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Getting Started

Moving to Spain: A guide to get you started

Getting Started

25/08/2011Moving to Spain: A guide to get you started

Moving to Spain? Our handy guide covers everything to get you help get you started on your new life in Spain.

As Expatica article ‘Managing your move abroad' points out, the basic things to consider during relocation are visas and permits, vaccines for family members, restrictions or taxes on shipped household items, taxes due when you ship your car, vaccines and quarantines for pets and insurance.

Relocation services
Find out what you can expect from by making a checklist and how to work with a relocation firm. If your company is relocating you, look at it from the HR manager's perspective on Expatica HR's Relocation section. Also, consider relocation consultants who can help you plan your move with maximum efficiency.

Moving to Spain

Taxation
Tax rules vary across the world for foreign-earned income so make sure that you are aware of your obligations and take the necessary paperwork with you. Visit Expatica's Tax section for information and tips regarding taxation abroad.

Country facts
Take some time to learn about your new country of residence before your relocation so that when you arrive you can adapt quickly to your new home. Expatica's Country Facts section is a good place to start.

Just landed
Expatica's Getting Started section takes you through the checklist of essential tasks to complete upon arrival: visas and permits, opening a bank account, finding a home, choosing a school, setting up home (telephone, TV and internet), finding a job, learning the language, healthcare and insurance and sorting out your driving licence.

Relocating with the family
Visit our Partners and Kids sections to find information on moving with your family including tips for relocating with teens and preparing your kids for the move. Check out our Languages section for tips not only on learning a new language but on bringing up children with more than one language.

Adjusting to a new location
The stress involved in moving to a new country throws many expats off balance. Once the 'honeymoon' period is over, many expats face difficulties in adjusting to a new culture and lifestyle. Counselling can be useful in some cases. Check out Expatica's A-Z listings to find a counsellor near you. For some expats, simply getting out and about and networking is enough to get back on track.

Networking and going out
The Expatica article ‘Notes for country movers' offers sound advice to singles: Don't become a hermit or a bar-fly. Get out and about and try to network. Socialise with people from the office, carry on with your favourite sport, hobby or interest and this way you likely will meet some like-minded people, even if they don't speak the same language. Couples, especially if one partner isn't working, also need to focus on making new contacts and building up a network in their new land.

Joining the Expatica Community and chatting on the discussion forums is a great way to network and to meet other expats. Create a user profile and participate in the online community.

Repatriation
Repatriation isn't easy, but, like relocation, if you prepare well and know what you can expect, the move will be smoother. See what we have to say about reverse culture shock and overseas shipping back home.

7 reactions to this article

republican posted: 2011-08-31 12:14:53

The title of this article made me chuckle...the first and only thing you need to know before moving to Spain is...DON´T! Believe me, I learned the hard way. lost a lot of my hard earned dollars and wasted my time and energy trying to get by here in one of the PIIGS...

JLP posted: 2011-09-05 00:10:31

Thanks for this very useful information. I'm printing it and reading all the links. Spain is a wonderful country, since I visited in the early 90's I've longed to live there. Keep this great site going strong for us expatriots.

republican posted: 2011-09-05 21:38:07

Uhhhhhh... sorry to disappoint you. I think you need to buy a calander..this is not the early 90´s, and there have been a few changes since you were there on vacation..a little different living day to day there in the EU, PIIGS, and their euro..I´ll keep it short...learn Arabic, lock the doors and windows, hide the women and children, like I did before returning to reality..get real!

JLP posted: 2011-09-06 07:17:08

LOL, I am a proud Democrat, I don't listen to republicans. Stop it.

teabagger posted: 2011-09-07 19:45:40

Who said I was a republican? I´m all for hope and change..let´s take back the white house...uppps! that sounds really familiar, I think I´ve heard that before...what a joke,,it was all a protest vote, just like it will be next year...oh yeah..20% unemployment and strikes and protest in the PIIGS...stay home! The grass isn´t always greener on the other side...

cynthia hodder posted: 2012-01-04 21:38:26

i want to move to marbella in spain but dont know where to start im living in the uk at the moment and would like any advise plssss

cynthia hodder posted: 2012-01-04 21:38:37

i want to move to marbella in spain but dont know where to start im living in the uk at the moment and would like any advise plssss

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