Planning Your Move

Moving to Spain involves more paperwork than most people expect. But with the right checklist and a bit of patience, it's entirely manageable. Here's the complete process, in order.

3-6 Months Before

1. Get Your NIE Number

The NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) is your foreigner ID number. You need it for everything — opening a bank account, buying property, getting internet, paying taxes. Apply at the Spanish consulate in your home country or in Spain.

2. Research Visas

If you're a non-EU citizen, you'll need a visa. The most popular options:

• Non-Lucrative Visa — for retirees and those with passive income
• Digital Nomad Visa — for remote workers
• Student Visa — for those studying in Spain

Each has different financial requirements. The Non-Lucrative Visa, for example, requires proof of income of around €32,000/year (2026 figures).

3. Open a Spanish Bank Account

You can do this remotely with some banks (BBVA, Santander, Sabadell). You'll need your NIE (or a passport, depending on the bank) and proof of address.

1-3 Months Before

4. Sort Healthcare

If you're working in Spain, you'll have access to the public system. If not, you'll need private insurance. Sanitas, Adeslas, and Mapfre are the main providers. Budget €40-80/month per person.

5. Arrange Shipping

If you're bringing furniture, get quotes from international removal companies. A part-load (sharing a container) from the UK to Spain typically costs £2,500-4,000.

6. Register with Your Embassy

Register with your embassy's consular service so they know you're in the country. This helps in emergencies.

On Arrival

7. Register on the Padron

The empadronamiento registers you as a resident of your town. Go to the town hall with your passport, NIE, and proof of address. You need this for healthcare access, school enrolment, and local services.

8. Get a Spanish SIM Card

Movistar, Vodafone, Orange, and Digi all offer prepaid and contract plans. Digi is the cheapest (€10-20/month for lots of data).

9. Exchange Your Driving Licence

UK licence holders can exchange for a Spanish licence without taking a test (thanks to the post-Brexit agreement). EU licence holders can drive on their existing licence or exchange it.

First Few Weeks

10. Set Up Utilities

If your property doesn't have them already:

• Electricity: Iberdrola, Endesa, or Repsol (compare on comparador sites)
• Water: Your local town hall or water company
• Internet: Movistar, Vodafone, Digi, or local fibre providers

11. Enrol Children in School

If you have school-age children, you can choose between public (free), concertado (subsidised private), or private international schools. Apply early — places fill up by spring.

12. Get a Spanish Will

Spanish inheritance law is different from UK/US law. A Spanish will makes things much easier for your heirs. Cost: €80-150.

Summary

Moving to Spain is a process, not an event. Give yourself plenty of time, get professional help where you need it (especially for visas and taxes), and don't try to do everything at once. The reward — a life in the sun — is absolutely worth the effort.