After less than a year in Spain, Vikki and her family feel so integrated — despite a challenging start — that even the children no longer want to return to England. Her best advice? Make the move, no matter how scary it feels. Embrace the process, and be patient!
Where are you from and why did you decide to move to Spain?
We’re from England, just outside of Middlesbrough, we decided to move to Spain for a better life for our children. I used to live in Spain and I love the culture, the language and the way of life. We wanted to spend more time outside with our family and have them integrate into a new community.
When did you move & where in Spain did you settle? Did you move on your own or as a family?
We moved July 2024 and we ended up living in Alhaurin de la torre. I moved with my 2 children, age 9 and 11 and my husband - ohh and the dog!
Did you use professional help for the immigration procedures (visas, permits, any admin paperwork) and/or any relocation services (property search, schools, etc)?
We used the help of Irina and we could not have been happier. The paperwork in Spain can be daunting but Irina helped us every step of the way and she knew exactly what we needed to secure our visa, school places, padron and our TIE cards.
How difficult was it to find your first home and do you still live in the same place? If you moved – tell us why
We actually found the home quite easily despite it being August! Irina gave us some options for towns that would suit our needs and lifestyle and we started looking and visiting the towns. We found a home that met all of our needs in Alhaurin de la torre via idealista.
We’ve decided to rent for the first few years of being here to give us the flexibility and it meant we didn’t have to commit to a permanent home immediately.
Which school do your children go to, public or private, and what is your experience/opinion of the school and general education system in Spain?
We arrived in Alhaurin in September and all school places were full so we got allocated a public school. The children attend San Juan CEIP and they love it! Public school is really hard for the children as they didn’t speak Spanish before they came but after 3 months, they had settled well and began speaking spanish. Now we’re almost at the end of their first year and they love it so much! They don’t want to go back to England - They have made lovely friends, their spanish is improving and their confidence.
What is your occupation in Spain – tell us a few words. Has it changed compared to what you did in your home country?
I run my own digital marketing business and work remote. My role is still the same.
How integrated do you feel into the local community and lifestyle?
We feel really integrated. My husband and I joined local sports clubs which has been huge for us to meet new people and create a community. The children have lovely friends from school and our neighbours are so helpful and welcoming. I already spoke spanish before coming here so that helped with integrating but my husband has been taking spanish classes and the rugby club he’s part of has helped with his spanish too.
Do you have any regrets about the move to Spain and/or miss anything from your home country?
No - not one regret! The first few months are hard to adapt, especially with the kids but they love it here now and tell me all the time how they don’t want to go back to UK.
What was the main advantage and the main challenge you experienced with moving to Spain?
The main advantage of living in Malaga is the weather, we can spend more time outside and the way of life is so much more relaxed, the children are welcome everywhere. The other advantage is the life lessons the kids have learned along the way and they now speak another language.
The main challenge is of course the paperwork - it’s overwhelming at times but Irina is always on hand to guide you through things.
Any advice you would like to give to those considering or in the process of moving to Spain
Do it! It’s always scary making changes in life but you won’t regret it. You have to be patient not only with paperwork but in shops, doctors etc - it’s a much slower pace of life here and finally, enjoy the journey - it’s worth it in the end.