Moving to Fuerteventura

After all those years of raising a family and building your career… you’ve now decided the time is right for retiring to the warmer weather in Fuerteventura. All your dreams of living in the sun, breathing fresher air, and enjoying more outdoor activities are about to happen. But is it all going to be easy?

Why Fuerteventura? Many retirees choose the Canary Islands because of the warm weather. They may have holidayed here a few times, giving them great memories whenever they hear the Fuerteventura mentioned. Perhaps they’ve just simply had enough of the grind in the UK and Ireland, and fancy the change of pace that the Island can offer.

Fuerteventura has a huge amount to offer for many reasons. We’ve already mentioned the climate, but what about the well established expat community? Although Fuerteventura is quieter than a couple of the other Canary islands, it still has a great network to support you as you settle into your new life. Speaking Spanish is a real benefit, but with such an established English speaking contingent, you can actually get on while you take a few lessons in the local lingo. There are a number of translation services on the Island, and people happy to offer help and advice (yes, just like us).

Problems? Of course, a big problem for many people moving to Fuerteventura is the reduction in contact with friends and family from “back home”. But with Skype, and a decent airport – the world isn’t such a big place after all. As long as you try to avoid flying during the school holidays, there are often cheap flights to be had. Here’s hoping that another flight operator jumps in to replace Ryanair. You’ll also find that family and friends will jump at the chance to come and spend time in your new house in the sun.

Healthcare. Make sure that you place a priority on gaining proper health care support when you arrive. Your entitlement to healthcare won’t be an issue, as long as you have paid your contributions. Speak to HM Revenue & Customs for advice on this. We cannot advise you ourselves, as every case is different. You may also wish to look at taking out private health care for peace of mind, but do ensure you read all of your paperworkwith a fine toothcomb. Going for the cheapest deal might not be the best for you in the case of emergency or longer term care.

The Spanish custom is to care for your families at home, rather than placing them into a nursing home. But as long as you are well insured, you will enjoy the benefits of the highest standards of health care.

Transferring money to Fuerteventura. The recent weak exchange rate has meant that your pound sterling is not worth nearly as much in Euros as it was previously. So if you are considering transferring a large amount of cash over, then do be careful. As this article is being penned, the rate is €1.07 to £1.00 – compared to €1.42 when we arrived in 2006. – That’s an astonishing €0.35 difference – a lot of money when you are talking in larger amounts of money.

As long as you have thought the whole process through carefully, and ensured that you are covered medically and financially, then Fuerteventura can offer you a fabulous place to spend your twilight years.

Good luck!