Are You Moving to Live in Spain? Here’s How to Prepare For Your Move
Are you planning on moving to live in Spain? There’s a lot that goes into moving to another country, so you want to be prepared for the process. Here’s what you can do to get ready for the move.
1.3 million UK-born individuals now call other European countries home. Of this number, about 296,000 lived in Spain back in 2016. Furthermore, three-fifths of them were within the age bracket of 65 years and older.
That goes to show how Spain has become a hotspot for Brits, especially retirees. After all, there’s a lot to love about this country.
For starters, moving to live in Spain means enjoying the minimum 1,800 hours of sunlight every year. There’s also the Tortilla Espanola, Jamon Serrano, and tapas amongst the nation’s many other culinary delights.
Let’s also not forget Spain’s recent win as the world’s most tourist-friendly country.
All these and more are most likely the reasons you want to move yourself. But like with any other move, especially an international one, a lot of preparations are in order.
We’re here to share with you what these are, so, keep reading!
Moving to Live in Spain Requires a Foreign Identification Number
First things first: Make sure you move to and live in Spain the legal way! Although Brits don’t need a visa to pay the country a visit or work in it, you’d need to sign up to become a resident.
That means getting what the Spanish people refer to as a “Numero de Identificacion de Extranjero.” The NIE will serve as your foreigner identification number. You also need to get a Tarjeta de Residencia, or in English, a residency card.
Check out the “Oficina de Extranjeria” (Foreign Office) for more info on how and where to get your NIE.
Where to Live
Have you decided on moving to Barcelona, Spain? Or are you still figuring out whether moving to Madrid, Spain is a better choice? Well, if you find yourself confuddled, take a step back and give yourself more time before deciding on the date of your move.
Each Spanish city has its own appeal, with varying cost of living rates. For instance, Madrid tops many British expats’ list of prospective places to move to. Being the capital, it’s where you’ll find some of the biggest expat communities, and not only of those from the UK.
Barcelona, on the other hand, takes the number one spot for many digital nomads. Excellent Internet service, pristineness, peace and quiet, walkability, and nightlife are some reasons cited for this.
The important thing here is to consider all important aspects related to location before choosing a destination. Take your current and future finances in consideration as well, since home rental and buying costs also vary from city to city.
This is especially true if you’re moving to Spain with the entire family (and by that, we mean with kids).
The good news is, almost everything costs a lot less in Spain than in the U.K. Utility bills, for example, average 115 Euros (about 103 GBP) in Spain. That’s 43 Euros lower than the UK’s average of 158 Euros (141 GBP).
Mastering the Spanish Language
After English, Spanish has the second-largest number of speakers. About 572 million people speak the language. Since you’re moving to the country where it’s the official language, why not learn it even before the big move?
Granted, a lot of people in Spain also speak in English. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn their official language! Living like a local means speaking their language.
Besides, it’ll make your move a lot easier when you can talk to locals in their own language. Plus, there are plenty of other reasons to become bilingual. It can help delay Alzheimer’s and even make you a better English speaker!
When It’s Time to Start Packing
Say you’ve already chosen where to live, finished budgeting, and gotten your finances in order. What’s next?
Packing all the stuff you want – and need – to bring with you, that’s what! We place emphasis on the “need”, seeing as you’re moving overseas. To minimize the risks of forgetting anything important, it’s best you document everything.
Start by deciding which of your belongings to keep, to sell, and to donate. For those under your “To Keep” list, find out whether you can take them with you. If you can’t or would rather not haul them during the trip, have a professional removal firm handle the job.
Don’t forget that some items are not allowed entry to Spain. These apply to both you and removal firms. Such items include flammables, toxic chemicals, fuel, and certain types of plants (rhododendrons, some species of Orchids, etc.).
To Move Furniture or Not
Moving furniture to Spain has become far easier, safer, and less time-consuming, much thanks to pro removalists. However, this doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to bring all your existing furniture with you.
The best way to tackle this issue is to settle for the ones that you can’t bear to part with. It may be a valuable heirloom or items that have immense sentimental value. These may also include pricey furniture you don’t want to sell or leave behind.
For those you’re still unsure of, do some price checking online. Again, most things in Spain cost less than in U.K., so you may find a great deal for beds, sofas, tables, and other bulky items.
But if you’re still gearing towards not parting with them, then it may be best to have them taken to Spain by removalists.
Make Your Move to Spain as Painless as Possible
So long as you keep these tips on moving to live in Spain in mind, you can worry less about delays, customs problems, and damaged furniture. They’re key to letting you enjoy the sunshine, siestas, and fiestas as soon as you get to town.
Want more insider information about moving to and living in Spain? Then please feel free to head over to our blogsite!