Resident - disadvantages?

Depends on where you plan to spend your life. If you live in Spain for 183 days of the year or more then you are deemed resident by default for tax purposes. Hence your global income and assets are taxed as being in Spain. Direct taxation and social security costs here can be more expensive than in the UK. There seems to some confusion but apparently European citizens no longer have to apply for the Tarjeta de Residencia but are still deemed resident if here for 183 days or more so become subject to fiscal policy. However I am aware some organisations do not consider you to be resident unless you have the Tarjeta. I guess a lot depends on whether you are likely to be a taxpayer and if you plan to use the health service as to whether you go above the radar.

Rgds