initially, my daughter didn't know Spanish, so her classmates, many of whom speak Russian, helped her. This made her adaptation easier, but the process of "Spanish-ization" took longer. Moreover, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the school canceled additional Spanish lessons for foreign students.

Additional training

In this regard, I decided to turn to a tutor, and now Lia is taking online classes at a children's language school. Group classes cost between 50 to 80 euros per month, while individual lessons range from 10 to 25 euros per lesson.

School life

Classes at school run from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, with a lunch break from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM. Education in Spanish schools is free, and transportation for children is also provided. However, meals at school are paid, and the average cost is around 80 euros per month.

Medical care

When it comes to medical services, preventive medicine is not commonly practiced in local medical institutions. However, the level of healthcare in Spain is quite high. Treatment is covered by health insurance, and in major hospitals, translation services in Russian and English are provided for foreigners.

Conclusion

In conclusion of my travel story about moving to Spain, I want to share my thoughts and the experiences I've gained during this exciting phase of life. Our lives are made up of choices, and each choice shapes our future. When I was considering the move, I had my own biases and fears. My negative experiences with Spanish partners raised doubts, and the anxiety about finding the right country to live in often clouded my mind.

However, like in any other endeavor, I realized that it is impossible to anticipate all the challenges and opportunities. Traveling through Europe and exploring different countries, I came to understand that each of them has its own pros and cons. Spain, which initially seemed unappealing to me, actually revealed itself in a completely different light. Comparing the climate, job opportunities, and lifestyle, I realized that it is here where I can fulfill my ambitions and dreams.

Legalization process

The process of legalization in Spain has become a real challenge for me, but also an opportunity to delve into the legal system and better understand European practices. With each step, from gathering documents to interacting with local authorities, I became increasingly confident in my decision.

What I have learned:

• Cherish every moment.
• Overcoming difficulties.
• Don't be afraid to take risks in life.

Choosing a country is not just a geographical question; it's also a choice of lifestyle. Now, living here, I feel like I'm part of something bigger than just another move. Spain has opened up new horizons for me, and now I have the opportunity to enjoy life in the warmth, surrounded by new acquaintances and like-minded people.

Call to action

Perhaps those who are on the verge of such a decision experience the same doubts I once did. Therefore, I want to urge everyone to carefully weigh all the factors and not be afraid to take risks. Moving is not just the beginning of a new life, but also an opportunity for personal and professional growth. Spain has become not just a country for me, but a true home where I can be happy and fulfill my desires. I hope my experience will be helpful and inspire others to take bold steps in the pursuit of happiness and a new future.