Hello,
Travel advisors often hear the retirement question before anyone else does.
It may begin casually: “Could we live here?” But that question can turn an ordinary Spain itinerary into a much more valuable trip. The goal is not to sell relocation advice. It is to help clients experience daily life well enough to ask better questions when they return home.
An informed scouting trip balances pleasure with reality: neighborhoods, groceries, transportation, healthcare access, climate, housing, and the emotional distance from family.
This week's complimentary guide: Retiring in Spain
The sampler includes the complete table of contents, introduction, and first five chapters of the retirement guide.
Want the complete book? Buy the Retiring in Spain guide on Amazon
For the big-picture overview, read the main Retiring in Spain article on A Country A Month.
A client gift that creates a better second conversation
Send the complete guide before a retirement scouting trip. Ask the client to highlight three possible locations, two non-negotiables, and one concern. When they return, discuss what changed. That conversation may lead to a longer stay, a second scouting trip, or a completely different destination—all useful outcomes.
Residency update: the non-lucrative visa does not allow remote work
Spain's Embassy in Washington notes that the updated immigration regulation took effect on May 20, 2025. Its current guidance describes the non-lucrative residency visa as a route for living in Spain without gainful activity and explicitly says it does not permit remote online work.
This matters for clients who call themselves retired but still consult, manage a business, or expect to work online occasionally. Flag the question early and refer them to the correct Spanish consulate and a qualified immigration professional. A travel advisor should open the door to the right questions, not interpret residency law.
Safety update: include the official advisory in the pre-trip file
The U.S. State Department's Spain page, updated in August 2026, advises travelers to exercise increased caution and identifies terrorism and unrest as the reasons. It also provides current entry, local-law, and embassy information.
The useful advisor practice is not to alarm clients or minimize the notice. Include the official link, explain that conditions can change, and encourage them to enroll in STEP if appropriate and keep emergency contacts accessible.
Free AI tool of the week: DeepL Write
DeepL Write offers a free AI-assisted writing surface for improving clarity, tone, grammar, and phrasing. Use it after a scouting trip to turn rough notes into a calm, neutral follow-up message.
Example prompt:
Rewrite these notes as a concise follow-up for clients comparing retirement locations in Spain. Use a warm, neutral tone. Separate observations from questions requiring an immigration, tax, legal, or healthcare professional. Do not recommend a move.
The unexpected value is restraint. A carefully structured follow-up keeps your role clear while showing the client that you listened closely.
Remove names, financial account details, health information, passport data, and other personal information before using any public AI tool. Verify the final message yourself.
Build the scouting day around ordinary life
For at least one day, skip the landmark schedule. Have clients use local transit, visit a grocery store, walk through a residential neighborhood, sit in a pharmacy or clinic area, and eat where they might actually eat on a normal Tuesday.
Retirement fit is rarely decided by the postcard view. It is decided by whether daily life feels sustainable after the novelty fades.
Know an advisor who would find this useful? Share the newsletter with them.
Until Friday,
Leo Sotropa
A Country A Month
Residency, tax, healthcare, safety, and financial requirements change and depend on individual circumstances. Refer clients to official sources and qualified professionals.