Living in Gran Canaria

There are lots of perks to living in Gran Canaria, including the weather, the cheap petrol and wine, and the general smugness that it gives you. Then there are the Gran Canaria resident discounts … Here’s our guide to the top discounts that Gran Canaria residents are entitled to. Gran…
Getting a mortgage as a Gran Canaria resident is not a complex process but you do need to do a fair amount of paperwork and have a decent amount of cash to cover the deposit and fees.  Article by Las Palmas estate agent Laura Leyshon. Getting a Gran Canaria mortgage…
Getting a bank account in Gran Canaria is a doddle if you have an NIE or residencia. Just pick a bank and give them your NIE number, passport and a proof of address (utility bill, rent contract). Then sign a lot of bits of paper and you have an account.…
The Canary Islands offer the most generous tax regime in the whole of Europe for companies and entrepreneurs.  Gran Canaria is part of the ZEC, or Canary Islands Special Zone. What’s special about it? Well, open a business in Gran Canaria and tick all the boxes, and you pay just…
If you own a Gran Canaria property and want to rent it out, there are three ways to do it and each has its own advantages.   Short-term tourist rental in Gran Canaria  This is perfectly legal if your property is on land classified as residential (everywhere except the tourist resorts).…
Buying a property in Gran Canaria costs about 10% of the price you pay once you factor in taxes and fees. Selling a property involves some costs but these only add up if you profit from the sale. The annual tax burden of owning a property in Gran Canaria is…
When you see the prices of second hand cars in Gran Canaria you will probably think about importing a much cheaper car from mainland Europe or the UK. Whilst overall it can be cheaper importing a car there are many costs involved in importing a car to the Canary Islands…
While you can live in Gran Canaria for years and not speak a word of Spanish, we don’t recommend it; even a few words of the local lingo makes a massive difference to your quality of life and to how the locals treat you. Learning Spanish in Gran Canaria is…
Buying property in Gran Canaria is a relatively straightforward process if done correctly. The island property registry is excellent, property rights in Gran Canaria are clear, and all contracts must be signed in front of an independent notary. However, there are pitfalls and we advise all buyers to use a…
Driving in Gran Canaria isn't so bad but there are a few things you need to know to avoid scares and fines.  Let’s start with avoiding fines as you can be fined for almost anything here, and knowing what fines exist will make your stay a lot cheaper. Parking –…
Teaching English has always been one of the main ways foreign residents have lived and paid their way in Gran Canaria. While things are getting hard for unqualified teachers, there are always jobs around. 
Buying a second hand car in Gran Canaria is a fairly simple process provided you know some Spanish and a bit about cars. If not, get some help.
With one of Spain’s top outdoor shopping areas and several well-stocked malls, Gran Canaria (and especially Las Palmas), has become a great place to shop. The new shopping centres due to open in Puerto Rico will make a big difference in south Gran Canaria. 
Renewing a Spanish driving licence in Gran Canaria is now a simple procedure. All you need is to pass a few simple medical tests.
If you’re planning to open a Gran Canaria business, the first thing you need to do (after a market study and lots of research) is to work out what type of company or self-employed status is best.
Everyone wants to move to Gran Canaria, find a good job and live the sunny life. It can be done, but we’re not going to kid you that it’s easy. Gran Canaria is a small island with lots of local unemployment.  This means that there aren’t lots of large companies…
So, you're moving to Gran Canaria with the kids in tow and wondering about schools. Here's the Gran Canaria Info guide to Gran Canaria schools and education.
Unless you try to drive over, relocating to Gran Canaria isn't really any harder than moving anywhere else in Europe.

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