By Erika Davila · Client Manager at moveWise · Last updated: 30 October 2026

💡 The short answer: To move to Spain with a removal company, get at least three written quotes based on a home survey, check the mover's accreditations on the association's own website, and insure your goods on a valued inventory. Ship only once your visa or residence is granted. If you have lived outside the EU for at least 12 consecutive months, Spanish customs may let you import household goods you have owned for six months free of import duty and VAT.

Key facts for 2026

• Since 1 January 2021 the UK is a third country for EU customs: a UK-to-Spain removal is an import into the EU, declared on a DUA.
• Spain's transfer-of-residence relief requires at least 12 consecutive months of residence outside the EU, goods owned for at least six months, and the same use in Spain (Agencia Tributaria).
• You must import within 12 months of establishing your residence in Spain, or up to six months before it with a written commitment and a guarantee.
• For 12 months after import, relieved goods cannot be sold, lent, rented out or pledged without telling customs first.
• Alcohol, tobacco, commercial vehicles and professional equipment (other than portable instruments) are excluded.
• Customs asks non-EU nationals for their TIE card or TIE application, which ties your shipping date to your residence timeline.
• With a 90-day visa, such as the non-lucrative visa, you must request your TIE within one month of entering Spain (Spanish Embassy in Ottawa).
• Since 22 April 2026, residents of Great Britain should not use an EU pet passport to enter the EU.
• An imported non-EU car cannot be driven in Spain until it is registered with the DGT; temporary green plates allow two months, extendable.

This guide is for people moving their home to Spain from outside the EU: mainly from the UK, but also from the US, Canada and Australia, where your belongings travel by sea. It is not a directory of companies. It shows you how to choose and use an international remover, and how to line up the move with your visa, your TIE and Spanish customs.

MoveWise is an immigration consultancy. We do not sell removals, and no removal company pays to appear here. We see the moving side of relocation through our clients' questions about shipping dates, addresses and paperwork once their visa is under way.

The most expensive mistake is not choosing the wrong mover. It is shipping too early: before the visa is granted, before you have an address, or before you can show customs the residence documents it asks for.

In this guide:

• What changed in 2026
• Is this guide right for you?
• Removal company, relocation company or immigration adviser
• Types of international removal service
• How to get and compare removal quotes
• Accreditations and trade associations
• Red flags and moving scams
• Timing your move around the visa and the TIE
• Moving from the UK to Spain after Brexit
• Spanish customs: the transfer-of-residence relief
• Restricted and prohibited items
• Moving from the US, Canada or Australia by sea
• Bringing your pets to Spain
• Bringing your car to Spain
• Packing and settling in
• How to move your belongings to Spain, step by step
• Timeline: what to realistically expect
• How much it costs
• Most common mistakes (and how to avoid them)
• Frequently asked questions
• How MoveWise can help

What changed in 2026

The main 2026 change for movers concerns pets. We found no change to the Spanish customs relief for household goods.

• Pet travel from Great Britain: new EU rules took effect on 22 April 2026. GB residents should stop using EU pet passports to enter the EU, because they are now issued only to people whose main home is in the EU. An animal health certificate is still needed for each trip, and it can now be used for up to six months for onward travel and re-entry to Great Britain while the rabies vaccination stays valid (GOV.UK announcement).
• Five pets per vehicle: the limit is now five pets per private vehicle, not five per person.
• Spanish certificate model: Spain's Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA) says the current model of health certificate for pets from third countries applies from 22 April 2026.
• Customs relief: on 30 October 2026 the Agencia Tributaria page still set the conditions described below.

Is this guide right for you?

It is, if you are moving your main home to Spain from a non-EU country and want to ship your household goods with a professional mover.

✅ You are moving from the UK, the US, Canada, Australia or another non-EU country.

✅ You have, or are applying for, a Spanish residence route such as the Spain Digital Nomad Visa or the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa.

✅ You want to understand customs relief, insurance and timing before you sign a contract.

❌ You are moving within Spain. The vetting advice applies, but customs, visas and pets do not.

❌ You are an EU citizen moving from another EU country. There is no customs import inside the EU.

❌ You are moving to Portugal or Italy instead. Start with the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa (D8) or the Italy Digital Nomad Visa.

👉 Not sure which Spanish visa fits before you plan the move? Book a free consultation with a MoveWise Client Manager.

Removal company, relocation company or immigration adviser

A removal company moves your goods. A relocation company helps you settle. An immigration adviser handles your right to live in Spain. Search results often mix the three, so be clear about what you are buying.

• International removal company: surveys, packs, transports by road or sea, handles the shipment's export and import paperwork (directly or through partners), delivers and, if you pay for it, unpacks and reassembles furniture.
• Relocation or destination services company: often hired by employers for house hunting, school search, utilities and orientation. Some coordinate the mover.
• Immigration adviser or lawyer: prepares and submits your visa or residence application.

⚠️ Common mistake: expecting a mover to deal with your residence permit. A mover's job ends with your goods. Your TIE, your padrón registration and your NIE are personal procedures.

If your employer is relocating you, ask HR whether the package includes a relocation management company. If so, it usually appoints the mover, and your job is to check the inventory, the insurance and the dates.

Types of international removal service

The right service depends on volume, flexibility on dates, and whether your goods go by road or sea. Ask every mover to quote the same service, or you cannot compare quotes.

• Full load: a dedicated lorry or van, door to door, with fixed dates. It suits a full house from the UK.
• Part load or groupage: your goods share a vehicle with other customers' goods. You pay for the space you use, but the load leaves when it is full.
• Full container (FCL): a 20-foot or 40-foot container used only for your goods. The standard option from the US, Canada and Australia.
• Shared container (LCL or consolidation): your goods are crated and share a container. It suits smaller sea moves.
• Air freight: for a few boxes of essentials. Fast, but priced on weight and size.
• Self-pack: you pack, the mover transports. Cheaper, but insurance for owner-packed boxes is often limited or excluded.
• Storage: at origin while you wait for the visa, or in Spain while you find a home. Ask whether the warehouse is secure and insured.
• Pets and cars: specialist services, often subcontracted. See the sections below.

💡 Pro tip: declutter before the survey, not after. Costs follow volume, so everything you sell before the surveyor arrives comes straight off the quote and off the customs inventory.

How to get and compare removal quotes

Get at least three written quotes, each based on a survey and an itemised inventory with the volume in cubic metres. Then compare what each quote includes, not just the total.

1. Ask for a survey. In person or by video. The US Federal Maritime Commission advises a quote based on an onsite inspection, because online and phone estimates can be inaccurate (FMC: Moving dos and don'ts).
2. Check the volume. Every quote should state the estimated volume in m³. If one estimate is far below the others, ask why: an underestimated volume is how a cheap quote becomes an expensive invoice.
3. Check the pricing basis. Fixed price, volume or weight? Ask what happens if the real volume is higher.
4. Door-to-door or door-to-port? Door-to-door should include destination handling, customs clearance, delivery and unloading. Door-to-port stops at the Spanish port. The FMC warns that charges such as port terminal handling may be excluded.
5. Check access at both ends. Floors, lifts, narrow streets and long carries add time. Ask whether parking or access permits are needed and who arranges them.
6. Check the insurance terms in writing before you buy cover: valued inventory, excess per claim, exclusions (owner-packed boxes, electronics, high-value items), the "pair and set" clause and the claim deadline. The FMC notes that many movers will not insure goods they did not pack. Value items at what replacing them in Spain would cost.
7. Check customs responsibilities. Who lodges the Spanish import declaration? Is the customs agent's fee included? Who pays if the relief is refused? The FMC reminds consumers that destination duties are generally their responsibility.
8. Check payment and cancellation. The FMC warns that a deposit paid by cheque or wire can be hard to recover in a dispute, and that some movers charge half or more of the quote if you cancel.

⚠️ Common mistake: choosing the cheapest total. One quote may exclude packing materials, destination charges or insurance that another includes. Line them up item by item.

Accreditations and trade associations

Accreditations do not guarantee a good move, but they give you rules the mover has signed up to and somewhere to go if things go wrong. Check membership on the association's own website, not just a logo.

• British Association of Removers (BAR): the UK trade association. Its Code of Practice has Approved Code status under the scheme of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. Members must protect customers against loss or damage, acknowledge complaints within three working days, aim to resolve them within eight weeks, and offer dispute resolution through The Furniture & Home Improvement Ombudsman, whose decisions bind the business (CTSI Approved Code: BAR).
• FIDI and FIDI-FAIM: to become a FIDI Affiliate, an international mover must comply with the FIDI-FAIM Quality Certification, covering operations, supply chain, compliance (including anti-bribery and data protection) and finances, on a three-year cycle with an extensive third-party audit every third year (FIDI-FAIM Quality Certification). Check FIDI's "Find a FIDI Affiliate" page.
• IAM (International Association of Movers): a membership association of moving and logistics companies in more than 170 countries, with a "Find a Mover" directory and a validation system for members' credentials (iamovers.org). Membership is open to companies of all sizes, so treat it as a starting point.
• FMC licence (US): movers shipping household goods by ocean from the US must be licensed or registered with the FMC, which publishes a searchable list.

💡 Pro tip: an international move usually involves a company at origin and a partner in Spain. Ask who the Spanish partner is and whether it holds the same accreditation. Your delivery and your customs clearance depend on it.

Red flags and moving scams

Most problems with international movers come with warning signs you can spot before paying anything.

❌ A firm price by phone or online, with no survey and no inventory.

❌ A large deposit by bank transfer, long before the move.

❌ No physical address or company details, or a bank account in a different name.

❌ Accreditation logos you cannot find in the association's directory.

❌ A contract without the volume, the services, the insurance or a delivery window. The FMC notes that verbal promises may not be enforceable unless written in.

❌ Unresolved complaints, or a quote far below the others. In the FMC's words, a quote that seems too good to be true usually is.

✅ Good signs: a named surveyor, an itemised inventory, written terms, insurance terms before payment, clear customs responsibilities, a named Spanish partner and a complaints procedure.

Timing your move around the visa and the TIE

Book early, but do not ship until your visa or residence authorisation is granted and you know where you will live. The customs relief, the delivery address and your right to stay all depend on that order.

A refusal. If your visa is refused after the container has sailed, your goods arrive in a country where you cannot live.

Customs evidence. For non-EU nationals, the Agencia Tributaria asks for your TIE application or card. Without it, goods may sit in a port or warehouse, and storage charges grow every day.

The address. Your mover needs a Spanish address for delivery and customs, which usually means a signed lease or a completed purchase.

The TIE deadline. With a 90-day visa, such as the non-lucrative visa, you must request your TIE within one month of entering Spain, at the immigration office or police station of the province where your authorisation was processed. Appointments can be hard to get in some provinces. Our guide to the residency card in Spain explains the documents. If you obtained a Digital Nomad residence authorisation inside Spain, your approval explains how to request your card.

Advance clearance. Customs allows goods to be cleared before you settle if you commit in writing to establish residence within six months; customs sets the form and amount of the guarantee. It adds paperwork and cost, so ask the customs agent whether it is worth it.

No need to rush. You have up to 12 months after establishing residence to import. One practical approach: keep goods in storage at origin, settle into a rental, register on the padrón, apply for the TIE, then ask the mover to ship.

💡 Pro tip: put your visa validity, your entry date, your TIE appointment and your shipping date on one calendar before you sign anything. Our non-lucrative visa timeline shows each stage.

👉 Want your visa and TIE timeline clear before you book the lorry or the container? Talk to a MoveWise Client Manager for free.

Moving from the UK to Spain after Brexit

Since the Brexit transition period ended on 1 January 2021, a removal from the UK to Spain is an export from the UK and an import into the EU, with paperwork on both sides.

Choosing a UK mover. Pick a company that moves to Spain regularly. Ask how often it sends loads to your region, whether it uses its own vehicles or partners, and who clears customs in Spain. London has many international movers, but the same checks apply anywhere.

Full load or groupage. A dedicated lorry goes door to door by road and ferry. Groupage shares a lorry and is usually cheaper, but you wait for a full load to your part of Spain. Get collection and delivery windows in writing.

The UK export side. GOV.UK says you do not normally need a formal declaration for personal goods carried in your luggage or driven in your own vehicle, while goods that do not qualify, including restricted goods, need a full export declaration (GOV.UK: declaring personal goods). When a mover carries your goods, ask who prepares the export formalities and what it needs from you.

The Spanish import side. Goods are declared on a DUA (Documento Único Administrativo), and the relief is claimed directly on it, with no prior application. In practice, a customs representative working with your mover's Spanish partner usually lodges it with your documents.

Your evidence from the UK. Customs accepts any means of proving 12 months' residence outside the EU. The Agencia Tributaria gives examples: a property deed with proof of habitual residence, tax domicile, the address on your ID, home insurance, utility bills, bank or insurer correspondence, employment contracts and school enrolment.

💡 Pro tip: download your utility bills, council tax bills, bank statements and tenancy or deed documents before you close your UK accounts. Old statements can be slow to obtain once an account is closed, and customs may ask after you have left.

Proof you transferred your residence. Non-Spanish nationals can show they notified the authorities of their previous country, such as the tax, health or pension authorities. Which notification applies to you is a UK question; Spanish tax residency is a separate topic, covered in our overview of taxes in Spain for expats.

⚠️ Common mistake: buying new furniture a few weeks before the move to "start fresh". Goods must have been in your possession for at least six months to qualify, so new purchases may be charged import VAT and duty.

Spanish customs: the transfer-of-residence relief

If you move your normal residence to Spain from outside the EU, you may import your personal and household goods without import duty or import VAT. The relief comes from EU Regulation 1186/2009 and the Spanish VAT Law (Ley 37/1992), and is applied on your import declaration.

This is general information, not tax advice. For your case, ask the customs agent handling your shipment or a qualified adviser.

Who qualifies. According to the Agencia Tributaria, you must:

• have had your normal residence outside the EU for at least 12 consecutive months;
• be transferring, or intend to transfer, your habitual residence to Spain;
• have had the goods in your possession for at least six months before the move;
• use them for the same purposes in your new home;
• for the VAT exemption, have bought or imported them under normal tax conditions, without claiming a tax exemption or refund on leaving your previous country.

What it covers. Personal and household effects, including furniture and linen; normal family provisions and pets; portable professional instruments without commercial character; bicycles, mopeds, private cars and trailers, caravans, private pleasure boats and private aircraft.

What it excludes. Alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, commercial means of transport and professional equipment other than portable instruments.

Documents customs asks for:

• proof of at least 12 months' prior residence outside the EU;
• proof of the transfer of residence;
• your Spanish residence document: for non-EU nationals, the TIE application or card;
• a detailed list of the goods with estimated values and approximate acquisition dates.

An information sheet on the Spanish Foreign Ministry's website also lists your passport and a padrón certificate (exteriores.gob.es information sheet). Ask your customs agent which set your port of entry expects.

How it is claimed. On the DUA, box 37.2 carries code C01 for the customs relief and code 101 for the VAT exemption (303 for IGIC in the Canary Islands).

The 12-month window. The definitive import must take place within 12 months of establishing your residence, or before you settle with the six-month commitment and guarantee.

The 12-month lock. For 12 months after customs accepts the declaration, you cannot lend, pledge, rent out or transfer the goods, paid or free, without first telling customs. Otherwise import duties become payable at the rate in force on that date, on the customs value at that time.

Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla have their own indirect tax rules. Ask your customs agent which apply.

💡 Pro tip: ask to see the draft inventory before the container is sealed. Check that values and acquisition dates are realistic and that nothing is new, commercial or excluded. Errors are far easier to fix before departure than at the port.

Restricted and prohibited items

Some items cannot be shipped, some need permits and some lose the relief. Ask your mover for its prohibited list before you pack.

• Alcohol and tobacco: excluded from the relief, so duty and taxes apply.
• Meat, milk and their products: travellers may not bring them into the EU from non-EU countries, and personal consignments breaking the rules may be seized and destroyed. Narrow exceptions cover small quantities of infant milk and special medical foods in unopened branded packaging (European Commission: personal imports).
• Cash: carrying €10,000 or more in cash, including some bearer instruments and gold, into or out of the EU must be declared, and customs can ask for a declaration for cash sent by post or freight (European Commission: EU cash controls).
• Firearms and weapons: restricted. Never pack them with household goods; ask the authorities first.
• Hazardous and perishable goods: movers generally refuse flammable or corrosive items, gas bottles, paint, fuel, perishable food, plants and soil.
• Documents and valuables: keep passports, visa papers, original apostilled certificates, jewellery and key electronics with you.

Moving from the US, Canada or Australia by sea

From outside Europe, goods travel by sea in a full or shared container, then by road from the Spanish port. The Spanish customs rules are the same; the chain is longer.

• Plan around the longest leg. Ocean transit, port handling and clearance take weeks, not days. Ask each mover for an estimated door-to-door time and pack a "first weeks" kit for your suitcase or air freight.
• Check the licence. US ocean movers must be FMC-licensed or registered. From Canada or Australia, check the national removal association and FIDI or IAM status.
• Know who is in the chain: origin mover, freight forwarder, shipping line, Spanish port, customs agent and destination mover. Ask who is responsible, and whose insurance applies, at each stage.
• Destination charges. On a door-to-port quote you pay terminal handling, clearance, any inspection, delivery and unloading yourself. Missing documents can leave a container waiting at the port, with charges building up.

💡 Pro tip: a container cannot be paused at sea, but goods can wait in storage at origin at a known cost. Do not let it sail until you have your visa or authorisation, an address and a plan for your TIE.

Bringing your pets to Spain

Pets can come with you, but the paperwork has deadlines measured in days. Start with your vet months ahead.

From Great Britain, GOV.UK lists these rules (GOV.UK: taking your pet abroad):

• microchip before, or at the same time as, the rabies vaccination;
• the pet must be at least 12 weeks old when vaccinated, and you wait at least 21 days after the first vaccination before travelling;
• an animal health certificate from your vet, valid for 10 days for entry into the EU;
• entry through a travellers' point of entry;
• if you live in England, Scotland or Wales, you cannot use a pet passport to enter the EU;
• no more than five pets in a private vehicle, except for events or commercial exports.

On the Spanish side, MAPA says dogs, cats and ferrets must enter through an authorised travellers' point of entry and be declared to customs or the Guardia Civil, who check documents and the microchip. A rabies antibody test applies only to animals from countries not on the EU's lists: the blood sample must be taken at least 30 days after vaccination, and entry is allowed only 90 days after the sample (MAPA: travelling with dogs, cats and ferrets).

If your pet travels separately, for example as air cargo, it must travel with you or an authorised adult, never alone, and you must make the same trip within five days before or after it.

⚠️ Common mistake: booking the pet's flight before the vet appointment. The certificate is valid for only 10 days for entry, so vet, flight and your own travel must be fixed together.

Bringing your car to Spain

You can bring your car, but once you live in Spain it must be registered there, through customs, an inspection, a tax form and the DGT.

UK side: for a permanent export, complete the permanent export section of the V5C, send it to DVLA and keep the rest of the log book for registration abroad. Transfer or retain any personalised number plate before exporting, or you lose it (GOV.UK: permanent export).

Spanish side: for a vehicle from outside the EU, the DGT lists (DGT: importing a vehicle from outside the EU):

• customs clearance and the import certificate;
• an ITV inspection, with proof of EU type approval such as a certificate of conformity;
• the registration tax (Impuesto de Matriculación), or proof of exemption or non-liability, plus the municipal vehicle tax;
• DGT registration, Spanish plates and compulsory insurance.

The DGT says you cannot drive the vehicle until it is registered in Spain; temporary green plates allow two months, extendable. A private car can fall under the customs relief if you meet the conditions, including six months' possession. Whether a registration tax exemption applies is a separate question for a gestoría or tax adviser. Compare the total cost of importing with selling and buying in Spain.

Packing and settling in

Good packing protects your goods and your insurance claim.

• Let professionals pack fragile and valuable items: it often protects your insurance cover too.
• Label every box with contents and room, ideally in English and Spanish.
• Keep an "open first" box: bedding, kitchen basics, chargers, medicines, documents.
• Photograph valuables and electronics before packing.
• On delivery, check the inventory item by item and note any damage before you sign.
• Unpack room by room, starting with kitchen and bedrooms.
• Learn some Spanish. Many movers have bilingual staff, but your landlord and the town hall may not.

Still choosing where to live? See the best places to live in Spain and our realistic cost of living breakdown before you commit to an address. Moving with a partner or children on a Digital Nomad Visa? See how to bring your family.

How to move your belongings to Spain, step by step

1. Confirm your residence route, for example against the Digital Nomad Visa requirements.
2. Declutter, especially bulky or recent items that would not qualify for relief.
3. Request surveys from at least three movers for the same service.
4. Verify accreditations on the BAR, FIDI, IAM or FMC websites, and ask who the Spanish partner is.
5. Compare quotes line by line: volume, services, insurance, customs, destination charges, deposit, cancellation.
6. Gather customs evidence while still abroad: 12 months' residence, ownership and dates, transfer of residence.
7. Book provisionally, with storage at origin if needed.
8. Wait for your visa or residence authorisation.
9. Secure your Spanish address and register on the padrón.
10. Apply for your TIE within your deadline.
11. Confirm shipping and send your documents to the customs agent.
12. Prepare pet and car paperwork in parallel.
13. Check the delivery against the inventory and claim within the deadline.
14. Respect the 12-month lock before selling or lending relieved goods.

Timeline: what to realistically expect

Only the official deadlines are fixed. Everything else depends on your route, your mover and the season.

• Months before: surveys and quotes, accreditation checks, visa application, first vet visit.
• Visa pending: gather customs evidence, keep the booking provisional, store at origin if needed.
• Visa granted (90-day visa): the one-month TIE deadline starts when you enter Spain.
• First weeks in Spain: address, padrón, TIE application, then confirm the shipment.
• Up to 12 months after establishing residence: the window to import under the relief.
• 12 months after import: the lock on selling, lending or renting relieved goods ends.
• Pets from Great Britain: at least 21 days after the first rabies vaccination; certificate valid 10 days for EU entry.
• Car: temporary green plates for two months, extendable, while you register.

How much it costs

There is no official price for a removal, and quotes move with fuel, season and demand, so we do not publish price ranges. Here is what drives the price.

• volume in cubic metres, or weight for air freight;
• dedicated load or full container versus shared space;
• distance and route, including ferry or ocean freight;
• professional packing versus self-pack, and materials;
• access at both ends;
• storage time and volume;
• insurance, often priced on the declared value;
• customs clearance and destination charges, if not included;
• season and date flexibility.

Official charges to be aware of:

• Customs duty and import VAT: not charged on goods covered by the relief; excluded or non-qualifying goods may be charged.
• Vehicle registration: the DGT lists a registration fee, the registration tax (which depends largely on CO2 emissions, unless an exemption applies) and the annual municipal vehicle tax. Ask a gestoría or tax adviser for your figures.
• Pets: vet fees for microchip, vaccination and certificate are set by your vet.

Most common mistakes (and how to avoid them)

• Shipping before the visa is granted: store at origin until the decision.
• Arriving at customs without a TIE application: plan around the appointment, or ask about advance clearance.
• Buying new furniture just before the move: under six months' possession may mean no relief.
• Closing UK accounts before saving evidence: download bills and statements first.
• Accepting a quote without a survey: insist on an inventory with the volume in m³.
• Self-packing valuables: owner-packed boxes are often excluded from insurance.
• Trusting logos: check the association's own directory.
• Packing food, alcohol or cash: meat and milk products are banned, alcohol is excluded from relief, and €10,000 or more in cash must be declared.
• Selling imported goods within 12 months: tell customs first.
• Driving an unregistered imported car: register it or use temporary plates.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa before I ship my belongings to Spain?

No, not to book a mover, but you should wait before shipping. Spanish customs asks non-EU nationals for their TIE card or application to apply the transfer-of-residence relief, and a refused visa would leave your goods in the wrong country. Book provisionally, then ship once your visa or residence authorisation is granted and your address is fixed.

Do I pay import VAT or duty on my furniture when moving from the UK to Spain?

No, not if you qualify for the transfer-of-residence relief. Spanish customs requires at least 12 consecutive months of residence outside the EU, goods owned for at least six months, and the same use in Spain. Alcohol and tobacco are excluded. The relief is claimed on the import declaration, usually by the customs agent handling your shipment.

How long after moving can I bring my belongings to Spain under the relief?

12 months. The definitive import must happen within 12 months of the date you establish your residence in Spain. You can also clear goods up to six months before settling, if you commit in writing to move and provide the guarantee that customs asks for. This gives you time to find a home before shipping.

Can I sell my furniture or car soon after importing it?

No, not freely in the first 12 months. Goods imported under the relief cannot be lent, pledged, rented out or transferred, paid or free, for 12 months after customs accepts the declaration, unless you tell customs first. If you do, import duties become payable at the rate in force on the date of the operation.

Can I bring my dog from the UK to Spain?

Yes. Your dog needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination given at least 21 days before travel, and an animal health certificate from your vet, valid for 10 days for entry into the EU. Since 22 April 2026, residents of Great Britain should not use an EU pet passport to enter the EU. You must arrive through a travellers' point of entry.

Can I keep driving my UK car in Spain after I move?

No, not indefinitely. For a vehicle imported from outside the EU, the DGT says you cannot drive it until it is registered in Spain, although temporary green plates allow two months, extendable. Registration needs customs clearance, an ITV inspection, the registration tax form or proof of exemption, and DGT registration with Spanish plates.

Which accreditations should an international mover have?

No single badge is enough, but check the ones that apply. For UK moves, look for British Association of Removers membership; its Code of Practice is approved under the Chartered Trading Standards Institute scheme. FIDI affiliation requires FIDI-FAIM certification. US movers shipping by sea must be FMC-licensed. Verify every claim on the association's own website.

Will the removal company handle my residence permit?

No. Removal companies move goods; they do not apply for visas, TIE cards or padrón registration. Some relocation companies help with appointments, but your immigration application should be handled by you or a qualified immigration professional. Ask every provider to list in writing exactly which tasks are included in the price.

Should I insure my belongings at replacement value?

Yes, ideally on a valued inventory that reflects what it would cost to replace each item in Spain, not its second-hand value. Read the excess, the pair and set clause, the exclusions and the claim deadline. Many movers will not insure boxes you packed yourself, as the US Federal Maritime Commission warns consumers.

How far in advance should I book an international mover?

No fixed rule applies, but do not leave it to the last minute. The US Federal Maritime Commission warns that late bookers are more exposed to rogue movers advertising quick, cheap services. Get surveys and quotes while your visa application is in progress, then confirm the dates once it is granted.

How MoveWise can help

MoveWise does not sell removals. We make sure the part that decides everything else, your right to live in Spain, is in place before your belongings move.

• Module 1, eligibility assessment: we review your situation and tell you which Spanish route fits, such as the Digital Nomad Visa or the Non-Lucrative Visa, and what you need to prove.
• Module 2, full preparation and submission: we prepare and review your file, submit your application and follow it to the decision.
• Timing your move: we help you plan entry, TIE application and padrón, so you know when it is safe to tell your mover to ship.
• Housing support: you choose the property; we review it and the lease against the visa requirements.
• Residency Setup: a separate package after your permit, for the practical registrations of your first months.
• Refund policy: a full refund of our fee if your application is refused, under the conditions of our service agreement.

MoveWise has more than 500 client reviews on Trustpilot.

👉 Get your visa and residence sorted before the move. Book a free consultation with a MoveWise Client Manager.

A good mover gets your sofa to Spain. A granted visa, a TIE application and a Spanish address get it through customs without extra cost. Sort the residence first, vet the mover with the checks above, and ship when the paperwork is ready.

Sources and legal references

• Agencia Tributaria, Transfer of residence: customs relief and VAT exemption (Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009; Ley 37/1992 del IVA), checked 30 October 2026
• Spanish Foreign Ministry, Information sheet on transferring residence from a non-EU country to Spain, checked 30 October 2026
• Spanish Embassy in Ottawa, Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE), checked 30 October 2026
• DGT, Importing a vehicle from outside the EU, checked 30 October 2026
• MAPA, Travelling with dogs, cats and ferrets, checked 30 October 2026
• GOV.UK, Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad, checked 30 October 2026
• GOV.UK, New EU rules for pet travel for GB residents, 21 April 2026
• GOV.UK, Check how to declare personal goods you bring into or take out of the UK, checked 30 October 2026
• GOV.UK, Taking a vehicle out of the UK: permanent export, checked 30 October 2026
• European Commission, Personal imports of animal products, checked 30 October 2026
• European Commission, EU cash controls, checked 30 October 2026
• US Federal Maritime Commission, Moving dos and don'ts, checked 30 October 2026
• Chartered Trading Standards Institute, Approved Code: British Association of Removers, checked 30 October 2026
• FIDI, FIDI-FAIM Quality Certification, checked 30 October 2026
• International Association of Movers, iamovers.org, checked 30 October 2026

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Immigration rules and consular practice change frequently; the information was verified on 30 October 2026. For advice on your situation, speak to a qualified professional.

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