Best Place to Retire

The Costa Del Sol, Spain came out on top when assessed by researchers from AARP The Magazine. The researchers had 12 different criteria to score exotic locations from around the world from climate, housing, public services, weather, cost of living, environmental issues and political stability. They were looking for the perfect locations for US citizens to retire.

The Costa Del Sol was given first place with Cinque Terra, Italy coming in second, third went to Provence in France.

It is estimated that the Costa Del Sol has 15,000 foreign residents aged 65 or over living in the area.

Mijas and Marbella are the most popular regions in the west Costa Del Sol, followed by Benalmadena, Fuengirola, Torremolinos, Alhaurin El Grande, Estepona, Manilva and Benahavis.

East Costa Del Sol is less populated with foreign residents preferring Torrox, Nerja, Antequera, Granada, Torre Del Mar and La Vinuela.

Many northern European nationalities have made these towns their own.

Some towns have more pockets of nationalities for instance Las Chapas, East Marbella is popular with German nationals, partly due to their being a private German school in the area. Whereas Nueva Andalucia, Marbella is more popular with British people.

It is estimated that their are more British nationalities living in Spain than any other foreign nationality.

Visa Reqirements.

If you’re an EU citizen, you don’t need a visa. If you live or reside in Spain for more than three months you are required to obtain a registration certificate from the National Police. This will register you as a Spanish resident and you will obtain an NIE number as part of the process. An NIE, Foreigner’s Identity Number is required for financial transactions in Spain such as buying a house.

If you’re a non-EU citizen, and you want to stay in Spain for more than 30 days (90 days for some nationalities), you need a visa. A Spanish residency visa can be obtained from the Spanish Embassy or Consulate closest to your home. Once you arrive in Spain you have to apply for residency which is obtained after working in Spain for 5 years. Your residency visa should be renewed every five years.

Getting residency in Spain allows you to live anywhere in the EU.

For US citizens consult the US Bureau of Consulate Affairs

Residence visa to retire in Spain is called a visa de Jubilados in Spanish. This visa allows a foreigner to reside in Spain as a retiree without working.