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Hi guys,

Could really do with some help and a few pointers.

I have read threads, but haven't got a clue still, as everything keeps changing and some posts are different to others. wondered if anyone could answer a few questions for me please?

1) I understand I need to fill in about 50 million forms...ok not that many, but a few. I'm gonna get the residency application based on being solvent and not relying on government help etc. Can i show a letter from my partner (who's staying in the UK) saying he's gonna be sending me 650 euros a month (plus the chunk i've got saved in the bank) as proof of being solvent there? Not really sure how else to do it.

2) Do I need an ID Card/Residency certificate in order to get a job? and do I need a social security number? If so, can you get one without the other and how long on average do these things take?

3) Bank accounts....apparently it's a royal pain in the arse to open a bank account and takes until retirement age to get it sorted (I'm 28 lol) just going on what others have told me. Faffing about with references from your home bank and what not. Is there any way to avoid this? I can't live without a bank account for months and months until they get sorted. Surely that's for a debit card with overdraft and all the fancy stuff? Can one open up a basic cash card account without all the faff? Just to live for the basics and direct debts/rent etc? If so can anyone advise on this?

4) Health insurance? Do I need this before they will let me become a resident? If so, can anyone advise any decent, but not massively expensive companies who offer this in Malta?

Just really love Malta and have visited many times over the years. Finally at the point where we've got the money and I'm gonna come over first while hubby sells our house in the UK. Hopefully gonna find myself a job (already applied for a couple and got some skype interviews lined up yay!) :-) Just irritates me how long everything takes and what bloody faff you have to go through (or so i've been told by a lot of people). I'm not the kind of person that can cope without a bank account and all the basic human things you get in the UK. Not bashing Malta, as I love it, just not their systems with how long things take. People are awesome there and have always made me feel welcome and because my grandpa used to live there before he died, it has always been a second home. That said, holidaying and living in a place are two different things, hence why I am unsure with a lot of this stuff.

I've done a lot of research, but would prefer to hear it from someone who has experienced it themselves and overcome difficulties and now settled in Malta.

Many thanks for reading and thanks for any replies