Moving to a new country to live can be a stressful time, but there are many helpful agencies and associations that can ensure everything runs smoothly.

Many new residents to Andalucia decide to rent a property for six months before deciding on a permanent move, to give themselves time to find the right property in the right location before buying. This is a sensible option, and also gives jobseekers the chance to check out the local employment situation whilst house hunting.

One of the best websites to seek help about all aspects of moving to Andalucia, including health care, getting a Spanish National Insurance Number (NIE), and finding the best legal advice is www.spainexpat.com

The mistake is often made of not being organised enough before moving here, and it is always advisable to make contact with a good lawyer before coming to Spain, and he can advise you on all legal matters including setting up a business, the best way to transfer money to and from the UK, bank accounts, taxation and most importantly, the most secure and safe way to buy property.

If you are using an estate agent, then it is always advisable to employ a completely independent lawyer to safeguard your interests.

Many of the local newspapers are also available online, and useful articles are published regularly giving advice on taxation and legal issues, plus situations vacant in the area you will be residing – it is advisable to look through these before even leaving the UK to give yourself a good idea of the Andalucian way of life and what it holds in store for you.

A particularly good local rag is the Sur in English, which comes out every Friday, and you can see a virtual newspaper online at www.surinenglish.com

Schools are many and varied in Andalucia, and whether you choose to send your children to a state run Spanish school or a British School, most of these can be found on the Cobisec (Council of British International Schools) website – www.cobisec.org and on the NABSS (National Association of British Schools in Spain) website – www.nabss.org
Information about state schools can either be obtained from local town halls in the area you are living and from www.pineappletravel.netfirms.com