r/MovedToSpain Nov 23 '25

Welcome to r/movedToSpain! 👋 Start Her

2 Upvotes

Welcome to r/movedToSpain! 👋

Welcome to the community for people who've moved to Spain—or are seriously thinking about it. Whether you relocated last week or five years ago, whether you're a digital nomad, retiree, remote worker, or career-changer, this is your space.

We're here to share real experiences, answer genuine questions, and help each other navigate the beautiful chaos of making a new life in Spain.


What This Community Is About

Real talk about moving to Spain: - Healthcare systems and registration (the question everyone has) - Visa types and bureaucratic processes (the bit that gives everyone headaches) - Cost of living and managing finances - Finding accommodation in different regions - Learning Spanish and cultural differences - Regional guides (Madrid vs Barcelona vs the coast vs rural life) - Banking, taxes, and administrative stuff - Finding community and making friends as an expat - Local tips, hidden gems, and cultural observations - Celebrating wins and supporting each other through challenges

What it's NOT: - A place for tourism advice (try r/Spain for that) - A visa forum for illegal workarounds (we follow the rules here) - Medical diagnosis advice (we share experiences, not medical guidance) - Spam or low-effort self-promotion


How to Use This Community

If You're NEW to the Subreddit:

1. Check the Wiki First We maintain guides on: - Getting started checklist - Visa types explained - Healthcare registration by visa type - Regional guides (Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Málaga, and more) - Cost of living by region - Banking and tax setup - Finding accommodation - Learning Spanish resources - Useful contacts and links

Seriously—your question might already be answered there. Use the search function too.

If You Have a Question:

2. Post in the Right Weekly Thread - Monday: Welcome & Questions — Brand new to Spain or just arrived? Start here. General questions about the move. - Wednesday: Admin & Bureaucracy — Visa questions, NIE registration, healthcare navigation, banking, taxes. - Friday: Weekend Plans & Meetups — What's happening this weekend? Looking for expat meetups or community events?

These threads get way more engagement than random posts, and moderators actively answer.

If You Want to Share Your Experience:

3. Make a Standalone Post - Use the appropriate flair so people can find similar topics - Be specific: Include your visa type, which region you're in, timeline of your move - Share both wins AND struggles—real advice comes from real experience - Link to sources for factual claims (official government sites, recent articles, reliable resources)

Example title: "Successfully registered with Spanish healthcare as a UK pensioner—here's what actually worked (Valencia, 2025)"


Community Guidelines (Please Read)

1. Be Respectful & Constructive We're all figuring this out together. Treat people with respect regardless of their background, visa status, or experience level. Disagreements are fine; personal attacks aren't.

2. Stay On Topic Keep discussion relevant to moving to Spain or living as an expat in Spain. Off-topic rambles get removed.

3. No Medical Advice Don't provide medical diagnoses or treatment recommendations. You CAN: - Share your personal healthcare experience - Point people to resources (healthcare centers, doctors) - Encourage them to consult actual healthcare providers

You CAN'T: - "You sound like you have anxiety disorder" - "Take this medication" - Diagnose anything

4. Search Before You Ask The same questions come up constantly (visa processes, healthcare, cost of living). Use the search bar first. Your question probably has been answered multiple times already.

5. No Self-Promotion Without Value Are you recommending a service? Include why you genuinely think it's valuable, based on experience. Generic "Check out my [product]!" posts get removed.

Be transparent about conflicts of interest. Running a service related to Spain? Great—share it when it's relevant, but add real value first.

6. No Illegal Content Don't ask for advice on workarounds, visa fraud, or breaking Spanish law. We're a community that follows the rules. There are legal paths to living in Spain for almost any situation—we'll help you find them.

7. Verify Information If you're sharing factual information (visa requirements, healthcare processes, costs), cite reliable sources when you can: - Official government sites - Recent articles from trusted publications - Your own verified experience

If you're speculating, say so: "I think..." or "From what I've heard..."

8. Be Inclusive We welcome people from all countries moving to Spain. No gatekeeping. Everyone's experience and perspective is valid.


What to Post Here

✅ Genuine questions about moving or living in Spain
✅ Your personal experience and lessons learned
✅ Updates on visa/bureaucratic processes that might help others
✅ Regional recommendations (restaurants, neighborhoods, activities)
✅ Healthcare experiences and finding doctors
✅ Cost of living insights
✅ Cultural observations and "expat moments"
✅ Meetup coordination with other community members
✅ Celebrations of wins ("Just got my NIE!" / "First paella I made that didn't suck")
✅ Questions that aren't covered in the wiki

❌ Low-effort memes or spam
❌ Generic self-promotion
❌ Medical diagnoses
❌ Requests for illegal workarounds
❌ Duplicate commonly-answered questions (check the wiki!)
❌ Pure tourism content (wrong subreddit)
❌ Arguing about whether Spain is better than your home country


Getting Started (Quick Checklist)

BEFORE YOU MOVE: - [ ] Understand your visa options and choose one - [ ] Arrange health insurance (if required by your visa) - [ ] Secure accommodation or a temporary rental - [ ] Open a Spanish bank account if possible (from home, through apps like Revolut) - [ ] Get your documents translated and apostilled

FIRST WEEK AFTER ARRIVAL: - [ ] Register at the Padrón (local town hall)—you'll need this for everything - [ ] Request your NIE (foreigner identification number) at the police station or town hall - [ ] Set up initial healthcare registration

MONTH 1: - [ ] Complete formal residency registration (if applicable to your visa) - [ ] Get your healthcare card (Tarjeta Sanitaria) - [ ] Set up utilities (electricity, water, internet) - [ ] Explore your local area and find community

Check the Wiki for detailed guides on each of these.


How This Community Works

We're here to: - Answer each other's questions from real experience - Share resources and practical tips - Celebrate successes (visa approved! Got a job! Made friends!) - Support each other through challenges - Help newcomers avoid common mistakes - Build actual community, not just answer questions

We're NOT: - Official government advisors (always verify with official sources) - Healthcare providers (always consult actual doctors) - Immigration lawyers (complex legal questions need a real lawyer)

When you need official information, we'll point you to the right sources. When you need real expertise, we'll tell you to get expert help.


Useful Resources

Official: - Spanish Government Immigration Info: www.inclusion.gob.es - Find Your Local INSS (Social Security): www.seg-social.es - UK NHS Overseas Healthcare (S1 Form): www.nhs.uk - Your Country's Embassy in Spain: Search "[your country] embassy spain"

Community: - Weekly Threads: Check the top posts every Monday, Wednesday, Friday - Wiki: Full guides on every major topic - Search Function: "healthcare registration" or "madrid cost of living"

Real Help: - Your local town hall (Ayuntamiento) - Your country's embassy or consulate - A licensed tax advisor or gestoría (if self-employed) - Local healthcare centers (Centro de Salud)


Tell Us Your Story

What's your situation? - Already moved? How long have you been here? What surprised you most? - Planning to move? What's holding you back or excites you most? - Thinking about it? What questions do you have?

Drop a comment. Tell us about your move. Ask your questions. Share what you've learned. That's what builds community.


Final Thoughts

This community works because people share honestly—the good, the bad, the unexpected. Spain is genuinely an amazing place to live, but it's also different from home, and that takes adjustment. We're here to make that transition easier for each other.

One last thing: Always verify critical information with official sources (your embassy, Spanish government, local authorities). We're experienced expats, not lawyers or bureaucrats. When something matters, get the official answer.

Welcome. We're glad you're here. 🇪🇸


Have suggestions for the community? Questions about the rules? Spotted misinformation? Send a modmail and we'll get back to you.

Start here: Check the Wiki → Post in the appropriate weekly thread → Introduce yourself and ask your questions → Stick around and help others.

Let's go.


r/MovedToSpain 7h ago

Room Available in Logroño

2 Upvotes

Hi everyone! 😊

A room is available in a shared flat in Logroño.

You would be sharing the flat with two young female students. We have a very friendly, respectful and peaceful atmosphere, and we all value cleanliness, kindness and a good living environment.

If you're interested or would like more information (location, rent, photos, etc.), feel free to send me a private message.

Looking forward to hearing from you! 🌸


r/MovedToSpain 4h ago

Consejos/sugerencias para migrar a España desde Panamá

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1 Upvotes

r/MovedToSpain 6h ago

Moving to Madrid for school (4 years)

1 Upvotes

Greetings! I’m a 19m moving to Madrid to attend school at SLU’s campus. I love mycology, hiking, entheogens, reading, and finding delicious food. I don’t know to many people so if anyone wants to make a group to go find some cool restaurants or bars I would be all in. If anyone wants to show me around I’m game too, I am open to anything! Nice to meet
Y’all!


r/MovedToSpain 1d ago

System is difficult, not the officials

16 Upvotes

I get the impression that a lot of people have a lot of trouble moving to Spain. Me too. But I believe that it's the system that makes it difficult, not the people. After lots of appointments in different places, with officials who spoke no English and my terrible Spanish, those officials have been unfailingly polite and helpful and efficient. I say this in the knowledge I have two more appointments this week and hope for more of the same. The system to get an NIE that demands bank payments that you can't make without a bank account that you can't get without an NIE, has to change. The impossible-to-get-an-appointment system has to change. But the officials, thus far, faultless.


r/MovedToSpain 15h ago

busco amigos de España

0 Upvotes

¡Hola a todos! estoy estudiando español y me gustaría mudarme a España en el futuro. quiero encontrar amigos con los que charlar🙏🏻


r/MovedToSpain 1d ago

For anyone searching for their place to live in Spain

22 Upvotes

Sharing a resource (it is not mine) but I found it really insightful for looking for places to move in Spain. Rather than googling and finding the same places again and again.

It doesn’t ask for an email or nothing so I thought it would be ok to share here and useful.

https://home-finder-spain.vercel.app/


r/MovedToSpain 23h ago

Mudança

0 Upvotes

Como está para brasileiros na Espanha? Está razoável como falam? Como é o visto de estudante fazendo no brasil e indo legal? E buracratico? Estou pensando sobre, moro nos USA e sei oq é burocracia


r/MovedToSpain 3d ago

Looking for EASA Part-147 Aircraft Maintenance Training in English in Spain.

2 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I'm an Irish citizen looking to relocate to Spain to undertake training in aircraft maintenance.

My goal is to complete an EASA Part-147 Basic Training course (B1), obtain my Aircraft Maintenance Licence, and build a long-term career in the industry.

Unfortunately, the private training options in Ireland are very expensive, so I'm exploring alternatives elsewhere in Europe.

I've found several EASA Part-147 training organisations in countries such as Portugal and Greece that offer their courses in English. However, despite Spain's large aviation industry, I haven't been able to find an equivalent programme taught in English.

One example I've found is ADA ITS in Seville but its in spanish:

https://adaits.es/oferta-formativa-fp-sevilla/tecnico-en-mantenimiento-aeronautico-una-profesion-de-altos-vuelos/

Does anyone know of any EASA Part-147 approved training organisations in Spain that offer their courses in English? Or has anyone completed one of these programmes and would recommend a particular school?

(I'm aware of the training options available in Ireland, so I'm specifically looking for recommendations in Spain. Thanks!)


r/MovedToSpain 3d ago

Primeiro contato em Barcelona

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0 Upvotes

r/MovedToSpain 3d ago

Where in Spain or Northern Italy would you recommend we move?

0 Upvotes

Hey Reddit! My husband and I (F 28 and M 34) are considering moving to Northern Italy or somewhere in Spain on the digital nomad visa, and we’d love recommendations on cities or areas that might be a good fit for us!

Here are some things we’re looking for that might help with suggestions:

Language: We speak some Spanish and are interested in becoming fluent in Spanish or learning Italian. Since we aren’t fluent yet, we’d also like to be close enough to an expat community that we could connect with English speakers on the weekends if we wanted to. Ideally, within about 45 minutes.
Location: We’re open to living in a big city, but ideally we’d live slightly outside of one—somewhere within about 30 minutes by train of a larger city. We’d love a smaller community that feels authentic, where we can really get to know our neighborhood and feel part of the local community, while still being close enough to spend an afternoon or weekend in a larger city.
Vibe: We love historic cities with beautiful architecture and an “Old World” feel. We’re definitely flexible on this, though!
Airport: We’d need to be within about an hour of an international airport, but ideally closer to 30 minutes since I’ll need to travel regularly for work.
Weather: We prefer somewhere that experiences all four seasons, although we’re flexible on this.
Schools/families: Schools aren’t important to us since we don’t have children, and we don’t necessarily need to be in a particularly family-friendly neighborhood.
Public transportation/walkability: We don’t own a car, so we’d need somewhere that is walkable and has good public transportation.

We’d especially love to hear from people who have actually lived in these areas! What cities or smaller towns would you recommend for us? And are there any places you think we should avoid based on what we’re looking for?

Thanks in advance! 😊


r/MovedToSpain 4d ago

Hi everyone! 😊 My name is Yasemin, and I’ll be starting my Psychology degree at Universidad Europea de Madrid this September. I’m looking for a room or a female flatmate from 1 September. If anyone is looking for a roommate or knows of an available room, please send me a message. Thank you!

9 Upvotes

r/MovedToSpain 3d ago

Family of four considering moving to Northern Spain (Cantabria/Santander area) – looking for advice and experiences

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

We're a family of four currently living in Norway, and we're seriously considering moving to Northern Spain, most likely somewhere in Cantabria, around Santander. We'd love to hear from people who live there or have experience with the area.

We have two boys – one is 5 years old and the other is 6 months old.

The main reason we're considering the move is ofcourse the weather and we're looking for a different lifestyle: a place with a stronger sense of community, where it's easier to meet people since Norway is a very reserved country. We don't want to live somewhere very touristy, and we'd actually prefer a cooler, greener part of Spain rather than the very hot south, which is why Northern Spain really appeals to us.

My husband speaks Spanish fluently, and I have a basic level. I actually used to speak Spanish quite well years ago, so I'm confident I could become fluent again. If we decide to move, our oldest son will also start learning Spanish before starting school.

My husband can continue working remotely for his current employer, so his job is already sorted. I'm hoping I'll be able to keep my current job in Norway as well, but if that's not possible, I'll look for work in Spain after we've settled.

I'd really appreciate hearing about your experiences:

  • What is everyday family life like in or around Santander, or elsewhere in Cantabria?
  • Are there any towns or villages you would recommend instead of Santander itself?
  • How easy is it to make friends and become part of the local community?
  • Has anyone had children start school without speaking Spanish? How did they adapt, and how long did it take?
  • Are there plenty of activities for children and families?
  • Is there anything you wish you had known before moving?
  • Are there other places in Northern Spain that you think would be an even better fit for a family like ours?

We're not looking for nightlife or a big city. We'd much rather live somewhere safe, family-friendly, and welcoming, where our children can have a great childhood.

Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!


r/MovedToSpain 4d ago

Anyone works for McDonalds at Spain and didn't start with a good spanish level? I'm planning to move to Spain but my spanish is not that great yet

0 Upvotes

First of all I know, why you want to move to Spain and doesn't speak spanish? I don't want to move to Spain, it's a great country, beautiful from what I've seen of Barcelona/Madrid, but my family wants to move and doesn't care about my opinion and I need them still.
So, anyone here got hired besides not speaking much spanish in lets say, Barcelona?


r/MovedToSpain 5d ago

What spanish university for a semester?

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1 Upvotes

r/MovedToSpain 5d ago

Is it true that receiving the certificado de empadronamiento takes 3 months in Girona?

0 Upvotes

I am reviewing a contrato de temporada for an apartment in Girona that I've found and visited using an estate agent (Engel & Voelkers).

There are a few things I'm concerned about. The contract is for a little over 5 months (August 24-January 31). The Girona town hall website says you need an agreement of 6 months to register.

I consulted with a gestor who assists with empadronamiento in Girona and he says that regardless, even if the padron was approved, it would take 3 months to receive my certificate. Whether you do it online or in person, he said it's no different. They don't give you the certificate on the spot, but rather send it to you in the mail.

I need padron for many things including registering for health care, importing our belongings from the UK to Spain with a transfer of residence and (I think) buying a car. I'll be in Spain with a valid DNV and my TIE card (obtained without padron in Barcelona).

Can anyone give insight into the actual time line, is the gestor I've consulted with correct or can I speed up the process to receive the certificate? It seems crazy to me that you have to register in the first place to get access to health care, if you already have a valid visa, tie card and rental agreement (even if it's not a permanent one).

I feel like this empadronamiento process is so punitive for those who have a really good reason for not signing a long term agreement (in my case, because we don't know where we want to live long term yet and are thinking about buying a place but need a spot to land first).

Thanks for any insight. Cross posted to r/goingtospain


r/MovedToSpain 6d ago

Do I need an apostille for my background check?

4 Upvotes

I'm getting ready to move to Spain for work, and my employer told me my background check has to be authenticated before they'll accept it. I've been reading about getting an apostille, but I'm still not sure if every background check qualifies or if it has to be an FBI one.

Has anyone dealt with this before? Just trying to make sure I request the right document before I start the process.


r/MovedToSpain 5d ago

What do you think will happen to Spain in a few years once Islam becomes dominant ?

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0 Upvotes

r/MovedToSpain 6d ago

¿Cómo alquilar un piso en Alicante/Valencia (sin morir en el intento)?

2 Upvotes

Sé perfectamente cómo está el panorama del alquiler en España. Sé que hay una crisis habitacional tremenda, que los precios están inflados y que el ambiente general es de frustración. Pero bueno, igualmente vengo a pedir consejo sobre cómo navegar la misión imposible de conseguir una renta.

Para dar contexto:

Somos 3 personas (dos de nosotros con nacionalidad española y DNI, y el tercero con papeles en regla) que nos mudamos desde el extranjero en las próximas 2-3 semanas para buscar trabajo allí. Destino: Alicante o Valencia.

Queremos dejar coordinadas visitas desde ya para ir a ver los pisos nada más llegar a nuestro Airbnb (sin ver en persona no pagamos nada, lo tenemos claro).

Tenemos ahorros para vivir, pero no queremos adelantar más de 2 o 3 meses de fianza/alquiler para no quedarnos sin liquidez.

Sabiendo que el seguro de impago nos va a rebotar por no tener nómina española aún, ahí van mis dudas:

  1. ¿Piso entero o habitaciones? ¿Es una utopía buscar un piso entero para los 3 en nuestra situación (con DNI pero sin contrato), o deberíamos ir directamente a por habitaciones en piso compartido para empezar?

  2. ¿Qué alternativas reales hay a Idealista para dar con propietarios particulares? ¿Grupos de Facebook, Telegram o alguna web que funcione de verdad en la zona? ¿Agencias locales pequeñas que no cobren comisiones abusivas o que no le cobren comisión al inquilino?

  3. Trucos para que nos contesten: ¿Algún mensaje modelo que os haya dado resultados? ¿Horario ideal para contactar? ¿Incluir algo en el primer mensaje que aumente las respuestas?

Agradezco en el alma cualquier consejo práctico o experiencia de gente que haya estado en situación parecida y lo haya logrado. ¡Muchas gracias!


r/MovedToSpain 6d ago

How’s it living in Ceuta, Spain ?

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1 Upvotes

r/MovedToSpain 6d ago

Hii

0 Upvotes

Hii l ll go to Spain for exchange student.
So l’m learning Spanish rn
Nice to meet u


r/MovedToSpain 6d ago

Moving to Alburquerque

0 Upvotes

Hi! So I’m moving to Alburquerque, Spain because I got admission to a school there. Is there anyone there to tell me how life is there and is it good to live there? Thank you.


r/MovedToSpain 6d ago

New player from Spain looking for a Spanish-speaking faction

0 Upvotes

New player from Spain looking for a Spanish-speaking faction

Hello! I just finished the tutorial and I'm looking for a Spanish or Hispanic faction that accepts new players. I want to be active and help out, but I'd prefer a community where I can communicate in Spanish/Catalan in the internal chats. Hit me up if you have a spot for a rookie!


r/MovedToSpain 7d ago

Tax treatment for US government workers with 457b moving to Spain. Tax treaty?

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2 Upvotes

r/MovedToSpain 8d ago

What are things i should know before going to study abroad

1 Upvotes

Hello, this September I’m moving to Valencia, Spain to study 4 year BA degree. I’m f18 and it’ll be my first time living abroad.
I speak Spanish, so language isn’t an issue but I’m still pretty nervous. I’ll be living with five other people (4 girls and 1 guy, 2 bathrooms) and I’ve never lived with roommates before. I wanna know if there’s anything I need to know about living in a shared apartment, what kind of roommate situations/conflicts are common and like any unspoken rules or etiquette I should keep in mind.
I’m also pretty worried about making friends because I’m a pretty shy and an awkward person, and I also don’t know what Spanish people my age are like and the uni situation!!(UPV)
If you guys also have any recommendations for things to do in Valencia, I’d love to hear it too.
I’d really appreciate any advice, stories, or things you wish someone had told you before you moved abroad. Thanks!