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Moving to : Spain

There are a number of things you will need to research or do before moving to Spain, these include:

• Local Culture 
• Residence Permits/Visa Requirements/Fees 
• How to search for work if you do not already have a job 
• The importance of your Contract of Employment 
• Self Employed? Starting a new business 
• Studying in Spain 
• School/Childcare - admissions, childcare, registration 
• Retiring to Spain 
• Accommodation, property search 
• Removal Companies and Personal Effects 
• Public Healthcare 
• Registering with a Doctor/Dentist 
• Medication 
• Private Medical Insurance, Healthcare and Hospitals 
• Banking 
• Setting up TV, Telephone and Internet 
• Registering for a mobile phone 
• Taking your car 
• Moving your pets 
• Make sure your passport is valid 
• Tickets for your move, hotel bookings and car rental 
• UK Voter Registration 
• Final Checklists 
• Final Notifications 

Spanish culture is defined in many ways. From food and festivals to bull fighting. Clicking on the links below will help you understand the country and its unique appeal.

Quijote - Spanish Culture
Wikipedia article on Spanish culture
Red 2000 - Culture and popular customs
Spain-Info - Spanish Festivals
Escuela Internacional - Bullfighting

Each area of Spain will also have its own history and culture. Don't forget to run a search specifically on the area of Spain you are looking at moving to. We recommend Google for all searches and the easiest way of searching for local culture is to put "culture" + the area of Spain you are investigating.

As an EU national you do not need a work permit to work in Spain. However it is always best to be prepared, and have employment set up before you go. You are able to enter the country as a tourist and register with the Spanish national employment office (Instituto Nacional de Empleo - INEM) to look for a job once you arrive.

The law changed in 2007, abolishing the need for a residence card. You are however required to carry an official form of ID when out in public.  Some confusion exists where some say there is no need for any type of Residencias. However anyone planning on staying in Spain for more than 90 days will need to apply for the new residencia certificate.

EnglishinLoja - Residencia  

As a new resident, you will be expected to register your arrival with the local police or "Padron". More information can be found on this in our "living in..." Registering your arrival in the Country.

Fresh Directory - Benefits of Residency
Live Spain for Life - The abolition of Residencias

There are a number of websites which focus on job searches in Spain.  The following are a few, however we can not take personal liability for any of their content or claims.

Jobs Abroad
4ICJ
Job Centre Plus
Search & Survey - Employment in Spain
Executives on the Web
Tip Top Jobs

If one is to follow the British Consulates advice and apply for a residence permit, even though it is no longer necessary, you will need your employment contract in order to apply for it. For a British Citizen, obtaining a residence permit (Residencia) in Spain is not difficult. These links will help you to identify what you need to do and when.

Lighthouse Spain - Moving and Visas
Spanish Property World - Residence Permits
Work Permit - Spain
Ideal Spain - Working in Spain

If you do not have an employment contract you will be working illegally and could be sent home. Many companies will give you a temporary contract that only lasts 3/6/9 months. After these contracts, an employer has to give you a long-term contract in order to keep you on. He cannot therefore continue giving you short-term contracts. In order to work you will need an NIE number (more information can be found about this on our "living in..." Tax registration with the authorities). Your employer should apply for a social security number on your behalf.

If you are planning on going to Spain and starting your own business, these sites may be of use to you:

Immigration Lawbird 
Doing Business

If you're going to study in Spain, you will need information regarding courses.

Prospects - Postgraduate study
Open University - Business School in Spain
StudyGroup Biz - Study Group in Spain

Information regarding childcare for pre-school children can be found here:

Spanish Living - Pre-school Childcare
Rest Assured - Spanish Education (scroll down the page a little)

The rules for compulsory schooling are simple. Children are expected to start school at the age of 6. One of the biggest decisions you need to make will be "Do I want my children educated in English, at an International school, or in a Spanish school?" These sites may help you with this decision.

Spain Info - Spanish Schools
Lighthouse Spain - Spain v International Schools
Rest Assured - State Schools
Ideal Spain - International Schools

If you are considering retiring to Spain, then the following sites should be useful:

Spain4UK - Retiring Guide
Age Concern - Living in Spain
Age Concern - Factsheet - Retiring to Spain
In Spain - Retiring in Spain
Eye on Spain - Affordable?
Foreign & Commonwealth Office - Moving Abroad

The decision regarding whether to purchase or rent a property in Spain can be difficult. If you are looking to buy, then these links will help.

Spanish Living - Property Guide
BBC - Buying in Spain
In Spain - Buying Property in Spain
How To Guides - Why buy in Spain?
Homes Go Fast - Costs of buying in Spain
Ideal Spain - Buying in Spain

Rental can be harder as most real estate agencies focus on short term/holiday rentals, however it is not impossible. You will usually be expected to pay a deposit and a months' rent in advance and property search for rentals is usually easier in autumn and winter as during the summer months the shorter lease periods are more appealing to landlords.

Ideal Spain - Renting in Spain
InSpain - Long term rental
How To Guides - Short and Long Term Rental

When shipping your personal (household) effects within the EU, they are not subject to normal customs formalities or restrictions.

Please check our Resources section to see if there is any further information on English speaking removal companies.

The Form E111 is no longer valid. You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. The EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Spanish nationals.

NHS Guide 
Spain Info - Spanish Healthcare 
Foreign & Commonwealth Office - Travel Insurance 

Many Doctors and Dentists are English speaking, especially in the more commercial areas of Spain. You have a free choice of general practitioner, paediatrician and several specialists within your area, providing your choice does not bring the doctor's/dentist's list above the maximum patients permitted. For an English speaking Doctor, ask around - other Brits in the neighbourhood can help as well as many of the locals.

The site SpainExpat - Doctors in Spain may also help when looking for an English speaking Doctor.

Before taking any medication into Spain make sure that you check that it is legal to do so. Interestingly 63% of Britons didn’t know that some medication in the UK e.g. alcohol based prescription drugs and painkillers such as codeine are illegal in some countries. In Japan for instance, the Vicks inhaler and Sudafed are illegal!

Many drugs, including antibiotics, which are available only with a prescription in other countries, may be obtained directly from pharmacists in Spain without a prescription. For those drugs where a prescription is required, when given a prescription by a doctor you can pick up the drugs or medicines from a pharmacy which displays the sign of a green cross. Most pharmacies are open from 09:30 until 13:30 and from 16:30 until 20:00 from Monday to Saturday. Outside of those hours a notice will be posted of the nearest pharmacy open after 20:00. There are 24 hour pharmacies in all towns, which pharmacies are indicated by a red light on the pharmacy sign. If you have a prescription, you pay only 40% of the medicines' cost.

Private medical insurance is a personal choice. Although not necessary as the public healthcare in Spain is adequate, it can act as a security blanket if something goes seriously wrong.

Please check our Resources section to see if there is any further information on additional medical insurance, general private heathcare and private hospitals.

Opening a bank account can be a challenge! Hopefully, these sites should give you the information you need.

Spain Info - Spanish Banking
Ideal Spain - Banks & Banking Information
Fresh Directory - Opening a Bank Account
Eye on Spain - Opening a Bank Account

Please check our Resources section to see if there is any further information on international banking.

Many companies take a while to set these up, so once you know where you will be living, you might want to contact these companies in advance, so you are able to have connection from the day you move in.

Spain Info - TV, Telephone & Internet
Spanish Living - Telecommunications in Spain

Please check our Resources section to see if there are any alternatives.

These sites may help you decide which carrier is best for you and how the system works.

Ideal Spain - Mobile phones and networks
Spanish Living - Cellular Abroad

As for your UK mobile. Our guess is that you will be returning to the UK from time to time and may want a low cost way for people to contact you when you are there. So why not cancel your contract, but switch to a "Pay as you go"? This is a number that most of your friends/family will already have, so record your voicemail explaining that this phone is now only on when you are in the UK, and tell them how to contact you when you're not. Be careful when choosing your PAYG plan as some expect you to use your phone every few weeks to keep it active.

Deciding whether to take your car or not is something you will need to think about. What is "right" varies from person to person. For example, for my first move, I took my UK car with me for the first 6 months only. This gave me the security blanket when I wasn't sure if I would stay. Had I returned to the UK, I wouldn't have then had to look for a new car. Having decided to stay, I returned my UK car to the UK, and bought a local one. Just make sure that if you decide to take your own car, your insurance covers you properly with a "permanent green card"!

Don't forget you must also notify the DVLA if you plan to take your car out of the UK either temporarily or permanently. 

Direct Gov - Taking your car abroad

Lighthouse Spain - Moving & Driving your Car
Auto Shippers - Car Shipping
How to Guides - Driving in Spain
Buy Property Spain - Import Car Tax
Think Spain - Importing your British Car

No one wants to leave their other family members behind; however, please think very carefully before taking them with you, the Spanish are not as pet friendly as we are in the UK.  It's not uncommon for disgruntled neighbours to leave poisonous traps to get rid of your much loved pet.   Cats and dogs are equally at risk.  While walking your dog, make sure it doesn't eat anything it finds.   The risk with cats becomes worse when you live in a busy area; Spanish drivers are less likely to slow down when driving if they see a cat.  Sadly, animal life expectancy is severely reduced in Spain.

If you do decide you want to take your pet, these sites should help:

DEFRA - Qualifying Countries for the PETS Scheme
DEFRA - Preparing your pet for travel (cats, dogs & ferrets)
DEFRA - Preparing your pet for travel (rabits and rodents)

Also, please don't forget to consider they may need their own Residency permits once in Spain.

Make sure you have a valid passport. You do not need a minimum period of validity; however it must remain valid for the duration of your stay.

UK Passport Office - UK Passport Information

When moving you need to set a date to do so. Once you have this date, you need to consider your flights or travel arrangements. Investigate cheap flights or travel. There is no need to spend a fortune getting there when there are many cheap options available. The following site details the list of low cost airlines flying to Spain:

Attitude Travel - Guide to Cheap Airline Carriers

If you have not arranged somewhere to live, make sure you have accommodation until you do. Book yourself a hotel. In addition, you may be going to sign contracts for your accommodation. This does not mean you can stay there on the first night! This may not be possible. So make sure you know exactly what your plans are and make arrangements that take these into consideration.

Where car hire is concerned do your research. Different companies offer different deals at different times.

Please check our Resources section to see if there more information on car hire and deals.

Don't Lose Your Vote!

If you are 18 and over, and were previously registered to vote in the UK within the last 15 years, you can apply to register again as an overseas voter.

Overseas Voting