About Spain - Useful Information

Education

When you are considering moving to Spain with children, their education is always a big consideration. Education standards in Spain are high. Like many countries, you have a choice of Spanish or International (English) school.

Each town has at least one local Spanish school and as an EU citizen you will have no problem in finding a place for your child. In our experience the younger the child starts the better, as they integrate more quickly and will learn the language a lot faster, most becoming fluent within a year. Most state education is free, however you may find yourself being asked for a small fee towards books for the year. This is normal.

The International/English schools are not as readily available, but there are several around. Lady Elizabeth and Xabia International College are two local to Javea and Moraira. Usually the international schools are private fee paying, so you will need to consider these costs as part of your move. The education system is good and works in a similar way to that of the UK system, with the child taking GCSE’s and O’Levels. A coach service is available to cover most areas and assist with getting children to and from school.

For anyone just looking for language courses, these are generally available in the local town hall. In some cases they are free, in others a small fee is charged. There are also a selection of private language schools for all levels, short or long term.

Pets

Following the changes to the law it is normally no problem to transfer your furry friends to Spain. A little planning is needed to obtain the relevant documents.

There are different options available, depending on whether you want to bring your pet out to stay permanently, or whether you want to travel around between countries. Procedures such as vaccinations and certificates will take several months, so the earlier you start the better. Your local vet should be able to provide you with all the information and costs involved or you can contact MAFF on 020 7904 6345.

Health Care

The Spanish are among the world's healthiest people and have an average life expectancy of 80 for women and 74 for men, the highest in the E.U. A diet of lots of garlic, olive oil and red wine contributes to the fact that heart disease in Spain is amongst the lowest in the world.

Healthcare in Spain is efficient and, depending on individual circumstances, can be freely available because of reciprocal arrangements offered within the E.U. The medical care in this area is excellent. There are numerous clinics and medical centres.

The World Health Organization rank Spain one of the better countries in the world for health. Healthcare is free to women of 60 and men of 65 years of age or if you are working.

If you retire early or do not work then you can either make voluntary contributions or take out private medical care until you are 60-65. Private medical care is cheaper than the U.K. and medicines are approximately half price.

At present the Valencian Community has slightly different rules to the rest of Spain regarding healthcare. Provided you are a resident in Spain and can prove that you are not entitled to healthcare in any other country, you are entitled to free healthcare.

Annual Multi-Trip Insurance is a good alternative if you want to go several times a year up to 62 days at a time.

E Form Information

For home owners living or visiting Spain part or full time.

E121 - Reciprocal free healthcare for UK citizens of pension age and people with long-term disability pensions
E111 - Free or reduced emergency healthcare if you stay up to 90 days at a time, over 183 days you count as a resident
E106 - Depends on your most recent National Insurance Contributions, but if you are under pension age you can claim up to approximately 2 years free or reduced medical care - handy if you retire early.

Forms are available from the Post Office and Overseas Benefit Office in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Telephone (00 44) 0191 218 7547.