Everything You Need to Know About Moving to Spain
From visas and healthcare to taxes, housing and cost of living — our guides help you relocate with confidence.
Moving to Spain is one of the best decisions you can make — sunshine 300 days a year, world-class healthcare, friendly people and a cost of living that beats most of Northern Europe and North America. This is the most complete, up-to-date guide you'll find, written for real expats, retirees, families and digital nomads.
Who this guide is for
- • British expats post-Brexit looking for a long-stay route
- • Americans and Canadians on the Non-Lucrative or Digital Nomad Visa
- • Dutch, Belgians and Germans moving as EU citizens
- • Retirees seeking healthcare, sunshine and value
- • Remote workers and digital nomads
- • Families relocating with kids and pets
Why we built this
We help dozens of families and individuals relocate to the Costa Blanca every year. The questions are almost always the same — and the answers online are scattered, outdated or written by lawyers. So we wrote our own knowledge hub: clear, current, friendly, and free.
Why move to Spain?
Before getting into paperwork, it helps to know what you're moving toward. Here's the honest version — the great, and the trade-offs.
Pros
- 300+ days of sunshine and a mild Mediterranean climate
- Lower cost of living than UK, US, NL, BE, DE
- Excellent universal healthcare — public and private
- One of the safest countries in Western Europe
- Famous food culture: fresh produce, cheap wine, late dinners
- Strong expat communities on the Costa Blanca
- Easy flights to most European capitals
Cons
- Bureaucracy is slow — expect paperwork to take time
- Spanish helps a lot, even on the coast
- Salaries are lower than Northern Europe
- Tax system can be complex (wealth tax, worldwide income)
- Summer can be very hot inland
- Renting long-term in tourist hotspots can be competitive
All Moving to Spain guides
Visas & Residency
Digital Nomad Visa, NLV, Golden Visa, work and student visas — find the right route for you.
Read guideEssential Documents
Get your NIE, TIE, padrón and social security number step by step.
Read guideHealthcare
Public vs private, Convenio Especial, doctors and prescriptions.
Read guideCost of Living
Real monthly budgets for singles, couples, families and retirees.
Read guideHousing
Rent or buy, mortgages, taxes and the full property process.
Read guideTaxes
Tax residency, the 183-day rule, Beckham Law, wealth and inheritance tax.
Read guideBanking
Resident vs non-resident accounts, online banks and SEPA transfers.
Read guideWorking in Spain
Employment, becoming autónomo and starting a business.
Read guideRetire in Spain
Healthcare, pensions, taxes and the best regions for retirees.
Read guideSchools & Education
Public, private and international schools — IB, British and Dutch options.
Read guideDriving & Transport
Licenses, ITV inspections, importing a car and public transport.
Read guideMoving with Pets
Microchips, vaccinations and the EU Pet Passport.
Read guideInternet & Utilities
Fiber, SIM cards, electricity and water — what to expect and what it costs.
Read guideRegions
Costa Blanca, Alicante, Valencia, Costa del Sol — where expats actually live.
Read guide12-Month Checklist
A month-by-month plan from first idea to settled in Spain.
Read guideAll FAQs
100+ answers to the questions expats actually ask before moving.
Read guideTop questions about moving to Spain
Need help moving to Spain?
Our local team helps with visas, NIE, healthcare, housing and more. One friendly point of contact for your whole relocation.