EXCLUSIVE: Six months ago, Mark Danby left the UK behind for the warmer climes of Spain, uprooting his life and switching for Manilva, but noticed a certain “contrast” between the two nations
A man has claimed Spain is “20 years or so behind the UK” in a specific aspect. Mark Danby from Stockport, Greater Manchester, decided to shake things up and moved to sunny Spain six months ago, making his new home in Manilva, part of Malaga on the Costa del Sol.
Enjoying his new life under the Spanish sun, Mark has encountered some hurdles, previously opening up about the challenges of the local visa system.
As an IT professional by day and the ‘Tapas Guy’ on YouTube, he made his move via the digital nomad visa, aimed at those working remotely for companies overseas or as self-employed.
Despite the benefits, it seems that slow bureaucratic processes can be a universal headache, with Mark noting that “everything takes so long”. This may stem from a stark “contrast” between life in Spain compared to the UK.
Mark was struck by the “biggest culture shock” following his move abroad, which he shared in an online video. He pointed out how Spain appears to trail “about 20 years or so behind the UK” in terms of technology adoption.
He explained: “And I describe it as being Spain being about 20 years or so behind the UK in kind of technology. Everything takes so long. They don’t go for electronic systems. They like their pieces of paper; that is the biggest shock.
“They are paper pushers; they’re pen pushers. Everything is paper, like when you go for your…your sort of your visa applications or your… as I’m now waiting for my TIE card, which is my foreign residency card, everything is paper processed.”
Mark highlighted that he is in the throes of waiting for his card and revealed they’ve “already kind of accepted it”. He described the bureaucratic process where applicants must go to a police station to hand in paperwork and have their fingerprints taken, and the individual produces the card
He added with a hint of frustration: “If they had a little printer machine by them, they could just press a button and print it out, but oh no. You know, it has to go through the paper process and it has to..”
Mark elaborated on the nature of the procedure: “You know, it can take another…you have to sort of make another appointment to go back. Everything’s booked up solid and, you know, I’ve still not got it. Everything takes a long time, a very, very long time.”
A TIE card refers to a Spanish Foreign Identity Card (or tarjeta de identidad de extranjero in Spanish). It allows people to prove their legal status as a foreigner in Spain and is required by people with a visa that lets them stay for longer than six months.
Spain complies with Schengen zone rules, which stipulate particular passport criteria and allow individuals to roam freely across the zone visa-free for a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day timeframe.
For more Spanish travel advice, visit the GOV website here.