If you’re relocating to Spain, whether it be for business or personal reasons, there are a number of things you may want to make yourself aware of before making the big move. With this guide, we hope to make your move to Spain as easy as possible.
If you’re relocating to Spain, whether it be for business or personal reasons, there are a number of things you may want to make yourself aware of before making the big move. With this guide, we hope to make your move to Spain as easy as possible.
Additionally, you can read on to find out more about My Baggage – our convenient, affordable and reliable door to door luggage shipping service that could help you to save significant time and money on transporting all of your worldly possessions to Spain.
| Spain Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Language: | Spanish |
| Population: | 46.7 million |
| Capital City: | Madrid |
| Largest City: | Madrid |
| Currency: | Euro (EUR) |
| Timezone: | CET |
| Date Format: | dd/mm/yy |
| Dialling Code: | +34 |
Spain is an undeniably popular expat destination, and with plenty of good reason. With a relatively low cost of living, a good healthcare system and a low crime rate, to name but a few, it’s easy to see whysuch an abundance of people take the leap to relocate to Spain each and every year. As well, there is the ease of learning Spanish, and there’s really no better way to do it than by living and immersing yourself in a Spanish-speaking country.
If you’re relocating to Spain to live and work, you could be paying far less in rent and utilities than you would in your home country. It is often said that even on a humble salary, you can save money and live well in many of Spain’s most popular regions. If you’re moving to study, you might just find yourself at one of Spain’s world-renowned institutions, such asthe University of Valencia or even the University of Granada.
Most popular relocation destinations in Spain:
| Top 10 Reasons To Relocate To Spain: |
|---|
| 1. The ease of learning Spanish. |
| 2. The Fiesta culture. |
| 3. The warm and favourable climate. |
| 4. Spanish people are renowned for their friendless and hospitality. |
| 5. There is a true focus on family living in Spain. |
| 6. Spain is a remarkably healthy place to live. |
| 7. Spain has a relatively low crime rate and low cost of living. |
| 8. Healthcare in Spain is quick and of the highest quality. |
| 9. From Spain you can travel easily throughout Europe. |
| 10. Spain is brimming with culture and history. |
Moving to a new, unfamiliar country overseas can be a daunting experience, but also a thrilling, life-changing one. So long as you do the necessary preparations, you’ll find that settling into this new chapter of your life won’t be so difficult after all. From learning the language, to understanding the cost of living and the Spanish healthcare system— here are just a few of the most important things you need to know before moving to Spain.
Of course, the official language of Spain is Spanish. English is widely spoken among the most popular areas of Spain, however, if you are planning to live and work permanently in the country, honing your Spanish skills is a wise idea. Thankfully, the good news is that Spaniards are friendly and very open to chatting with people from all over the world.
The cost of living in Spain is relatively low, meaning that even on a humble salary, you can save money and live well. This of course depends on where you live and the type of lifestyle that you lead, however, generally speaking, rent and utilities and buying groceries is cheap, and even in bigger cities, salaries reflect the higher cost of living there.
Spain’s healthcare system is regarded among the world’s best, and certainly one of the most comprehensive in all of Europe. The country’s healthcare system consists of both private and public healthcare. The public healthcare system is free of charge to anyone living and working in Spain (this includes students and those who are unemployed), and is funded by social security contributions. You can of course choose to take out private health insurance if you wish to. It is optional, and usually allows you to get faster treatment for non-emergency procedures, diagnosis tests and specialist consultancies.
If there’s anything that is daunting about moving to a new country, it the prospect of moving away from your culture and adapting to a new way of life. The concept of family is something that is inherently important to Spaniards, and depending on what part of the world you are coming from, it can take some getting used to, especially if you have a Spanish partner. And of course, there is the sacred art of the siesta, which is an afternoon rest, or even nap, taken during the hottest hours of the day. The siesta is so deeply rooted in the Spanish way of life, that it’s virtually impossible to avoid it, so just embrace it!
Spanish food is, without a doubt, one of the great things of Spain. Each region of Spain has different variations of food, and in many towns and cities you can eat at very inexpensive places and still have a delicious, satisfying meal. There are few places in the world that compare with Spain in terms of food— from gazpacho, to paella and tapas.
Thanks to Spain’s fantastic weather, you can also enjoy dog walks along certain beaches, forests, nature parks, and more.
In our study of the best cities to relocate to for pet lovers, Madrid was the fourth-best city in Europe for pets and the sixth-best pet city in the world. Madrid boasts a massive 494 pet-friendly hotels and 267 pet-friendly restaurants so you’ll never be short of somewhere to take your pet. There are also 190 vets to keep your mind at ease that your pets will always be safe.
Barcelona comes in second place for the best place to travel in Spain with your pets with over 200 pet-friendly restaurants and 486 pet-friendly hotels so your furry friend can always be by your side. It’s also one of the countries where it’s cheaper to own a dog, with the average annual cost for owners being $938. However, to get your dog to Spain, you will need a pet passport.
Hiring a traditional international removals company is one of the most popular methods of transporting belongings abroad when relocating. However, depending on the scale of your move and type of service that you choose, costs can quickly mount up. If you need to transport exceptionally large items such as sofas, beds, or even your car, this method can prove to be the most cost-effective. If shipping small items, it can be expensive.
Container shipping is generally the most affordable method of international removals. You will make significant savings when you opt for sea freight over air freight. However, you should bear in mind that it can be an exceptionally slow voyage – in fact, you could be waiting for up to two months for your belongings to arrive with you in Spain, depending where they are coming from. It’s almost important to be aware that although the majority of international removals services will deliver straight to your door, some may require you to arrange transportation to and from the ports.
Air freight is a much faster method of shipping your belongings, though as it is typically priced by weight and volume, it is more costly as a result. Again, some international removals companies will offer a full door to door delivery service, whereas some may require you to arrange the transportation of your items to and from the airports yourself.
Of course, you always have the option of carrying your belongings with you on your flight to Spain. However, if you have a substantial amount of belongings to bring with you in multiple heavy bags and suitcases, you could be slapped with excess baggage fees at the airport check-in desk, which could significantly increase the overall cost of your travel.
Shipping your excess baggage to Spain with My Baggage also makes that dreaded, tedious wait for the appearance of your suitcase at the luggage carousel a thing of the past. (Not to mention the possibility of your suitcase not appearing at all, which is everyone’s worst nightmare!) My Baggage ships your belongings quickly and safely.
My Baggage provides a convenient and affordable international removals service to Spain and to over 200 countries worldwide, across over 1,00 routes. With stress-free door to door shipping, full online tracking and dedicated, unrivalled customer support
My Baggage specialises in shipping personal effects all over the world. However, for security and customs reasons, there are certain items which are considered prohibited.
It really goes without saying that the best thing about My Baggage is the fact that we offer fantastic low rates on our international luggage shipping services. Traditional international removals companies can be expensive, and just not feasible for some who are hoping to relocate to Spain. For some, airline baggage may also be out of the question, due to the costs that can quickly mount up. As such, shipping all of your worldly belongings with My Baggage is a welcomed and affordable alternative. If you happen to find a better price elsewhere, use our Price Match tool and we’ll do our best to beat it. My Baggage isn’t just affordable – our service offers fantastic value for money. We offer 30kg/66lbs weight allowance per item for as little as £31 per item to Spain.
At My Baggage, we understand that when it comes to your luggage and personal belongings, it’s only natural to feel apprehensive about handing all of your worldly possessions over to a removals driver. However, at My Baggage, we strive to provide an international moving service that you know you can trust.
My Baggage’s convenient door to door collection and delivery service means you don’t have to worry about arranging for the transportation of your belongings to a port, nor do you have to worry about collecting them at the other side. My Baggage collects all of your belongings from your doorstep and delivers them straight to your destination.
If you happen to have any questions or concerns along the way, we at My Baggage pride ourselves on our dedicated, unrivalled customer support. Thanks so many years of experience in logistics, our support team are experts when it comes to shipping personal belongings all over the world. If you require any assistance with your shipment, you can contact our customer support team via phone, email and live chat and they can help.
At My Baggage, we understand that for many people moving abroad, speed is a priority when it comes to transporting all of your worldly belongings. The last thing you want is to have to wait weeks for everything you own to arrive with you at your new home.
In comparison to traditional international movers, which in some cases could take months for your belongings to arrive – with My Baggage, you don’t have to worry about waiting. We offer super fast removals, with a 2-5 working day transit time to Spain.
If you happen to be relocating to Spain to further your education, My Baggage can help you with your big move. Whether you’re relocating to Spain for a semester, an academic year or for the duration of your degree course, My Baggage can help you to transport all of your personal belongings straight to your new home on campus safely.
My Baggage prices are student-budget friendly. And we’re not just affordable – our student shipping services offer value for money. You can send as many items as you like with us, and we offer a huge 30kg/66lbs weight allowance per box or suitcase.
My Baggage’s online booking system and door to door collection and delivery makes our service easy and convenient for busy students. And with My Baggage, you don’t need to worry about waiting weeks (or even months) for your important belongings to arrive. We offer fast transit times, with Express services available to and from all universities.
The My Baggage team is made up of former students and recent graduates, so we understand how stressful the prospect of moving to university can be – not to mention relocating to a new country to do so! We make it our priority to make your experience as easy as possible. Our convenient student shipping services to Spain allows you to relax and enjoy what should be one of the most exciting times of your life. Want to know what other students think of My Baggage? You can read through our customer reviews.
My Baggage specialises in shipping personal effects all over the world. However, for security and customs reasons, there are certain items which are considered prohibited.
As a general rule, you can be sure that the following items are prohibited:
It is important to keep in mind that there are specific items that can be carried, however, they may not be covered under our compensation cover and as such, should be sent at your own risk. If you do need to send any non-compensation items within your luggage, please ensure they are packaged securely and appropriately with internal cushioning.
Find out more about My Baggage’s prohibited and non-compensation items.
Please note that import allowances, security and customs processes differ all around the world. We recommend that you do your own personal research into what may be prohibited in your destination country before booking your shipment to Spain.
When sending your belongings with My Baggage, we recommend using either suitcases or strong cardboard boxes to package your items so they are suitable for transit.
We advise against using fragile or expensive suitcases, as packaging is not covered under our compensation cover. With regards to boxes, it’s always best to invest in a new, sturdy, double-walled cardboard box as they are most durable and suitable for transit.
If you are sending fragile or delicate items, we recommend using internal packaging to protect them during transit. You can use materials such as bubble wrap or newspapers.
You can read through our complete packaging guide here.
When shipping to Spain from the UK or anywhere else in the EU, goods do not pass through customs clearance and therefore are not subject to import tax or duty. If, however, you’re sending to Spain from a country outside of the EU, such as Canada or the USA, you are required to complete and send a customs invoice with your shipment.
Whether you are simply sending personal effects or a gift to a loved one, if your shipment does not have a customs invoice attached, it will not make it past your local country border, and you may have to pay return charges to get it back. My Baggage will automatically provide you with the appropriate customs documents for you to print, sign and attach to your shipment when you send luggage to Spain from outside the EU.
Generally, My Baggage shipments clear customs in a timely manner, free from duties and taxes, as most countries offer a generous duty-free allowance for personal effects. However, as customs processes and allowances are different around the world, and because My Baggage has no direct association with any customs authority, we do advise doing your own personal research into Spanish customs regulations and quarantine before booking your shipment to Spain from outside of the EU. Please make yourself aware of potential customs duties in Spain and follow any advice provided by customs.
If you need an easy, convenient and affordable way to ship your belongings to Spain, booking with My Baggage is easy. Simply start by getting a quote. Our easy to use online booking process takes just a few short moments to complete. We give you the freedom to choose your preferred collection date, so you can fit everything around your relocation plans. Once you’ve booked, we’ll send you shipping labels to print and attach to your shipment. After that, you can sit back and relax as My Baggage takes care of the rest.
So, what are you waiting for?
