EU Citizen (UK) & none EU Citizen wife (Thai) coming permanently to Spain.

Next week my wife & I travel to Spain to look at properties with a view to moving & she has the necessary visa. (It's called a schengen visa - don't ask!).

Over the last 8 years we have obtained this visa & travelled all over the continent to at least a dozen countries, so we are very conversant with obtaining one.

 I do wonder however how my wife will fair obtaining permanent residence for Spain? 

I know I will have no problem as I am retired and have the resources, and it seems just a simple task to complete the paperwork & present the documentation.

Yea I know we can hang about & go through the horrible process of her getting British Citizenship & she has all the certificates, but don't like the time span or the costs now well in excess of £1000. Incidentally she has a "permanent leave to remain visa" or "residency visa"  for the UK.

She has her own Hairdressing Business in England & eventually would like to commence the same in Spain.

We were at one time going to reside in Thailand but I don't like the distance, travelling costs & in my case difficulty with the language (can understand most of it, but have difficulty speaking it, and they have their own written characters). It is also far far hotter in Thailand, the coldest is about 28 degrees but regularly nudging 45

Thank you,

I have read your private message & find it quite helpful & have replied privately also.

The one problem is whether to ask for a visa in Spain or in the UK, I suppose that is for both of us as if my reading of it is correct, she has only 3 months stay, the maximum a schengen visa allows, and I, even though a EU subject have to leave after 3 months.

Incidentally I am very proud of my Thai wife, she is of good stock, has a University degree and has studied in Hong Kong, Singapore, London & Birmingham (sorry about the last one!!). She is also brilliant to be with and I don't mind guys watching her, (or is it leering!) they are only jealous most of them.

Hi, Great that your wife managed to get into Birmingham.  One of the world's recognised proper Red Brick Universities and very difficult to get into, especially for traditiional academic subjects like History and Philosophy. No need to apologise but maybe you are not from academia so didn't realize that your wife's achievements are actually greater than you realised. Typical Thai, modest. Typical Brit, saying she's of good stock....no seriously her qualifications are of a world standard and that people not from Academia don't recognise that Warwick would be one of the best in the world for Business or Law; Loughborough for sports science etc. etc. so UK Universities are amongst the best in the world. 

Hi, Great that your wife managed to get into Birmingham.  One of the world's recognised proper Red Brick Universities and very difficult to get into, especially for traditiional academic subjects like History and Philosophy. No need to apologise but maybe you are not from academia so didn't realize that your wife's achievements are actually greater than you realised. Typical Thai, modest. Typical Brit, saying she's of good stock....no seriously her qualifications are of a world standard and that people not from Academia don't recognise that Warwick would be one of the best in the world for Business or Law; Loughborough for sports science etc. etc. so UK Universities are amongst the best in the world. 

Let me know how you get on with the residency please as I am a few months off yet. I am hoping to take my Mrs and kids into Spain get residency and do the commute to the UK.

The UK immigration at the moment is a farce, I meet the criteria just lack the bank statements and pay slips as I have been abroad for nearly 7 years. But by the time I have them, processed and then get delayed (as it seems to be stretching out for elections sake). I would be quicker moving to Spain, saving some money and doing the commute as I can get the family to Spain in virtually no time in comparison.

When I enquired at the Spanish consulate in Manila,  if I married a Filipino whether she would get a visa to live in Spain.  Their reply a 'surprised, ' 'Well where else would she live but with you in Spain !! "·

I understand that, unlike UK, Spain signed a Directive that in effect it would be illegal to prevent a spouse living with their partner.  The process was relatively straight forward.

That was 8 years ago, but I have no reason to believe Spain's attitude has changed since then. So,  good luck.

PS  I was a bit concerned whether my wife would settle to Spain and if the 'locals' would accept her.     110% on  both.

Locals will accept her for sure! Spanish people are, in general terms, very open to foreigners.

How did the move go? We are currently in La Mata.

Blumey Matt that was 2 years ago & I have not written on this site for a long time as my blog was infested with trolls. Anyway the move went very well as we took a different path in that my wife obtained British Citizenship so the move was easy, But a lot of water has gone under the bridge since then...........

Internet trolls have to just ignore them as its the rise they are after. Good to hear you managed to move to the UK ok though. :) I've decided to move to Spain as the cost of living is cheaper and Mon - Fri I am in hotels so might as well get the sunshine at the weekends! Mainly work in large cities with airports so commute is viable.

2 years is nothing I work on a 20 year plan..lol