Shipping your belongings to Spain requires more planning than arranging transport. Your costs and paperwork depend on where you are moving from, the volume of goods, whether you use a full container or groupage service, and whether your shipment qualifies for relief from import duty and VAT. Start planning several months before your move, especially if you are shipping from outside the European Union.
Choose an international moving service
International removal companies commonly offer packing, collection, export paperwork, sea freight, customs clearance and delivery to your Spanish address. Ask whether the quotation is door-to-door or port-to-door, and confirm which services are included. A low headline price may exclude packing, destination handling, customs representation, storage, delivery beyond the port or carrying furniture upstairs.
For a complete household, a full-container-load service, usually called FCL, gives you exclusive use of a container. A 20-foot container may suit a smaller home, while a 40-foot container is used for larger shipments. The mover should calculate the required volume rather than selecting a container purely by property size. If you are sending only a few items, less-than-container-load shipping, or LCL, combines your goods with other customers’ consignments. It is often more economical, although handling at several warehouses can increase the risk of delays or minor damage.
Request at least several written quotations from established international movers. Check that the company has experience with Spain, explains its customs procedure and provides cargo insurance options. Standard carrier liability is not the same as comprehensive insurance. Prepare a detailed inventory before collection, including descriptions, quantities and approximate values. Photograph valuable furniture and electronics, and keep copies of the inventory, quotation and insurance terms.
Ports and inland delivery in Spain
Most household shipments arrive through a major commercial port. Barcelona is important for Catalonia and northeastern Spain; Valencia serves much of the east and central regions; Algeciras is a major gateway near the Strait of Gibraltar; and Bilbao is useful for northern Spain. Vigo, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife also handle international cargo, although routing and onward transport depend on the origin and destination.
The nearest port is not always the quickest or cheapest option. A mover may route a shipment through a different port because of sailing schedules, transhipment connections or available customs services. Inland delivery to Madrid, Seville, Málaga, Alicante, Palma, Zaragoza or a smaller town is normally arranged by truck after clearance. Check whether your building has restricted access, narrow streets, lift limits or delivery-hour rules. You may need a lifting platform or temporary parking permission from the local ayuntamiento.
Customs and the used household-goods exemption
Goods arriving from another EU member state normally move without import customs duty or import VAT, although moving from the United Kingdom is treated as a non-EU import since Brexit. The Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla have separate tax and customs arrangements, so do not assume that mainland rules apply.
People transferring their normal residence to Spain from outside the EU may be able to import used personal and household belongings free of customs duty and import VAT. This is a relief, not an automatic entitlement. In general, you must have lived outside the EU customs territory for at least 12 consecutive months, have owned and used the goods at your former residence for at least six months, and import them within the permitted period after establishing residence in Spain. The goods must be for the same household and personal use, not for resale or business purposes.
Customs can impose restrictions on transferring, lending or selling exempt goods during the following period, commonly 12 months. Vehicles have additional conditions and registration requirements, and goods such as alcohol, tobacco, firearms, food, medicines and plants may be subject to separate rules or permits. Ask a Spanish customs broker to assess your circumstances before shipping. The final decision belongs to Spanish customs, administered by the Agencia Estatal de Administración Tributaria, known as the AEAT.
Documents customs may require
Your customs representative will usually submit the import declaration, often referred to as a DUA or SAD, and communicate with the relevant customs office. Requirements vary by nationality, residence status and origin, but prepare the following documents:
- Passport or national identity document, plus your Spanish NIE where available.
- Proof of residence in Spain, such as a rental contract, property deed, padrón registration or evidence of your established address.
- Proof of your previous residence abroad and the date you left it.
- Your Spanish visa or residence documentation, such as a TIE application or card, where applicable.
- A signed, itemised inventory in Spanish or a format accepted by the customs agent, showing quantities and approximate values.
- The bill of lading or sea waybill, transport quotation and packing list.
- Evidence that the goods were owned and used before the move, such as purchase documents, insurance records or photographs, if requested.
- A power of attorney authorising the customs agent to act for you.
- For a vehicle, the registration certificate, purchase evidence, technical data and any documents required for Spanish registration and taxation.
Do not pack prohibited or undeclared items. Customs may inspect the container, and unclear descriptions such as “miscellaneous” can cause questions. Keep passports, medication, keys, valuables and documents with you rather than in the shipment.
How long does shipping take?
Sea freight schedules vary considerably. A shipment from Europe may take several weeks door to door, while a move from North America, Asia or Australia can take roughly two to four months once collection, consolidation, sailing, customs clearance and delivery are included. Port congestion, transhipment, weather, incomplete documents and customs inspections can extend the timetable. LCL shipments may take longer than a direct FCL service because goods are consolidated and deconsolidated.
Ask the mover for separate estimates for packing, export collection, port arrival, customs clearance and final delivery. Keep essential clothing, work equipment and household basics with you for longer than the promised date. If your Spanish accommodation is not ready, arrange storage in advance and confirm who pays demurrage or detention if the container cannot be collected promptly.
Careful inventories, realistic schedules and an experienced customs agent make the process much smoother. Once your shipment is planned, explore local businesses and services in our directory to find practical help for your new life in Spain.