Moving to Spain
Before you decide on your ideal house in Spain, it would be advisable if you looked at some of the aspects of moving abroad and the precautions which should be taken in order to make the transition more comfortable.
Before we begin:
We are not lawyers. We build and sell houses. Although we take every precaution to ensure that information published on this website is up-to-date and accurate, there is no substitute for professional advice.
If you speak reasonable Spanish, or intend to move to a community where the town hall has a good English speaker, speak to the local authorities. They are quite helpful and can provide you with a wealth of local information for free.
For non-Spanish speakers, speak to a gestoria (administrator) who speaks, or employs a good English speaker. Ask them for a scale of their charges - they are usually substantially cheaper than a lawyer and often as effective.
If all else fails, find a lawyer who speaks good English. Make sure that they are licensed to practise in the province in which you wish to buy a property (some of them are not) and agree all charges in advance !
In any case, make an attempt to learn Spanish. The local people will appreciate your efforts, and you will not feel that you are totally in the dark all of the time.
Spain is part of the European Union. This has resulted (albeit slowly) in a simplification of paperwork for people wishing to move here. If you are not a citizen of an EU country (or Iceland, Norway, Switzerland), please contact the Spanish Embassy in your country of residence for advice.
All of the following information is aimed at EU/EAA citizens, as the source of this information is generally stable - where possible, links back to the source of the information are provided.
See the next sections: Residence Permits, Bringing your Car to Spain, Driving License, Bank Accounts and Medical Care for more Information.
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