3 min read

I'm thinking about retiring there

First published on June 1, 2026(Last updated on June 16, 2026)

Spain has been retiring foreigners happily for decades. The warm climate, the outdoor life, the lower cost of living and the established communities make it one of the most natural places in Europe to spend a long retirement. The question worth sitting with isn't whether it works, it's whether the place you're drawn to now will still suit you in fifteen or twenty years.

That's the one piece of advice worth taking before any other: choose for the life you'll have, not just the one you want today. The services you rely on and your ability to get around may change. A remote farmhouse up a dirt track is a different proposition at 65 and at 82.

In this article

Pensions and money

If you've worked and paid into the Spanish system for enough years you may qualify for a Spanish state pension, and contributions made elsewhere in the EU can sometimes count too.

For most international retirees, though, the income comes from home, so the job is to tell your home pension providers and tax authority that you're moving, and find out how that affects what you draw and where you're taxed.

Thanks to double taxation treaties you usually won't be taxed twice, but this is genuinely worth professional advice rather than guesswork.

Healthcare, which matters more every year

Spain's public health system is well regarded, and how you access it depends on your situation. UK state pensioners can generally register for Spanish state healthcare using the S1 form, which is one of the reasons Spain remains popular with British retirees after Brexit.

If you're under pension age, or from outside the relevant agreements, you'll likely need private health insurance, and premiums rise the later in life you take them out, so it pays to sort this early. Either way, check that local healthcare provision suits your needs now and in the future before you commit to an area.

A real retiree who planned it

George spent years researching and planning his retirement before buying a three-bedroom bungalow near Valencia, looking out over the mountains. His is the unflashy success story: not a whirlwind romance with a village, but a considered decision made over time, which is exactly the temperament that tends to make retirement moves work. You can hear how he approached it on episode 17 of the Kyero Spanish Property Podcast.

Nikki, whose story we met earlier in the series, is the other side of the same coin: she and her husband retired to a cave house in Galera, Granada, and she calls it the best decision she could have made. Considered or impulsive, the retirees who are happiest tend to share one habit: they were honest about what they'd need as the years went on.

Your checklist for this step

Picture your needs in 15-20 years, not just now: access, healthcare, getting around
Contact your home pension providers and tax authority about moving abroad
Work out your healthcare route: S1 for eligible pensioners, or private insurance
Prioritise areas with good healthcare nearby using Kyero location guides
Save a few single-level or well-connected homes to your Kyero favourites
Listen to a retiree's story on the podcast

Plan the retirement properly

The free Spain Buying Guide has a dedicated section on retiring in Spain, covering pensions, healthcare, social services and care.

Download the free Spain Buying Guide →

Or carry on reading. The next post starts narrowing things down: "I'm researching locations and I'm overwhelmed."

Written by

Nick Storey

Nick Storey is the Operations Director at Kyero.com, where he leads platform operations, product delivery, and commercial strategy.

Having lived and worked in Spain for 14 years, Nick began his career as an estate agent on the south coast of Granada and brings first-hand market experience to his work.

He joined Kyero in 2007 and has since played a central role in scaling the business, shaping its product direction, and strengthening how international buyers connect with agents across Spain, Portugal, France, and Italy