How to Move to Spain: Everything You Need to Know

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How to Move to Spain: Everything You Need to Know

If you’ve been dreaming of a place in the sun, there’s nowhere quite like Spain! Sangria, tapas, beach and beautiful weather. What more could you want?

The idea of a move abroad may seem a bit daunting – where do you start? Not to worry, we have everything you need to know here. Read on for the best tips and information on how to move to Spain.

Climate

As a pretty large country, Spain’s climate varies from region to region. The North of the country enjoys a temperate climate. Here you can expect warm summers and mild winters. In the South, it can get extremely hot.

Central Spain, without being affected by the ocean, has the most extremes of hot and cold.

Whether in the North or South of Spain, in August you can expect all of the locals to be at the beach. Speaking of which…

Be Patient in August

The entire month of August is a vacation in Spain. Aside from tourist and beach resorts, you can expect many shops, restaurants and businesses to close down for half or all of the month. Even banks and doctors clinics can close at this time.

If you want to make progress with any legal or business matters at this time, expect to wait.

Bureaucracy

When dealing with any legal processes as you settle in Spain, prepare to face some bureaucracy. Take multiple copies of every document you could possibly need. And then add one more for good luck.

Your experiences will depend on which member of staff deals with you that day. And whether they’re in a good mood. It pays to be assertive, friendly and speak the lingo. If your Spanish is lacking, rope in a local friend to help.

Speak The Lingo

Despite perceptions from many English-speaking countries, not all Spaniards speak English. Nor should they! As a new resident of the country, making the effort to speak the language will be appreciated and rewarded by the locals.

Be aware that aside from Castellano (‘standard’ Spanish), there are local languages too. Catalan, Valenciano, Basque and Gallego are recognized in their own right. Understanding and respecting these distinct cultures will serve you well in your new home.

How to Move to Spain – Choose Your Location

Your new Spanish life could look quite different, depending on where you choose to settle. You might opt for the hustle and bustle of Madrid, a fishing village in Cantabria, or beach house in the Balearics.

If you’re unsure, try visiting different areas to get a feel of what suits you. You might find for sale a villa in Menorca.

Prepare to Relax

The natural pace of life is much slower in Spain. If you’re coming from a fast-paced, corporate world, prepare to adapt. The words ‘mañana’ (tomorrow) and ‘tranquila’ (relax) are often used to buy time.

This may be a challenge at first, as you might experience this as inefficiency compared to the culture in your home country. However, after a while, you’ll loosen up and learn to go with the flow.

The Take-Away

A move to Spain could be an excellent life choice. If you have an open mind, patience and a willingness to learn, you’re already well equipped! Do you have any other tips on how to move to Spain? Let us know!

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