Moving to Spain, handled from door to door.

Where we move clients to Spain from

Dedicated corridor pages

• Belgium → Spain
• Netherlands → Spain
• Germany → Spain
• Switzerland → Spain
• United Kingdom → Spain
• United States → Spain

Other origins we cover

• France → Spain
• Luxembourg → Spain
• Austria → Spain
• Ireland → Spain
• Portugal → Spain
• Italy → Spain
• Greece → Spain
• Slovenia → Spain
• Croatia → Spain
• Sweden → Spain
• Norway → Spain
• Denmark → Spain

Customs & paperwork into Spain

Moving from another EU country

Household goods travel freely between EU member states. If you are moving to Spain from France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Portugal or any other EU country, there is no customs clearance and no import duty on your belongings.

What you will still need to arrange once you arrive is your administrative registration in Spain: your foreigner identification number (NIE), your registration at the town hall (empadronamiento), and, for stays longer than three months, registration as an EU resident. Read our full guide to moving to Spain for the NIE, padrón and residency routes in detail.

Moving from outside the EU (UK, Switzerland, Norway, USA, and others)

Since Brexit, a move from the United Kingdom to Spain is an import from a third country, exactly like a move from Switzerland, Norway, the United States or Australia. Your belongings go through Spanish customs.

The good news: if you are genuinely moving your main home to Spain, your used household goods can enter free of import duty and VAT under the transfer of residence relief. To qualify:

• you have lived outside the EU for at least 12 consecutive months before the move;
• you have owned and used your belongings for at least 6 months before the move;
• your goods are imported within 12 months of establishing your residence in Spain;
• your belongings are for personal use only, not for resale.

The exemption is claimed directly on the import declaration at clearance — there is no separate application to file in advance. We prepare the declaration for Spanish customs.

Goods admitted under this relief should not be sold, lent or hired out during the first 12 months after import. A move to a second home does not qualify: goods shipped to a holiday residence are subject to duties and taxes.

Documents usually required for customs clearance

• Valid passport
• Spanish residence document (residence permit, TIE card or NIE certificate, depending on your nationality and status)
• Proof that you have ended your residence in your previous country (for example, a consular deregistration or a deregistration certificate from your local authority)
• A detailed, itemised inventory of your belongings, in English or Spanish
• Your delivery address in Spain
• The customs forms we provide at destination

If your residence document is not yet issued when your shipment arrives, clearance may be possible against a financial guarantee. Ask your coordinator before shipping.

Special territories

The Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla are outside the EU customs territory and follow their own tax rules. A move to Tenerife or Gran Canaria — even from mainland Spain or another EU country — involves customs formalities. Tell us at quote stage so we can plan accordingly.

Vehicles and restricted items

• Vehicles can travel with your household goods. Under the transfer of residence relief they can enter duty-free if all conditions are met. Vehicles built to non-EU specifications need technical approval (homologation) before they can be registered in Spain, which can be complex and costly. Check this before you ship.
• Alcohol and tobacco are excluded from the relief and taxed when shipped from outside the EU.
• Plants are prohibited in shipments from outside the EU.
• Pets travel separately from household goods. They need a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and either an EU pet passport or an official health certificate, depending on the country of origin.

How a move to Spain works

1. Free quote. Share your origin, your delivery address in Spain and roughly how much you are moving. A written quote lands in your inbox within 24 hours.
2. Survey and planning. Your coordinator rechecks the volume, locks the transport mode and lists the customs rules you fall under on your way to Spain.
3. Packing and collection. Our local team packs, inventories and loads your belongings at your home in Spain.
4. Transport. On the road for a European route, in a sea container across an ocean, or by air for small urgent shipments to Spain.
5. Customs clearance (where required). We handle the clearance into Spain end to end (Customs paperwork for moves from outside the EU).
6. Delivery and set-up. Delivery to your new home, unpacking and furniture reassembly if included in your quote.

The same coordinator sees your move to Spain through, from your first email to the keys being handed over.

How your belongings travel — mode by mode

The times below are door to door and depend on the season, your exact addresses and, if the route needs it, customs clearance.

For non-EU moves, allow up to a week for customs clearance in Spain once your documents are complete.

Shared load or dedicated truck? A shared load (groupage) is the most economical option for small and medium volumes: your belongings travel with other clients' shipments, so dates are more flexible. A dedicated truck or container costs more, but it is faster and gives you fixed collection and delivery dates.

How the price of your move to Spain is calculated

Like every international mover, we build your price to Spain from a few concrete factors:

• Volume — the single biggest lever on the price, in m³. The online calculator walks you through it one room at a time.
• Distance and route — measured on the actual road, from your door to your delivery address in Spain.
• Transport mode — groupage, your own truck, shared or full container, air for urgent small shipments.
• Services — everything beyond pure transport: packing, dismantling, crating, short-term storage, extra legs by ferry.
• Access — walk-up floors, pedestrian streets, long carries from the truck, and hoists where access is tight.
• Customs — clearance fees and port handling charges, where required by your route to Spain.
• Insurance — priced as a percentage of what you tell us your belongings are worth.

Typical volumes, as a guide:

European road moves get a starting price straight from the estimator; everything else — sea, air, customs — is quoted in writing within 24 hours.

Frequently asked questions

Do I pay customs duties when moving to Spain from the UK?

Not if you qualify for the transfer of residence relief: you have lived outside the EU for at least 12 months, owned your belongings for at least 6 months, and you import them within 12 months of becoming resident in Spain. Otherwise, duties and VAT apply.

Do I need customs paperwork if I move from France or Germany?

No. Moves between EU countries involve no customs clearance. You only need to handle your administrative registration in Spain after arrival.

Can I ship my belongings before I have my Spanish residence permit?

Sometimes. Depending on your situation, clearance may be possible with a financial guarantee while your permit is being issued. We check this with you before shipping.

Can I send furniture to my holiday home in Spain duty-free?

Not from outside the EU. The transfer of residence relief only applies to your main residence. From another EU country, there are no customs duties either way.

Is a move to the Canary Islands different?

Yes. The Canary Islands have their own customs and tax regime, so shipments there involve formalities even from mainland Europe.

How much does a move to Spain cost?

It depends mainly on the volume of your belongings, then on the distance, the transport mode and the services you choose. A shared load is the cheapest option for small moves. Use our online estimator for a starting price, then request your detailed quote.

How long does a move to Spain take?

From neighbouring countries, a dedicated truck usually delivers within a week. A shared load takes one to four weeks. From North America, allow six to twelve weeks by sea container, door to door.