Moving to Spain: what to do?

The decision has been made and you want to emigrate to Spain. It is a dream that you have wanted to make come true for years and you are going to move. You can now finally live in Spain. Perhaps you think about emigrating easily and think I'll pack my things for Spain and just leave. That is possible. Living in Spain is of course very nice, but it does mean that you have to arrange a lot before you move, because emigrating to Spain also means moving internationally! It is not like the carefree holidays to Spain, because you have to arrange a lot of things to be able to live there. Some things have to be arranged well in advance and some things you can/must arrange upon arrival in Spain. We have put together this article to give you a good idea of the things you have to arrange before you emigration to Spain. So read on quickly!

Preparing for your move

It is very useful if you learn a little Spanish in advance or if you already get a taste of Spanish culture, but often Spain is not unknown territory for us Dutch people and you know Spain from holidays. On the one hand, before you emigrate to Spain, you must first try to arrange everything properly in the Netherlands. On the other hand, you must try to immerse yourself in what you need to arrange in Spain. In this article we will discuss these matters regarding emigrating to Spain so that you can easily realize your dream in Spain.

Before you emigrate

We have tried to put together a kind of checklist for you. There are things that are necessary to arrange before you move to Spain, but you also have to take a good look at what you want exactly, because we can tell you things, but maybe you have certain things that we do not know about! Think carefully about all these things, because this prevents you from being surprised later.

The first important steps

If you want to emigrate, start in the Netherlands with the first simple step. This is checking your passport/ID card and driver's license. Check until when the documents are valid and renew them if necessary, because if you live in Spain you want your passport/ID card to be valid for a longer period of time. Of course, you are not going on holiday, but you are planning to take all your belongings with you. To be on the safe side, also make a copy of these things in case of theft, loss or damage. This is useful because so much has to be arranged during the move that you do not have time to chase these things up in case of problems. So move smart and keep the copies in a safe place while moving your belongings. This way you ensure that you are prepared for all situations and you can enjoy a carefree emigration. Even when something unexpected happens that you had not expected before.

Documents and paperwork

You should look carefully at all the documents you want to take with you. Think of your diplomas, for example. You can easily find these online at DUO request and there is more information about this on their site. Of course, it is true that you are going to emigrate to Spain and your diploma in the Netherlands is a Dutch diploma. So if you are going to emigrate to Spain, you must have a Nuffic diploma description. This is not only in the case of a study that you want to follow in Spain at the university, but sometimes your employer also asks for a diploma. This is very normal for Spaniards.

Legalization of documents

A translation of our diploma, for us Dutch in Spain is also not only the case with your diploma, but also with other official documents. It is simply the case that a document that is valid in the Netherlands does not necessarily have to be valid abroad. It is therefore best that you have some documents translated  legalize. With the Dutch legalization, the document is provided with a certain stamp or sticker. It is best to first check with the embassy/consulate of Spain ask what conditions the document must meet. You can find more information about this on their website.

In some cases, the document even needs to be translated before it can be legalized. This can be very annoying for foreigners, but Spain simply wants it in Spanish. If you arrange this well in advance and ask, it will save you a lot of extra work!

Termination of lease and moving companies

After this, there are a few more things that are very important. First, cancel your rent. You often have a notice period (this is noted in your contract). This prevents you from having to pay an extra month or two of rent in the Netherlands unnecessarily, while you may have already moved to Spain by then. That would be a waste of money, wouldn't it?

After this, look at what you want to take with you and make an inventory. Also request a quote from a moving company to get the best possible idea of the costs of a move to Spain. It is best to use the MOOVA network, because they can easily request various quotes for you from different moving companies, without you having to request them separately. This way you not only get an idea of how much moving to Spain costs, but you also do not have to look for a moving company for your move yourself. A move is already a big deal, let alone an international move!

After your inventory with a moving company, you will also know approximately how many moving boxes you will need for your move to Spain and you can easily order them online.

Deregistering from the municipality in the Netherlands

The next step that is extra scary for everyone is your deregistration from the Netherlands, because now you are officially going to emigrate to Spain. You do the deregistration at the municipality. You can do this up to 5 days before your departure. It differs per municipality, but often you also have to go to the town hall. Most people also find this more pleasant, because something as important as emigrating must of course be arranged properly. In some municipalities you do not have to go to the town hall and you can arrange the matters for your emigration online. Do you want more information about this procedure? Do you want to know what the procedure is in your municipality? Then it is best to consult the website of the municipality in question. Can't find it online? Then you can of course always contact the municipality by telephone and speak to an employee.

You really shouldn't forget these things

It is also the case that when you deregister with the municipality, you must also immediately have health insurance in Spain. In Spain, you can arrange this through the government. Do you already have a job in Spain? Or do you want to work in Spain, then you can arrange this through your work. Is this not the case and are you going to live alone in Spain, for example? Then you must temporarily take out private health insurance in Spain.

In the Netherlands, don't forget to cancel your insurance. Think not only of your health insurance, but also of your home contents or car insurance. This is very important, because you are going to live in Spain and no longer in the Netherlands, so you no longer need health insurance here.

Please do not forget this step, otherwise you will be faced with unnecessary costs and you want to avoid this at all costs.

Digi-D and the tax authorities

Furthermore, even if you are moving to Spain, you really need to make sure that you Digi-D is in order. You may need this in the future for certain developments. And of course, don't forget the tax authorities not. A move to Spain does not mean that you do not have to have your tax affairs of the past year properly arranged. Often you have to fill in a form for the tax authorities regarding your move and you will then automatically receive additional information about what else you have to do as a Dutch citizen with your tax affairs for your move to Spain.

Pension

Are you retired or will you retire soon? Then you should request information about your pension from your own pension fund. For example, you can inquire about your accrued pension and the possibilities in Spain. You really should request this information from your own pension fund, because it all depends on the sector you are currently working in or will be working in in Spain.

Benefit

Are you currently receiving a benefit and if you want to receive it when you live in Spain, you should contact the UWV or the relevant municipality, because unfortunately it is the case that you cannot always take your benefits with you when you emigrate. Find this out carefully, because you do not want to be without an income in Spain.

Insurances

As previously stated, you must cancel your health insurance in the Netherlands. You can do this by requesting a special cancellation form due to emigration from your health insurance. Also deregister with your family doctor and dentist, because you will of course no longer need these in the Netherlands. You can possibly keep a travel insurance in reserve for the first period of your emigration until your Spanish health insurance is arranged.

Do you already have a job in Spain? Then your health insurance is often arranged through your work.

Cancellation of business

Furthermore, you should of course cancel all subscriptions. Think of your mobile subscriptions, clubs/gym, gas-electricity providers, TV and internet etc. Also check carefully what is stated in the contracts, so that you are not faced with any surprises.

By the way, do you have children who are registered at a school or daycare in the Netherlands? Then you must not forget to deregister them again.

For your bank account, you can temporarily use the Dutch one, so that you can later open a Spanish bank account in Spain at your leisure.

DUO student debt

By the way, don't forget that if you go to live in Spain you will have to pay off your debts in the Netherlands. Think about this, for example, of a possible student debt at DUO.

Registration as a voter

And the last thing you can arrange in the Netherlands is that you can still register as a voter. Then you can continue to vote for the House of Representatives or European Parliament elections. You will receive a voting card at the time and can vote abroad. You can also authorise someone to cast your vote for you in the Netherlands.

Spanish bureaucracy

Now we have actually discussed everything you need to do in the Netherlands, but of course you also need to arrange a few things upon arrival in Spain. And as you may have read, you know that Spain arranges things rather slowly and unfortunately you will also have to deal with Spanish bureaucracy. This is really very Spanish and is unfortunately the case throughout Spain. Whether you live in a big city like Barcelona or in a village in the south of Spain, for example somewhere on the Costa del Sol. This does not matter. You would almost think that in a big city like Barcelona everything is arranged better, but unfortunately this is not the case.

This is especially difficult for us Dutch people. The Dutch naturally like to have their affairs in order and want to have this done as quickly as possible. And what sometimes makes it even more difficult for a foreigner in Spain is of course the language. You probably don't speak Spanish fluently yet, so you can't address them about their working methods. Not that this will have a big impact, but it can feel very nice. This way you can better share your frustrations or dissatisfaction.

Ask for help!

But don't worry! We are here to help you and we will try to explain the steps to you as best as we can. And don't forget that this is simply part of the Spanish culture. The quiet life is of course really Spanish and the Spanish really know how to enjoy it. Is the quiet Spanish life perhaps not the reason you are moving to Spain? Then don't worry, because it is actually wonderful and you will quickly get used to the Spanish peace.

We can help you with any questions, but in Spain you can also ask for help from colleagues, fellow students or neighbours. Spaniards are a warm people who like to have conversations. It will certainly not be a problem if you ask them for help when you do not understand something.

When should you register as a resident in Spain?

To start with, in the EU it is arranged for its citizens that you can stay in a country for up to three months without having to do anything for it. Do you want to stay somewhere for longer than three months? Then you have to register as a EU resident to register. This is also the case in Spain. However, you also need to apply for your 'tarjeta de residencia' in Spain. Read on to find out how to do this.

Residence map

After completing this application in Spain you will receive a green paper which is also called the residence card is mentioned. This is a Spanish document. With this card you can confirm at all times that you are legally residing in Spain. This document is therefore only valid as proof that you live there, but it cannot be used as an ID card in Spain. Do you need to identify yourself somewhere? Then you simply need your valid passport/ID card from the Netherlands. The green paper, the declaration of registration, contains your personal details, your nationality, address and your NIE because you will be assigned these during this procedure and you do not need to apply for them separately. Do you want to apply for the NIE before you start this procedure? Then you must arrange this separately.

NIE – Número de Identification de Extranjero

The NIE (Número de Identification de Extranjero) is a Spanish identification number for foreigners in Spain, so actually just like our own BSN number in the Netherlands, but in Spanish. Here you can find all the information about NIE in Spain. The date of issue is also on the document and it has no expiration date. This registration is really mandatory if you are going to live in Spain for more than three months, so do not forget this.

You can register in Spain at the Office of Extranjeros do. This is a kind of agency in Spain that arranges these things for foreigners. They also have access to the central register in Spain, which makes your registration go smoothly. This must be done in the province where you live. For a list of the agencies you can here look. You can also register with the police in Spain, the Comisaría de Policíá. They also have a Registro Central de Extranejeros and can do this for you. So see for yourself what seems easier to you and do it in your own way.

What do you need for the NIE application?

Before we tell you this, it might be useful to know what requirements you need to meet before you can register in Spain. You need to be an employee, self-employed (autónomo), have income, be a student or be an EU citizen. Spain wants to make sure that you are not a burden, such as with the Spanish social services. Therefore, make sure that you have all your papers at hand when applying.

Furthermore, when you emigrate to Spain, you are required to have good insurance in Spain. More information about emigrating, health care and insurance in Spain can be found here.

Important forms

Now we can continue with the necessary documents for your emigration to Spain. Of these, you must not only submit the original, but you will also be asked for a copy. You must fill in the form (EX18) 2x filled in and signed to be handed in. Of course you also need to have your passport or ID card with you. What else you need depends mainly on your personal situation. Are you going to work in Spain in addition to living there? Then you will of course need your employment contract or an employer's statement. And because you then automatically have health insurance through your work, you must also bring confirmation of this. You can get this via their website to request.

Self-employed in Spain

Are you a self-employed person and are you going to continue doing this in Spain? Then you must arrange your own health insurance and you must also submit proof of this. Proof of the Censo de Actividades Económicas that every Spaniard as a self-employed person must also have. This is proof of self-employment, so you can show that you have an income. Furthermore, you must of course provide proof of your registration in the commercial register in Spain, the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, the Mercantile Register.

No work/income?

Are you not going to work or do you have no income? Then you must be able to prove that you have sufficient income or enough money in your bank account. Spain would like to see a title deed, checks or credit cards with the available amounts. You must share this information with them. And of course you must also be insured. Make sure you find this out in advance, because you do not want to run into problems in Spain later.

Study in Spain

Are you going to study in Spain? Then of course you must be able to show proof of enrollment at a university. As a student you must also be insured in Spain, but this does not have to be via the Spanish system. Do you have a European Insurance Card (EHIC)? Then this is sufficient for your studies in Spain. So you don't have to worry about this as a European student. Furthermore, you must be able to demonstrate that you have sufficient income during your stay and proof of the European Education Programme. And for pensioners the same applies. In Spain one simply has to be insured and have sufficient income.

Registration procedure

Before your application for registration is processed, you must pay for it so that it can be processed immediately. You can pay for this here find. In the Netherlands you always have to register with the municipality and in Spain this is also the case. This is called the 'empadronamiento', or the Padrón Municipal de Habitantes. You do this by registering at the 'ayuntamiento', i.e. the town hall. It is not a very difficult procedure, but you do need to make sure that you have the right papers with you, because otherwise it will all take a little longer. Take your passport/ID card and proof of residence. This can be your rental/purchase contract.

In Spain you also have to prove your civil status, so are you married? Then take your marriage certificate with you. You will also receive a form on the spot that you have to fill in and hand in. Is everything complete and checked? Then you will often receive your certificate immediately Certificado de Empadronamiento with you. And you can officially move to Spain with peace of mind!

By the way, are you taking your car with you and do you want to import it? Then quickly read our blog about how to import a car into Spain.