Moving back to the UK from Spain
From the Costa del Sol, the Costa Blanca, Murcia, Madrid, Barcelona or the Balearics to anywhere in the UK, with export and import customs handled.
Popular areas we cover
From Spain
- Costa del Sol
- Costa Blanca
- Murcia
- Valencia
- Madrid
- Barcelona
- Mallorca
- the Canary Islands
To United Kingdom
- London and the South East
- the South West
- the Midlands
- the North
- Scotland
- Wales
How the Spain → United Kingdom route works
Your belongings are packed and loaded at your home in Spain and travel north by road, then cross to the UK by the Channel Tunnel or ferry.
We file the Spanish export declaration before departure and clear your goods into the UK with your HMRC reference number.
From the Canary Islands, belongings leave by sea and follow specific export formalities.
Customs from Spain to the UK
To bring your belongings into the UK free of duty and VAT, you apply online for Transfer of Residence relief (form ToR01) and obtain HMRC approval before your goods arrive. You qualify if you have lived outside the UK for at least 12 consecutive months, owned your belongings for at least 6 months, and import them within 12 months of your arrival.
This applies to returning British nationals and new residents alike. Goods must not be sold or lent during the first 12 months.
Checklist for clearance
- Valid passport
- Your HMRC ToR01 reference number
- Proof of your residence in Spain for the past 12 months (padrón certificate, tenancy, bills)
- Proof of your new UK address
- Detailed inventory of your belongings
Transport options and transit times
Door-to-door transit times are indicative and depend on the season, the exact addresses and, where required, customs clearance.
| Mode | Typical door-to-door time |
|---|---|
| Dedicated truck | Up to 7 days, plus customs clearance |
| Shared load (groupage) | 2 to 4 weeks, plus customs clearance |
| Air freight (small volumes) | 1 to 2 weeks |
How a move to United Kingdom works
- Free quote. Share your origin, your delivery address in United Kingdom and roughly how much you are moving. A written quote lands in your inbox within 24 hours.
- Survey and planning. A coordinator confirms your volume and the transport mode, and reviews the customs rules that apply to your move to United Kingdom.
- Packing and collection. Our local team packs, inventories and loads your belongings at your home in United Kingdom.
- Transport. On the road for a European route, in a sea container across an ocean, or by air for small urgent shipments to United Kingdom.
- Customs clearance (where required). We handle the clearance into United Kingdom end to end (ToR01 application and UK customs clearance).
- Delivery and set-up. We deliver at your new address and, if you asked for it on the quote, unpack boxes and reassemble furniture.
A single point of contact handles your move to United Kingdom from estimate to delivery.
How the price of your move to United Kingdom is calculated
Like every international mover, we build your price to United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom.
- Transport mode — shared road load, a truck booked only for you, FCL or LCL by sea, or air for very small cargo.
- 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 — brokerage, declaration and port handling charges on routes to United Kingdom that cross a customs border.
- Insurance — a small percentage of the declared value — scalable to what you want covered.
Typical volumes, as a guide:
| Home | Typical volume |
|---|---|
| Studio | 10 to 15 m³ |
| 1-bedroom flat | 15 to 25 m³ |
| 2-bedroom home | 25 to 40 m³ |
| 3-bedroom home | 40 to 60 m³ |
| 4-bedroom house or larger | 60 m³ and more |
For road moves inside Europe, the estimator returns a starting price in two minutes. Sea freight, air freight and any move that crosses a customs border go through a written quote, delivered within 24 hours.
Other routes to United Kingdom
Read before you move
- Moving back to the UK: ToR01, your car and timingReturning to the UK after living abroad: Transfer of Residence relief (ToR01), importing your car with NOVA, and how long the move takes.
- Moving abroad with pets: microchip, rabies vaccine and travel rulesMoving your dog or cat abroad: microchip, rabies vaccine, EU pet passport, UK animal health certificate and tapeworm treatment rules.
- Transfer of Residence relief explained: moving your belongings duty-free to Europe and the UKHow to bring your household goods into the EU, the UK, Switzerland or Norway without paying import duty or VAT: conditions, forms and country-by-country rules.
Frequently asked questions
- I am British and moving back from Spain. Do I pay import duty?
- Not if HMRC approves your Transfer of Residence relief (ToR01) before your goods arrive and you meet the conditions: 12 months living outside the UK and belongings owned for at least 6 months.
- When should I apply for ToR01?
- Before your belongings arrive in the UK, ideally several weeks before your move.
- Should I deregister from my Spanish town hall?
- Yes, it is recommended. Your padrón certificate also helps prove your residence in Spain for the ToR01 application.
- Can you collect from Mallorca or the Canary Islands?
- Yes. The Balearics follow mainland rules; the Canary Islands are outside the EU customs territory and involve specific export formalities.
- How long does a removal from Spain to the UK take?
- Up to 7 days by dedicated truck, or 2 to 4 weeks by shared load, plus customs clearance.
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