The Complete Moving to Spain from UK Checklist for British Expats
# The Complete Moving to Spain from UK Checklist for British Expats
Leaving the UK for Spain is one of the most life-changing decisions you'll ever make. And if you've already made it — congratulations, genuinely. The sunshine, the slower pace, the food, the culture. You're not wrong for wanting this.
But here's the thing nobody tells you upfront: moving to Spain from UK after Brexit is a fundamentally different process than it was even five years ago. British citizens are now third-country nationals in Spain, which means residency applications, NIE numbers, and healthcare registration aren't optional extras — they're the whole game. Miss a step, and you could find yourself scrambling to fix paperwork from a Spanish bureaucracy that does not move quickly.
This checklist exists so that doesn't happen to you. Whether you're retiring to the Costa Blanca, relocating for work, or just chasing a better quality of life, this is your step-by-step guide to making the move properly.
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3–6 Months Before Your Move
This is your planning and paperwork phase. It feels early, but trust us — Spanish bureaucracy rewards those who start early and punishes those who don't.
Research Your Visa or Residency Route
Since Brexit, British nationals moving to Spain for more than 90 days need to apply for a visa or residency permit before arriving. The most common routes are:
- **Non-Lucrative Visa** — for retirees or those with passive income (you'll need to prove around €2,259/month in income for 2024)
- **Digital Nomad Visa** — introduced in 2023, for remote workers earning primarily outside Spain
- **Work Visa** — if you have a Spanish employer sponsoring you
- **Self-Employment (Autónomo) Visa** — if you're setting up a business
Research which category fits your situation now, because gathering supporting documents (bank statements, criminal record checks, medical insurance) takes time.
Sort Your Finances
Open a Spanish bank account as early as possible — some banks like Sabadell or BBVA allow non-residents to open accounts online. You'll need this for setting up utilities, paying rent deposits, and eventually receiving your residency card.
Also speak to a cross-border financial adviser about your UK pension, ISAs, and tax obligations. Once you become a Spanish tax resident (spending more than 183 days per year in Spain), your worldwide income becomes taxable in Spain. This catches a lot of people off guard.
Register with Your Local Spanish Consulate
If you're applying for a long-stay visa, you'll do so through the Spanish consulate in your region of the UK. Book your appointment early — slots fill up weeks in advance. The consulate in London, Manchester, and Edinburgh all have different processing times.
Research Healthcare Options
Spain has excellent public healthcare, but access as a British expat depends on your situation:
- **Working in Spain**: You'll contribute to the social security system and gain access
- **Retirees receiving a UK State Pension**: You may be entitled to a S1 form, which gives you access to Spanish public healthcare paid for by the UK
- **Non-Lucrative Visa applicants**: You'll need private health insurance as part of your visa application
Get quotes from expat-focused insurers like Sanitas, AXA, or Cigna early.
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1–3 Months Before Your Move
You've done the groundwork. Now it's time to get practical about the actual move.
Sort Your NIE Number
Your NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) is your Spanish tax identification number. You'll need it for almost everything: signing a lease, buying a car, opening a bank account, registering with a doctor. You can apply for it at a Spanish consulate in the UK before you move, or at a Foreigner's Office (Oficina de Extranjeros) once you arrive.
Applying before you move saves significant stress. Bring your passport, completed EX-15 form, proof of reason for needing the NIE, and the corresponding fee (around €10).
Arrange Your Accommodation
Renting in Spain before you arrive is tricky — most landlords want to meet you in person and will ask for your NIE, which creates a chicken-and-egg situation. Options to bridge this:
- Book a short-term rental (Airbnb or apartamento turístico) for your first 4–6 weeks
- Work with a local relocation agent who can view properties on your behalf
- Join expat Facebook groups for your target area — many landlords post there directly
If you're buying property, engage a Spanish lawyer (abogado) early. They'll handle due diligence, check for debts on the property, and ensure the title is clean.
Organise Your Move Logistics
Get at least three quotes from international removal companies experienced in UK-to-Spain moves. Key things to confirm:
- Whether they handle Spanish customs documentation
- Insurance coverage for your belongings
- Timeline (sea freight takes 2–4 weeks; road is faster but pricier)
Decide what's worth shipping versus selling or storing. Furniture is often cheaper to buy in Spain than to transport.
Notify UK Institutions
Start notifying relevant organisations of your move:
- HMRC (submit a P85 form to notify them you're leaving the UK)
- Your bank, pension provider, and any investment platforms
- DVLA (if you're taking your UK car to Spain, you'll need to re-register it within 30 days of establishing residency)
- Your GP, dentist, and any specialists (request copies of medical records)
- Electoral roll — you can register as an overseas voter
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2–4 Weeks Before Your Move
Prepare Your Documents Folder
Create both a physical and digital folder with certified copies of:
- Passports (all family members)
- Birth certificates
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- UK driving licence
- Medical records and prescriptions
- Pet passport and vaccination records (if bringing pets)
- Last 3–6 months of bank statements
- Proof of income or pension letters
Get any documents that need to be officially translated into Spanish done now. Sworn translators (traductores jurados) are required for official submissions.
Arrange Pet Travel
If you're bringing pets, Spain requires:
- A valid rabies vaccination
- An EU/GB pet travel document or health certificate
- Microchipping
The rules changed post-Brexit, so check the current APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) guidance and book a vet appointment for the health certificate well in advance.
Cancel or Transfer UK Services
- Cancel your UK mobile contract or switch to a SIM-only plan you can use abroad temporarily
- Redirect your mail (Royal Mail offers international redirects)
- Cancel subscriptions that don't work outside the UK (some streaming services, for example)
- Arrange for someone to manage any UK property you're keeping
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Your First Week After Arrival
You've made it. Take a breath. Then get moving — because this week sets the foundation for everything else.
Register on the Padrón
The Padrón Municipal is Spain's local population register, and registering (empadronamiento) is one of your first priorities. You do this at your local Ayuntamiento (town hall). You'll need your passport and proof of address (rental contract or property deeds).
Your Padrón certificate is required for almost every subsequent step — residency application, healthcare registration, school enrolment. Don't skip this.
Apply for Your TIE Residency Card
If you're staying longer than 90 days, you need to apply for your Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE) at the Foreigner's Office or National Police station. You'll need:
- Your NIE
- Passport
- Padrón certificate
- Proof of your visa or right to reside
- Completed EX-23 form
- Passport photos
Book your appointment (cita previa) online as soon as possible — waiting times in popular expat areas like Alicante, Málaga, or Barcelona can stretch to several weeks.
Set Up a Spanish SIM
Pick up a local SIM card at any phone shop (Vodafone, Orange, and Movistar all have good coverage). You'll need your passport and NIE. Having a Spanish number makes everything from booking appointments to contacting landlords significantly easier.
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First Month Settlement Tasks
Register with a GP (Médico de Cabecera)
Once you have your TIE and Padrón certificate, register with your local health centre (Centro de Salud). You'll be assigned a GP and receive your SIP card (Sistema de Información Poblacional), which is your healthcare access card in most regions.
Open a Full Resident Bank Account
If you opened a non-resident account before the move, upgrade it to a resident account now that you have your TIE. This often gives you access to better rates and products.
Sort Your Driving Licence
UK driving licences are currently recognised in Spain, but the situation is subject to ongoing negotiation between the UK and EU. The safest move is to exchange your UK licence for a Spanish one within 6 months of establishing residency. Book an appointment at your local Jefatura de Tráfico.
File for Spanish Tax Residency
If you'll be spending more than 183 days per year in Spain, you're legally required to file a Spanish tax return (Declaración de la Renta) the following April. Register with the Agencia Tributaria and consider hiring a Spanish gestor (a type of licensed administrative adviser) to help you navigate your first filing.
Connect With Your Local Expat Community
This one's practical, not just social. Other British expats who've been through the process in your specific area are an invaluable resource. They'll know which gestor is reliable, which health centre has English-speaking staff, and where to find decent cheddar. Join local Facebook groups, check out expat forums like Expats in Spain, and don't underestimate the value of these connections.
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You Don't Have to Figure This Out Alone
Moving to Spain from UK involves more steps, more paperwork, and more decisions than most people anticipate — especially post-Brexit. But thousands of British expats make this move successfully every year, and with the right preparation, you can too.
The key is starting early, staying organised, and knowing where to get reliable information at each stage of the process.
That's exactly what SettleIn is built for. Instead of piecing together advice from a dozen different forums and government websites, SettleIn gives you personalised, step-by-step relocation guidance based on your specific situation — your visa type, your destination region, your timeline.
**[Download SettleIn](https://heijnesdigital.com/settlein) and take the guesswork out of your move to Spain.**
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