Moving to Spain

If you are contemplating moving to Spain you need to be absolutely sure that it's the right move for you. So many people leave their brains on the runway and get caught up in the holiday mode, its so easy to go wrong.

You need patience and a dogged determination if you don't want to end up as a sad statistic like so many have before you, it's not as simple as it seems but follow some simple guidelines and think hard before you commit to anything and there is no reason why you cannot enjoy a much better standard of life in sunny Spain

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Moving To Spain

What seems to attract most of us is the thought of the glorious weather and how nice it would be to wake up every morning to the sunshine but remember, this will eventually ware off and you will take it for granted, so ask yourself would you really be happy living in a hot climate? (I'll bet you answer a definite YES to that!)

Strange as it may seem though, the sun is great in the beginning but every so often most of us yearn to see a cloud and some ice cold rain in your face.

The lifestyle in Spain is a lot more laid back and even the simplest things tend to take an age to get done, it's that manana syndrome which is still very much alive. It takes a bit adjusting to and can be really frustrating at first, then you either accept and adapt or have blood pressure issues! One thing's for sure though living in Spain is not a holiday so you should think really carefully about it.

Here are some pointers as to preparing for a move:

Decide on which area you want to move to, don't just turn up in Spain not knowing if it's going to be the Costa Blanca or Costa Dorada, do your homework and decide on the area first.

Would you prefer to be on the Coast or further inland? OK, we are all attracted to the coast at first because of the proximity to the sea and the facilities, but you'll get more for your money inland and did you know that a lot of people first move to the Coast then move inland once they discover the costs difference.

Tourist areas. It's all fine when your on holiday but would you really want to live in the busiest region of the Costa Del Sol? Think about it, there's nowhere to park the car in the summer, all the buses are packed, the supermarkets ran out of bread, everyone you meet is a tourist and they want to know "how long have you lived here then?" Honestly that can really get on your wick when you're asked the same question ten times a day!

Decide which possessions you will take to Spain with you, what will you leave behind and which items can you sell before you leave.

What about the car, are you taking your car or are you going to buy one there, see our Cars & Motoring section for advice on what to do.

If you have bought a Property in Spain check all the details are correct with your lawyer before you leave.

Ensure you have some Euros for your journey and enough to get you over the first few days but don't carry a lot of cash on you.

Arrange your Spanish Bank account.

Notify your local authorities, including the banks, building societies etc of your new contact details in Spain.

Are you taking your pets? If so make arrangements for them to travel, there are some specialist pet carriers now, see our Pets & Animals section.

Check passports are in date, travel tickets and car documents.

It is also a good idea to make photocopies of all your documents, just in case something gets lost it will be easier to replace as you will have all the numbers etc. (don't keep the copies with your originals!)

What are you doing about Health Care in Spain, do you qualify for the free Health Care or are you going private?

If you are retiring to Spain, you can continue to receive your UK State pension, you should also get the annual increases in your pension. Contact the Social Security Office to complete the correct forms.

Circumstances vary from person to person but it may be that you are no longer liable to UK tax if you cut all ties with the UK and make Spain your permanent home, however you are still technically a UK resident if you spend a specified amount of time in the UK so in this case you could still be subject to UK tax on your income, laws change from time to time so check it all out at the time you are going.

At this time (2009) Spain imposes a wealth tax on your world wide assets, however both Spain and the UK have a double taxation treaty so you should be given relief for double taxation.

If you are an EU National you have "almost" equal rights in Spain as you would in your own country, but remember we are still foreigners here and should should respect the Spanish culture.

This list is intended as a suggestion of what to do before you leave for Spain and is by no means exhaustive.

Also see our "What to do when you get there section" for tips on registering with Town Halls and obtaining your all important NIE Number.

Peter Richards

Costa Living