Kapuso actress Bea Alonzo happily announced yesterday that she is now a legal resident of Spain after making a real estate investment of at least 500,000 euros (approximately P30 million) in an apartment in Madrid.
Bea looked radiant and refreshed as she and Alden Richards arrived in Cebu City to promote Start-Up PH which will have its last few episodes in December.
The actress said she just came from long vacation in Europe and the highlight is her getting the Golden Visa, a loose term for the Spanish Government's Residency by Investment (RBI) program.
"Galing ako sa isang mahabang bakasyon. 26 days, almost a month. Kakauwi ko lang this week from Europe. The reason why I went there was because I wanted to get my Golden Visa to Spain, so am now a resident of Spain," Bea revealed.
As a Spain resident, Bea is not required to stay in Spain but she can travel visa- free through the Schengen area of the European Union. This benefit can extend to her mom, Mary Anne.
Bea can also work in the continent and apply for citizenship after two years.
"Yung Spanish government kasi, if you have a certain amount to invest sa real property nila, you will be granted a Golden Visa which means you are automatically a resident. After two years, you can apply for citizenship which am not gonna of course, but, at least, there is that option," Bea narrated.
"I've always been fascinated with the idea of living abroad. But not because I already have a place there doesn't mean doon ako titira. Of course, am gonna live here (Philippines). It just so happened that I love Madrid, I love Spain and I have a lot of friends there," the actress added.
We asked Bea if she is interested to work in Europe as an actress and she said she can consider it "but it's not something I'll be actively pursuing."
"Parang ilan lang ang oras. 365 days lang sa isang taon. Wala na akong oras," the busy actress replied, laughing
Bea admitted that travelling is her "guilty pleasure," it is how she unwinds.
"You're working on yourself because you're always a work in progress. So when you travel, you expand your horizons, you discover so many things about the world and, therefore, you can see the world from a different perspective. It's also about working on myself and my mental health," she noted.