MoveSmart helps you discover what life could look like overseas, explore visa routes relevant to your plans, organise your moving budget and follow a clear relocation checklist. Browse a destination before you begin your free questionnaire.
MoveSmart provides general relocation-planning information, not a visa eligibility decision or legal advice. Visa fees and moving costs can change; check official sources before applying. Secure customer accounts are not available in this prototype.
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movesmart. / Spain
SPAIN · RELOCATION PLAYBOOK
Your move to Spain, step by step.
Visa routes, documents, realistic costs and local essentials — organised so you can find your next action.
Research checked 23 September 2026 · British passport holders · Prices shown in GBP where verified
YOUR STARTING POINT
Find the route that matches your plans
A British passport normally allows short visits within the Schengen 90-in-180-day rule, not automatic permission to settle or work. Choose your route using the official requirements and the information in your quote.
Open a route to see who it is for, the main paperwork and the official application instructions. The consulate serving your UK address and the route you choose determine where you apply.
Digital nomad / remote work View requirements & links
For qualifying work carried out remotely for an employer or clients mainly outside Spain. Check experience, income, social-security and employer-consent requirements.
Costs: Visa fee: check your consulate’s current GBP schedule; separate application-centre charges may apply.
Prepare: Criminal record, health cover, income and work evidence; apostille / sworn translation as instructed.
Family, highly qualified, research and other routes View requirements & links
Separate rules apply for family of Spanish/EU citizens, family reunification, highly qualified workers, researchers, entrepreneurs, intra-company transfers and other categories.
Costs: Fees and exemptions depend on category and nationality.
Prepare: Choose the specific route in the consulate directory before preparing documents.
Application-centre fees: BLS London lists a £14.85 service charge per application, with £29.99 passport delivery and £1.95 SMS/email notifications listed separately. Visa fees vary by route and consular fee schedule; check the live fee before paying. BLS fee information ↗
Many long-stay routes require an ACRO police certificate. Check the route’s permitted certificate age and whether an apostille and sworn Spanish translation are needed. ACRO police certificates ↗
Medical certificate
Required for certain visa routes, not universally. The consulate may specify exact wording, issue date, apostille and translation. Ask a registered doctor for a quote and check the route page before booking.
Apostille / legalisation
UK FCDO standard paper apostille: £45 per document, plus return courier/postage. Some documents cannot use an e-Apostille. Allow up to 25 working days for standard paper service, plus delivery. Official legalisation service ↗
Translations and legal assistance
Use a sworn translator where the consulate requires one. Costs depend on pages and provider. A solicitor is not automatically mandatory for every route. Professional help and moving guidance ↗
Healthcare and jags
Visa insurance requirements differ from healthcare eligibility after moving. Spain has no general International Health Regulations vaccination certificate requirement; check routine vaccinations and personal travel risks. Healthcare for UK nationals ↗ · Spain travel health ↗
03 / COST OF MOVING
Estimate your rent by city
Choose a city and home size. This uses August 2026 advertised asking-rent data per m², not a guaranteed rental quote. Your actual price will depend on area, property, contract and availability.
Illustrative monthly asking rent£715€834/month · August 2026 asking-rent benchmark
Converted using ECB reference €1 = £0.85780 (21 September 2026); payment-provider rates may differ. Rental data ↗ · Exchange rate ↗
One-off costs
Visa and residence fees, documents, translations, flight and baggage, temporary stay, deposit, removals, pet travel and airport transfer.
Monthly costs
Rent, utilities, groceries, transport, mobile, internet, healthcare/insurance and personal spending.
Flights: no honest fixed price without a departure airport, travel date, baggage and passenger count. Compare live fares on Google Flights ↗ and airline websites; record the quote date.
Compare extra baggage, part-load removals and a full household move. Ask for written quotes covering collection, customs paperwork, insurance, storage and delivery. UK moving guidance ↗ · Spanish customs and tax authority ↗
Bringing a dog, cat or ferret
From Great Britain, check microchip, rabies vaccination and an animal health certificate issued by an official vet. First rabies vaccination generally requires at least 21 full days before travel; the certificate is valid for EU entry for 10 days after issue. Vet, transport and airline costs require quotes. Official pet travel rules ↗
Flights and arrival transfer
Compare airlines for your chosen airport and date. For ground transport, use the official airport page to find licensed taxis, public transport and car-hire desks. Aena: Spanish airports ↗ · Renfe trains ↗
05 / AFTER YOU ARRIVE
Settle in with a clear checklist
Residence card and town-hall registration
Check the deadline on your visa for any TIE appointment; register on the padrón with your town hall as applicable. Official TIE and padrón steps ↗
Healthcare, work, tax and banking
Confirm healthcare entitlement or insurance, social security and any tax obligations before starting work. Set up a suitable bank account, utilities and internet. Healthcare ↗ · Spanish tax authority ↗
Check UK-licence exchange and vehicle import rules if relevant; add schooling, childcare, family documentation, UK tax and pension notifications to your personal checklist. Living in Spain: full guide ↗
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