Moving to Spain from the UK now means applying for a visa before you go, getting an NIE number, and budgeting roughly £1,500–£8,500 for the removal itself depending on how much you take. It is entirely doable — thousands of Britons still do it every year — but the order you do things in matters more than it used to.
This guide covers the whole journey: the paperwork, the money, the move, and the first weeks after you land.
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Can I still move to Spain from the UK after Brexit?
Yes. What changed is that you’re now a third-country national, so free movement no longer applies: you need a visa granting residency before you move, rather than simply turning up and registering.
Without one you’re limited to the Schengen visitor rule — 90 days in any rolling 180 — which is fine for a holiday home and useless for living there. The visa is the first domino; almost every other step depends on it.
The practical answer to “how hard is it?”: harder than 2019, much easier than people fear. The requirements are financial and administrative rather than arbitrary. If you can evidence income or savings and produce the documents in the right order, approval is normal.
The main visa routes
- Non-lucrative visa (NLV) — the classic retirement or independent-means route. You evidence passive income or savings and agree not to work in Spain. Popular with retirees and anyone living off pensions, investments or rental income.
- Digital nomad visa — for remote employees and freelancers earning from outside Spain. Newer, increasingly used, with its own income thresholds and tax treatment.
- Work or employer-sponsored routes — where a Spanish employer is involved.
- Family routes — joining an EU or Spanish-resident family member, which is a different and often simpler process.
Each has its own income threshold, document list and consular queue. Full requirements and visa guide →
Your first pieces of paperwork
Two acronyms dominate the early months:
- NIE — your Spanish foreigner’s identification number. Nothing works without it: not a bank account, not a rental contract, not utilities.
- TIE — the physical residency card you apply for after arrival, once your visa is granted.
You’ll also register on the padrón at your local town hall, which is what proves where you live for healthcare, schools and local admin. NIE guide → · Requirements →
What it costs to move
Two budgets, and people routinely underestimate the second.
The removal itself — the physical move of your belongings:
| Move size | Typical cost (2026 guide) |
|---|---|
| A few items / part load 5m³ | ~£500–£1,100 |
| 1-bed flat | £1,500–£2,800 |
| 3-bed home | £3,500–£6,500 |
| 4-bed home | £5,000–£8,500 |
Setting up — visa fees, apostilled and translated documents, medical certificates, the first rent plus deposit (usually one to two months), an initial healthcare arrangement, and the flights. It’s sensible to have several thousand pounds available on top of the removal quote.
Where to live
The honest starting question isn’t “which town is nicest” but “what do I need nearby?” — an airport for UK trips, a hospital, an international school, a walkable centre if you’d rather not drive.
Broadly: the Costa del Sol for the biggest established British community and the best flight connections; the Costa Blanca for lower costs and a large expat presence around Alicante; Madrid and Barcelona for work and city life at city prices; Valencia for the increasingly popular middle ground; the islands for a different pace with a ferry or flight between you and the mainland.
Where to live in Spain → compares them properly, and each city guide covers the practicalities — schools, healthcare, padrón, what rent actually costs.
Healthcare, tax and driving in brief
- Healthcare — state cover comes via employment, the S1 form for UK state pensioners, or a private policy, which most visa routes require anyway.
- Tax — spend more than 183 days in Spain in a calendar year and you’re tax-resident on worldwide income. Get advice before you move, not after.
- Driving — the UK–Spain licence exchange agreement and the ITV roadworthiness test both matter if you’re taking a car.
Each of these gets its own guide as this site grows.
Moving your belongings
The removal is the part we handle. In short:
- Decide what actually goes. Solid furniture, good mattresses and sentimental pieces earn their freight; flat-pack and cheap upholstery usually don’t.
- Get quotes on volume, not guesswork. A survey turns an estimate into a firm price.
- Choose the service that fits — part load → if you’re under about 15m³, full house removal → above it, boxes → if there’s no furniture at all.
- Book early for September. It’s the busiest month on the corridor by a wide margin; six to eight weeks’ notice is sensible.
- Keep documents with you, not in the van — passports, visa paperwork, NIE evidence, medical records.
The mistakes that cost people most
The recurring ones: moving before the visa is granted; underestimating volume and getting a revised price on the day; shipping furniture that costs more to move than to replace; ignoring the 183-day tax rule; buying property in the first six months instead of renting; and assuming the paperwork can be done from Spain when much of it must be started in the UK.
The 7 biggest mistakes when moving to Spain → goes through them properly.
A realistic timeline
- 6–12 months out — choose the visa route, start gathering documents (some need apostilles and sworn translations).
- 3–6 months — visa appointment and application; start the removal quotes; decide what’s going.
- 6–8 weeks — book the removal, especially for a summer or September move.
- Move month — pack, final utility readings, travel; van collects.
- First 30 days in Spain — TIE appointment, padrón registration, bank account, healthcare registration.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move to Spain from the UK? Yes — you’ll need a visa granting residency (non-lucrative, digital nomad, work or family route) applied for before you move, since free movement ended with Brexit.
How much money do I need to move to Spain? Budget £1,500–£8,500 for the removal depending on volume, plus visa fees, document translations, deposits and initial healthcare — several thousand pounds beyond the removal for most households.
How hard is it to move to Spain after Brexit? Administratively harder than it was, but routine when done in order. The requirements are financial and procedural rather than discretionary.
How long does the visa take? It varies by consulate and route — months rather than weeks, which is why document-gathering starts 6–12 months out.
Is it worth moving to Spain from the UK? For most people who plan it properly, yes — but it’s a genuine relocation, not an extended holiday. Renting first, before buying, is the single best way to find out.
What should I do first? Pick your visa route and check its income requirement. Everything else — the removal, the property, the timing — follows from that.