Moving from Switzerland to Spain
From Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Lausanne or Bern to the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Valencia, Barcelona or the islands — customs included.
Popular areas we cover
From Switzerland
- Zurich
- Geneva
- Basel
- Lausanne
- Bern
- Lugano
To Spain
- Costa del Sol
- Costa Blanca
- Valencia
- Barcelona
- Madrid
- Mallorca
How the Switzerland → Spain route works
Your belongings are exported at a Swiss commercial customs office — open on working days only — then travel through France to Spain.
We prepare the Swiss export and the Spanish import declarations so your truck is not held at the border.
Customs from Switzerland to Spain
Your used household goods can enter Spain free of import duty and VAT under transfer of residence relief if you have lived outside the EU — in Switzerland, for example — for at least 12 consecutive months, owned your belongings for at least 6 months, and import them within 12 months of becoming resident in Spain.
Goods for a holiday home do not qualify. Alcohol and tobacco are excluded and taxed.
Checklist for clearance
- Valid passport or ID card
- Deregistration from your Swiss commune
- Spanish residence document (NIE certificate or TIE)
- Detailed inventory of your belongings
- Delivery address in Spain
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 | 3 to 6 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 Spain works
- Free quote. Give us your departure address, your new home in Spain and a rough volume. We send an online estimate right away and a written quote within a day.
- 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.
- Packing and collection. We bring the packing materials to your home, inventory each piece and load everything on moving day.
- Transport. By road across Europe, or by sea container between continents — whichever best fits your route to Spain.
- Customs clearance (where required). We prepare and file the documents for clearance in Spain (Customs paperwork for moves from outside the EU).
- Delivery and set-up. We deliver at your new address and, if you asked for it on the quote, unpack boxes and reassemble furniture.
The same coordinator sees your move to Spain through, from your first email to the keys being handed over.
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 — packing, furniture dismantling and reassembly, fragile item crating, storage, delivery to an island.
- Access — floors without a lift, narrow streets, long carry distances or the need for an external lift.
- Customs — declaration fees and port or airport handling, when the route to Spain crosses a customs border.
- Insurance — calculated as a percentage of the declared value of your belongings.
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 |
European road moves get a starting price straight from the estimator; everything else — sea, air, customs — is quoted in writing within 24 hours.
Other routes to Spain
Read before you move
- Cross-border moving in Europe: how a European move worksHow cross-border moves work in Europe: transport options, transit times, when customs applies and how to choose a European moving company.
- 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.
- How to choose the best international moving companyWhat separates the best international movers from the rest: quotes, customs, insurance, red flags and the questions to ask before you book.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I pay customs duties when moving from Switzerland to Spain?
- Not if you qualify for transfer of residence relief: 12 months living outside the EU, belongings owned for 6 months, and import within 12 months of becoming resident.
- Why is there customs between Switzerland and Spain?
- Switzerland is not in the EU customs union, so household goods are exported from Switzerland and imported into the EU.
- Can the truck leave Switzerland on a weekend?
- No. Household goods are cleared at commercial customs offices on working days only; we plan the departure accordingly.
- Can I bring my Swiss car to Spain?
- Yes, under transfer of residence relief if you have owned it for at least 6 months. It must then be registered in Spain.
- How long does a move from Switzerland to Spain take?
- 3 to 6 days by dedicated truck, plus customs clearance.
Explore more
Ready to plan your move to Spain?
Online estimate in two minutes; a detailed written quote within a day.
Get my quote →