What do I need to move to Spain?

Are you thinking about moving to Spain? You’re not alone! Thousands of British expats make their homes in Spain every year, whether for the gorgeous weather, thriving culture or rich employment opportunities. Even with Brexit on the horizon, there is no shortage of reasons to start planning a Spanish adventure, but what does this kind of thing even entail?

With an average moving day, you need to consider factors like local amenities, jobs and the cost of packing, transporting and insuring your belongings in order to get them from A to B. With an international move, however, there is a great deal more to take into account.

For example, will it be cheaper to go by road, or ship your items via freight? Can you deal with changing road laws in Spain, or will it be better to hire a remover? Are you moving for so long that you need to consider citizenship laws? What about local taxes or learning a new language?

As you can probably guess, moving to Spain is not the kind of thing that you should start planning at the last minute. Instead, you must give yourself more than enough time to take every individual factor into account, consider your costs and, most importantly, find a top-tier moving company to help you out.

Sunny beaches are beckoning! With that in mind, exactly what do you need to take into account when moving to Spain?

International removal company

Planning any kind of moving day without a professional remover can be risky. Experts will ensure that you and all of your belongings arrive safely and in plenty of time, whether you are moving to the other side of town or another country altogether!

You may have heard that it is cheaper to do a self-move, but this may not be the case, especially when moving internationally. The cost of hiring and insuring your own vehicle will be extortionate, for one, to say nothing of how difficult it can be to get used to Spanish road laws. Any friends or family helping you out will also lack the insurance coverage which professional removers have as standard.

A professional firm will be a removal to Spain specialists. They will know everything you need to consider for planning a European move, as well as how best to navigate the roads. They will also be able to provide public liability insurance and goods in transit insurance so that the only thing you have to worry about is getting yourself to your destination.

They can also provide packaging materials and equipment, even if you are transporting particularly heavy, fragile or valuable goods. Keep in mind that some of your goods may invite additional charges, which your movers will be familiar with. For example, certain items may be subject to duty payments, while others may require special certificates for you to be able to get them past customs.

Crucially, professionals will also be able to help you choose the most efficient and well-priced transport possible for your trip. Will you and your belongings be going by road, air or sea? If you split up, who will make sure that everything arrives on time?

Naturally, it will be important to collect quotes from different removers to ensure you get the best price possible. When doing so, be sure to share any specifics that you have about your trip, including what you are taking with you, where in Spain you are planning to go, whether you will be taking vehicles or pets, and so on. This will ensure that your bespoke quote is 100% accurate.

You should also be sure to get started in plenty of time. This will allow you to book your chosen remover without having to worry about their schedules filling up. It is also worth keeping in mind that booking at the last minute can carry extortionate late fees!

Taking pets to Spain

If you are planning to take pets such as cats or dogs with you to Spain, you will need to make sure that their vaccinations and microchips are up to date. You can do this by making an appointment with your local vet and letting them know about your moving plans.

Once this is done, it will be time to apply for a European Pet Passport. Assuming that your pets have updated vaccinations, tags and paperwork, this should allow you to take your pets through European ports without any trouble.

That said, a number of countries have additional rules on importing certain animals and breeds. To save yourself any unexpected delays, it may be a good idea to contact your closest Spanish embassy and ask about any extra paperwork for your pets.

Taking vehicles to Spain

If you have a foreign plated car, you will be able to drive it in Spain for six months after you arrive. Once you have been in the country continuously for 183 days, you will be treated as a Spanish taxpayer, and it will be illegal to keep driving your car.

However, once you become a Spanish resident, you can register your vehicle. This will require you to put it through the ITV test (Spanish MOT) and upgrade it in line with Spanish road standards. Once you pass, you can apply for Spanish plates and pay the import tax to keep driving your vehicle.

Remember to let your movers know about your vehicle. Depending on your situation, it could be cheaper to drive it to the destination or to ship it via freight.

Residence permits and visas

The rules and regulations have changed since Brexit at the start of 2021, so you will need to know what applies to you and ensure you're full prepared.

As you're wanting to spend time in Spain you will need to apply for the correct visa; a ‘non-lucrative visa’ is if you're not planning to work whilst you're in Spain or a 'working visa' if you're planning to get a job. To obtain a 'working visa' you must have a job offer from an employer based in Spain and meet the visa requirements. This visa will grant you a temporary residency authorisation. For a 'non-lucrative visa' you must be able to demonstrate you have “sufficient” annual income to support yourself and any dependents without relying on the state and also have adequate private health insurance cover for Spain.

There is the option of applying for the 'gold visa' but this one isn't for the faint hearted; you must be buying Spanish property worth at least €500,000 or be wiling to buy shares in a company or make a deposit into a Spanish bank of €1 million. You can also invest in a new business that offers employment opportunities or other significant local benefits.

You will need to renew all visas before expiration until you are a permanent resident.

Once you know your moving date, it will be best to contact your closest Spanish embassy, letting them know the purpose of your move,  how long you intend to stay and whether you are taking a family with you. They should be able to provide any necessary information to help you plan your trip.

UK nationals who can demonstrate that they were lawfully settled in Spain before 2021 can enjoy uninterrupted freedom of movement and citizens’ rights under the UK/EU Withdrawal Agreement. You don’t need to have been physically present in Spain as at 31 December 2020 to qualify, but you do need proof that it was your permanent home at that time.

If you're looking for help with Spanish Removals or any removal service in Europe, we're here to help.