So you’ve got your eyes on the beautiful country of Spain, with it glorious whether and relaxed lifestyle it’s no wonder that many British people relocate to Spain. Here we will put together a quick guide for you that covers some of the main points you should think about when moving to Spain.
Residency
One of the most crucial parts of any move to another country is obtaining a visa. You’re in luck though, if your moving from the UK to Spain you won’t need to apply for a visa no matter how long you planning on staying for. This may all change with Brexit, but for now this part of the relocation is pretty easy.
Although no Visa is needed, you will still need to get a Foreigner’s Identity Number (NIE) if you are planning on working, opening a bank account or selling/buying property or vehicles. It is also used as a form of identification. There are a number of different way to get your NIE number but the easiest way is to go to the local police station with the following documents:
- Your passport and a copy
- Passport photos
- A complete EX-15 form; you can find this online application
- A supporting document stating why you need an NIE
Cost of living
The cost of living can be one of the great perks of living in Spain if you live and eat like a local. Bear in mind though that Spain has some large tourist cities such as Barcelona, Madrid and Marbella, these places are expensive places to locate yourself and live and your money will not go as far as it would in quieter parts of Spain.
Banking
If you’re planning on relocating to Spain for the long term one thing you will definitely be needing is a bank account. If you currently use a bank which is located internationally, such as Santander, Natwest, HSBC, then it will be easier to set up a bank account in Spain. Before you move contact your bank and check whether they have an intentional division located in Spain that you can sign up with.
Banks in Spain are usually open 9am – 2pm Monday to Friday.
Shipping
Shipping to Spain can be easily done through a removals company who have knowledge of European Removals to Spain. The following documentation will be needed when shipping your belongings to Spain:
- Passport
- NIE
- Residence certificate
- Application for duty free import
- Your house deeds for your Spanish home or a rental contract
- A full inventory of the goods in Spanish
Healthcare
Spain has a national health service which provides free or low cost healthcare which all European residents are entitled to. If you work in Spain and make national insurance contributions you are entitled to state run healthcare the same as a Spanish citizen. If you are a temporary visitor to Spain, you’ll need to apply for an EHIC card, you can apply here.
Private healthcare is also available, if you already have private healthcare in the UK make sure you check the terms and conditions as they may not cover you if you are living in Spain for long periods of time. For more information on Spanish healthcare for UK citizens please check out the UK Gov website.
Ola!
Learning the Spanish Lingo can help a lot when you are planning on living in Spain. Although English is widely spoken throughout Spain, knowing how to speak basic Spanish will help when having to deal with day to day living in Spain. Enrolling in a Spanish course a few months before your planned move is a great ideas to give you a good head start.
Removals to Spain Specialists
If you planning a move to Spain and need your belongings moving safely contact our removals to Spain specialists by calling 01745 770555 who will be happy to help you make your move to Spain stress free!
