Moving to Spain and setting up your new Spanish home
Moving to Spain represents a massive decision. However, once you are sure that a move to Spain is for you and you have secured your Spanish home then the next decision you face is how to get there.
There are several ways you might travel to your new Spanish home but there are important factors to take into consideration.
Moving to Spain – ferries and planes
Do you intend to drive in Spain? If so, will you take your car with you or buy a new one when you arrive?
Car ferries can be caught at many English ports. If you intend to tow a caravan you should be aware that most ferry companies will not sell you a one-way ticket so you must use the Channel Tunnel. A 29-hour crossing from Portsmouth to Bilbao with a car will cost between £200 and £400, depending on the time of year.
When contemplating how to move to Spain, some choose to take the shorter and cheaper crossing to France and drive south. Careful consideration to the extra petrol costs of crossing to Calais rather than a Spanish port should be given.
Flying is a cheap alternative for those planning on travelling light. Cheap flights can be booked over the internet but you must also think about how to get around once you arrive.
Of course, what you decide to take with you when you move to Spain may make your mind up for you.
Some people elect to cram as many of their possessions as possible in the car. Others only take the essentials, preferring to buy when they move to Spain.
Professional services for moving to Spain
If you are taking bulky furniture with you to your Spanish home then it is unlikely to fit in the boot of your car.
Larger removal companies will take work to travel to any area of Spain. This option, though more expensive, takes care of many of the worries associated with moving to Spain. Some of these firms now operate facilities in Spain where you could store furniture for a short time if necessary.
Shipping companies can freight belongings to Spain on scheduled sailings and may prove a cheaper alternative to removal companies. However, you must consider how to get your belongings to the port in the first place and then how to get them to your Spanish home.
Take as little as possible with you when you move to Spain. Get rid of as many electrical appliances as you can. Think about what clothing you really need for the Spanish climate. Consider the storage space in your Spanish home and whether hefty wardrobes need be moved thousands of miles.
When moving to Spain remember to have the following with you:- Driving licenses
- Car insurance papers
- Birth/Marriage certificates
- Passports
- Bank books/cheque and credit cards
- Several photocopies of all the above
Pets moving to Spain
Pets can make the move to Spain with you without being quarantined. However, before a pet passport is granted a number of procedures and immunisations must take place and be verified. More information on pets moving to Spain can be obtained by the >Department for Environment, food and rural affairs
