The Ultimate Family Guide: Moving to Spain

Why move to Spain?

So many people have magical memories of Mediterranean summer holidays it’s no wonder they end up moving to Spain.

 

Spain has the most blue-flag beaches in world (579), two of the five tallest mountains in Europe, it boasts 49 World Heritage sites, 212 Michelin-starred restaurants, as well as world-class watersports, cycling routes, hiking trails and even ski slopes. With the stunning architecture of Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona, the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage site in Galicia and in-tact structures from the Roman and Muslim empires, it’s no wonder Spain is the most-visited country in the world. In 2019 some 83 million people visited Spain, with 18 million from the UK alone. Moving to Spain has become an aspiration for living life on 24/7 holiday mode – and it’s a dream that many achieve without ever turning back.

 

Where do Expats Live in Spain?

The Spanish Costas enjoy gentle winters of even 20°C in January, and a Mediterranean diet of fresh, local produce is bliss for people craving better health. Spain’s natural beauty is also why most expats and nomads don’t tend to live in Spain’s biggest cities – they choose the Costa del Sol in the south (Marbella, Malaga, Benalmadena) the Costa Blanca in the east (Torrevieja, Alicante, Benidorm, Javea) the Maresme and Costa Brava coastlines in the northeast (Sitges, Barcelona) the Balearic Islands in the Med (Mallorca, Ibiza) and the sub-tropical Canary Islands off the coast of Africa (Tenerife).

 

If you’re moving to Spain from the UK after Brexit, visas and residency permits will be more difficult to obtain, but not impossible. More than 360,000 UK citizens currently call Spain home, followed by 140,000 Germans, 121,000 French, 50,000 Dutch and 50,000 Americans. It’s all a question of discovering your Spanish dream and making smart moves to get there.

 

Moving to Spain: The Ultimate Family Guide & Checklist

Do you crave a healthier, safer or adventure-filled life for your family in Spain? Perhaps you are you looking retire in the sunshine? Are you already working remotely teaching English as a digital nomad around the world, or still just at the bright-idea stage? In this MumAbroad Ultimate Family Guide we’ll cover 9 hurdles when moving to Spain, so you make the best decision for you and your loved ones. For a rapid overview, view the Moving to Spain checklist at the end:
Relocation services in Spain
Visas and residence permits
Opening a bank account
Finding a house in Spain
Healthcare in Spain
Cost of living in Spain
Driving in Spain
Spanish school system
Moving to Spain with a dog or cat
Spanish language and culture
Moving to Spain – CHECKLIST