Top 10 Tips for Moving to Spain

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Armishaws, one of the UK’s leading removals firms with 10 tips to help you make it happen.

Mijas, a quaint mountaintop village overlooking the Mediterranean

Top 10 Tips for Moving to Spain


1. British families who move to Spain with school-age or pre-school children should register at their town hall, who will advise about schools.

2. Spanish families place high priority on giving their children a good education; consequently places at private schools are filled well in advance, and there are waiting lists.

3. Upon successfully completion of four years of secondary education they are awarded their ESO (certificate of secondary education, Educación Secundaria Obligatoria). This may take more than four years since failure to make satisfactory progress can mean repeating the year.

4. Some fiestas are location-specific, based on a local legend or a real historical event. A good example of this is San Sebastian, in the Basque country, which holds a festival each January to celebrate their liberation from French rule by Lord Wellington in 1812.

5. Many aspects of the Spanish lifestyle are extremely easy to get used to: the sunshine, the wine and the sangria, the paella, the tortilla and the tapas, and the uplifting rhythms of the bossa nova and the flamenco as the sun goes down and nightlife begins.

6. Spectacular fireworks are a popular feature at fiestas, and probably the most spectacular of all are the ones that light up the skies at the Summer Solstice, when bonfires are lit to celebrate the longest day. This tradition is especially strong in the south of Spain.

7. The Spanish healthcare system works well, and it is often even possible to find English speaking medical staff. However, before moving to Spain you need to be sure that the costs of future medical treatment will be covered.

8. Spanish healthcare is not free, but individuals who are covered by the State system pay only a small contribution towards the cost, depending on their personal circumstances.

9. For those looking to embrace a traditional Spanish lifestyle, inland Spain has plenty of attractive villages where life is not seasonal, property prices are lower, and you will be able to join in local community life.

10. A common pattern is for people to move from the UK initially to their Spanish holiday home, and to relocate to a different part of Spain a few years later after exploring the country in greater depth. There is probably a richer variation in regional cultures in Spain than in any other European country. Each region has its own history and its own traditions, and regions such as Galicia, the Basque country and Catalunya still retain their own languages alongside Spanish.

**Armishaws are one of the leading removals firms in the UK. They regularly move to and from Europe, including Spain.

Nerja, beautiful coastal town in southern Spain

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11 Comments on “Top 10 Tips for Moving to Spain

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  1. Great post, excellent tips and guides guys. Really helpful to improvise the removal work, keep posting. Waiting for more of yours and I have enjoyed reading your article about moving service.

  2. – If you are sending your pet through the cargo system, you’ll need to go to the cargo terminal, usually located in a separate part of the airport.
    – Do not forget the ID. Mark your pet’s cage with your name and address.
    – Attach a proper water cup to the crate door to avoid spilling.
    – Put a blanket or cushion on the crate floor.
    – Take your dog for a long walk before leaving for the airport.

  3. Hello, Liz 🙂 I just moved with my little dog from Raleigh, North Carolina to Barcelona and I’m happy to provide some useful tips which I received from one moving company.
    Here they are:

    – Avoid traveling in extreme cold or hot weather.
    – Some airlines allow cats and small dogs to travel with their owner if the carrier fits under the passenger seat. Otherwise, rent or purchase a carrier or crate that meets airline regulations and affix a live animal sticker.
    – If you are sending your pet through the cargo system, you’ll need to go to the cargo terminal, usually located in a separate part of the airport.
    – Do not forget the ID. Mark your pet’s cage with your name and address.
    – Attach a proper water cup to the crate door to avoid spilling.
    – Put a blanket or cushion on the crate floor.
    – Take your dog for a long walk before leaving for the airport.

    Hope this was helpful. 🙂

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