Living abroad over 6mths a year (spain)

[Puzzled001]

What are the implications with regard to British residency if I stay at our 'home' in Spain for more than 6mths( 26 weeks) of the year. This will probably be up to 6 to 8 weeks at a time. ( I have sorted this out with house insurers-) Taxes paid in UK.

[Puzzled001]

Hi,EDDIE51, with regard to tax, I pay tax on my pension in the UK. I was just wondering if I would be liable to Spanish taxation. Would I lose my 'vote' etc.i.e be classed as non-resident

[Puzzled001]

Hi, again, I was just wondering if there were any other complications as my travel insurance company said my annual cover was for up to 6 months away and stated that they thought that was the maximum without residency problems ?

[buildersmate]

As Eddie has already said, 'residency' is not an issue in another EU country - you can live and work in Spain no problems.
However the purpose of travel insurance is typically for genuine travellers, not residents - so you may well find the terms of your travel insurance are not met. For what purpose do you think that you need the travel insurance? - for medical cover you need the EHIC card only in Spain.

[Puzzled001]

I shall be travelling back and forth for indeterminant length 'holidays' , this may add up to 6months or more depending on my commitments/ med.appointments etc. in the UK. I will not be 'resident' in Spain . I was just wondering if there was any limit I could be out of the UK in any year. The person at the travel insurers may have meant 6 months was the longest without a break. I'll obviously have to check that. I have EHIC card

[buildersmate]

No there is no limit.
You will still be resident in the UK for income tax purposes. Various double-taxation treaties exist between the UK and Spain should you should not end end up paying tax in both countries.

[Puzzled001]

Thanks,BM, just got to check with the insurance.

[bednobs]

you may find that you become ineligible for primary care (that is GP services)
Most GP surgeries will take on people if they are in the uk for a "lawful and settled purpose" The operative word for you here is "settled" as most usually they use the convenient timescale of 6 months to mean settled

[Puzzled001]

It's my GP who is advising me to stay in the warmer climate and just come back for check-ups etc.