Moving from the USA to Spain
From New York, Florida, California, Texas or anywhere in the US to Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Málaga or the islands, by sea container.
Popular areas we cover
From United States
- New York and New Jersey
- Florida
- California
- Texas
- Illinois
To Spain
- Madrid
- Barcelona
- Valencia
- Málaga and the Costa del Sol
- Alicante
- the Balearic Islands
How the United States → Spain route works
Your belongings are packed at your US home and loaded into your own container (FCL) or a shared one (LCL), from the nearest US port.
Containers usually arrive in Valencia, Barcelona or Algeciras, are cleared through Spanish customs and delivered to your new home.
Customs from the USA to Spain
Your used household goods enter Spain free of import duty and VAT if you have lived outside the EU for at least 12 consecutive months, owned your belongings for at least 6 months, and import them within 12 months of establishing your residence in Spain.
The exemption is claimed on the import declaration itself; we prepare it for Spanish customs. Goods for a holiday home do not qualify.
Checklist for clearance
- Valid passport and Spanish visa or residence document (TIE / NIE)
- Proof that you have ended your US residence
- Detailed, itemised inventory in English or Spanish
- Delivery address in Spain
- Customs forms provided at destination
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 |
|---|---|
| Own container (FCL) from the East Coast | 6 to 10 weeks |
| Own container (FCL) from the West Coast | 8 to 12 weeks |
| Shared container (LCL) | Add 2 to 4 weeks |
| Air freight (small volumes) | 1 to 2 weeks |
How a move to Spain works
- 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.
- Survey and planning. A coordinator confirms your volume and the transport mode, and reviews the customs rules that apply to your move to Spain.
- Packing and collection. Our local team packs, inventories and loads your belongings at your home in Spain.
- Transport. On the road for a European route, in a sea container across an ocean, or by air for small urgent shipments to Spain.
- Customs clearance (where required). We handle the clearance into Spain end to end (Customs paperwork for moves from outside the EU).
- Delivery and set-up. Final-mile delivery to your door; unpacking and reassembly are added when your quote includes them.
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
We price every move to Spain with the same ingredients — nothing hidden, nothing improvised:
- Volume — in cubic metres: it drives most of the price. Use our room-by-room calculator for an accurate figure.
- Distance and route — from your origin address to your new home in Spain.
- Transport mode — shared load, dedicated truck, sea container (shared or exclusive) or air freight.
- Services — packing, taking furniture apart and reassembling it, crating fragile pieces, storage, island delivery.
- 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 — 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 |
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
Other routes from United States
Read before you move
- Moving to Spain: NIE, padrón, residency and shipping your homeMoving to Spain from the UK, USA or Europe: NIE and TIE, the padrón, residency routes, your driving licence and shipping your belongings.
- Shared load, dedicated truck or container: which option for your move?Groupage, dedicated truck, shared or full container: how each transport mode works, how long it takes, what it costs and which one suits your move abroad.
- 20ft or 40ft container: what fits and which one you needDimensions, usable volume and what really fits in a 20-foot, 40-foot and 40-foot high cube container for an overseas move — and when a shared container is the better choice.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I pay customs duties when moving from the USA to Spain?
- Not if you qualify for transfer of residence relief: 12 months outside the EU, belongings owned for 6 months, and import within 12 months of becoming resident.
- Can I ship before I have my Spanish residence document?
- Sometimes, against a financial guarantee while your document is being issued. We check your situation before shipping.
- Which Spanish port will my container arrive in?
- Usually Valencia, Barcelona or Algeciras, depending on your destination and the shipping line.
- Should I ship my American appliances to Spain?
- Usually not large ones: Spain uses 230 V and different plugs. Small dual-voltage electronics are fine.
- How long does a move from the USA to Spain take?
- 6 to 10 weeks door to door from the East Coast, 8 to 12 from the West Coast, by sea container.
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