A Comprehensive Guide on Moving to Spain

Jump right in:

• Living in Spain
• Visa types & work permit requirements
• Jobs & finding work in Spain
• Relocating your household goods & pets
• Finding housing
• Bank accounts & managing your taxes in Spain
• Health insurance & healthcare system in Spain
• Education & international schools in Spain

In this guide, we cover everything from pros and cons of living in Spain, practical information, culture and social etiquette to driving and public transportation.

Clichés of Spanish lifestyle, such as siesta, lively festivals, and restaurants offering dinner until very late into the night, are very much true and might become a big part of your life if you decide to move to Spain. You should know that the language barrier may be one of the biggest problems for expats, but, as Spanish is one of the easier languages to learn it shouldn't take up too much of your time.

If you are planning to rely on public transportation, we have some good news. A network of trains connects the entire country, with high-speed trains (AVE) connecting many regions in less than three hours. If you are interested in driving yourself or the costs of transportation you should read our full guide.

Read our complete guide on living in Spain

Wondering how to get a visa and work permit for Spain? This section covers everything you need to know about the visa application process and the requirements for moving to Spain.

As an EU citizen, you can travel and live freely within the Schengen territory for three months. After that time, you’ll need to register with the local authorities.

If you’re a citizen of a non-EU country, the process will depend on your nationality. To enter Spain, many non-EU nationals need a short-term Schengen visa valid for 90 days within a 180-day period.

However, citizens of visa-exempt countries, such as Mexico, the United States, Canada, Australia, or the United Kingdom, can enter Spain without applying in advance and simply present their passport at the border for short stays of up to 90 days. These visa-free stays are intended for tourism or business visits only.

If you plan to work, study, or stay longer, you must apply for the appropriate visa or residence permit from your home country before traveling.

To apply for a Spanish visa, you’ll need to meet some requirements such as proof of sufficient financial funds, a clean criminal record, and an overall good health certificate. As a highly skilled worker, you may even be issued the European Blue Card, which is equivalent to the Green Card in the United States.

Visa costs vary depending on your nationality, as well as the type of visa you apply for. Generally speaking, US and Canadian citizens tend to pay among the highest visa fees, usually between 80 and 160 EUR (approx. 95–190 USD), depending on the visa type. Other nationalities may pay similar fees, with costs typically ranging from 70 to 150 EUR (approx. 80–180 USD).

Read our complete guide on visas & work permits in Spain

In this guide you’ll find helpful insights on how to apply for a job, the job market, requirements for both EU/EEA & non-EU/EAA nationals, and eligibility for working in Spain, as well as tips for interviews and networking. We also cover most in-demand jobs, average salaries & cost of living.

If you plan on opening a retail store, starting a small company, or working as a freelancer, it’s better to know in advance how to be self-employed, and how to avoid common mistakes. Find all the requirements for registering your business, what social security benefits to expect, and maternity and paternity leave rights.

Read our complete guide on working in Spain

The process of moving to Spain can be stress-free if you follow the correct procedures. You’ll have many alternatives to ship your household goods to Spain. The Iberian country is one of the best transport hubs in the world due to its convenient geographical location. Whether you plan to ship your belongings by air freight, train, sea, or by land, you should be well covered with many options to choose from.

Upon arrival, your belongings will have to go through Spanish customs, either at the harbor or at the airport. If you have nothing to declare, this process is easy, but if you’re carrying any items that are forbidden or restricted by customs, you’ll need to declare them.

For instance, if you have medication that falls under the controlled drugs category established by Spanish customs, you’ll need to apply for an import license at the Spanish consulate of your origin country. As a general rule, make sure you only bring items within the allowed quantities, and bring all the necessary permits to avoid setbacks at the border.

You may be exempt from paying import duties on household goods if you’re moving your legal residence from a non-EU country to Spain and your belongings have been used for at least six months prior to shipment. Be aware that quantities differ significantly depending on whether you come from a country outside or inside the EU.

Moving to Spain with pets is fairly simple. There are not many vaccinations required. All animals need to show proof of a recent rabies shot, no matter where you are coming from. Pets must be microchipped with an ISO 11784/11785-compliant transponder, and a veterinary certificate or EU pet passport is required.

As dogs, cats, and ferrets under three months of age are not vaccinated against rabies, they are not allowed to enter the country, so keep that in mind when you plan your move. Additional treatments, such as tapeworm or tick treatment, may be required depending on your country of origin.

Read our complete guide on relocating to Spain

Renting accommodation in Spain can be tricky. The rental housing market requires you to jump through many bureaucratic hoops. Interestingly, buying a property as a foreigner might even be simpler than renting. In this section, we’ll cover all aspects of how to rent or buy a house in Spain as a foreigner, from property prices to tenancy rights, average rent, house prices, and utilities in Spain.

The good news is that, in Spain, there are no restrictions on property ownership for foreigners.

If you want to rent a house or apartment, keep in mind the cardinal rule of housing in Spain: Never accept a spoken agreement and demand a written contract. In general, Spanish law is on the side of the tenants, protecting their rights. Yet, it’s not uncommon for landlords to ask you to provide proof of sufficient financial means or for a guarantor to sign the contract with you.

In our guide, you’ll also learn about the different types of houses, and the requirements you need to fulfill if you plan to rent or buy a home in Spain.

Rent prices vary greatly depending on where you want to live. Naturally, big cities such as Barcelona and Madrid are much pricier than places like Valencia or Bilbao.

Read our complete guide on housing in Spain

There are not many requirements to open a bank account as a non-resident. In fact, Spain offers a lot of options. When you gain residency, your non-resident account can be converted into a resident account, which has more perks.

If you live and work in Spain, you have to pay taxes on your income and assets. Tax rates vary according to your level of income and whether you are staying in the country as a resident or non-resident. There are several types of taxes in Spain and you can find all the information about them in our full guide.

You should know that at the end of each term, both residents and non-residents have to file a tax return for IRPF. However, if you are a non-resident, you only need to pay taxes on your Spanish income.

Read our complete guide on bank accounts & taxes in Spain

In this guide, you can find what the public healthcare covers, as well as the costs and pros and cons of healthcare in Spain. We also provide an overview of private health insurance, how to get it and the benefits.

Apart from some small costs, like a deductible on prescriptions, the public healthcare system in Spain is free for every citizen. This is made possible because it’s funded by social security payments from employed and self-employed workers.

As part of the public healthcare system in Spain, you’re entitled to a family doctor if you’re registered with the Social Security system and hold a valid health card. A family doctor will then be assigned to you. These are general practitioners who can refer you to a specialist in the public healthcare system whenever needed.

Read our complete guide on the healthcare system in Spain

For expats with children, finding the best schools and higher education institutions is a major decision.

Public education in Spain is free and compulsory for children between the ages of six and 16. Semi-private, private, and international schools require tuition fees, which are imposed by the school and vary between institutions. Neither daycare, kindergarten, nor preschool is mandatory in Spain. If you choose to send your child to one of these schooling levels, the cycle in which they enter will depend on their age.

Spain offers a variety of public, semi-private, and private schools for both elementary and secondary school, and bachillerato. The last two are equivalent to high school in the US.

In this guide, we cover all the information about the education system in Spain, including requirements, school and university options, costs, language schools and much more. Read our complete guide on the education system in Spain