Thinking about moving to Spain? This is the long-form, narrative guide to relocating — written for British, American, Canadian, Irish and EU expats who want to understand the lifestyle, paperwork, healthcare system, cost of living, regional differences and practical realities of starting a new life in Spain.
It covers everything from choosing where to live to setting up healthcare, banking, taxes and family life. If you want the action-list version of this guide instead — visas booked, NIE applied for, insurance organised — head to our Moving to Spain Checklist.
This is the complete narrative guide — explanation, context, decisions. If you want a tickable 20-step action list instead, head to the Moving to Spain Checklist.
Sanitas is one of the key private healthcare options for expats moving to Spain, especially for people who need health insurance for visas, residency, family cover or faster private medical access. This guide walks through the bigger picture: choosing where to live, healthcare, money, families and settling in. The Sanitas plans you may need are linked at the relevant point in each section.
Section 01
This guide is for people seriously considering a move to Spain, including retirees, families, digital nomads, students, EU citizens, property buyers and long-term expats. It is designed to explain the bigger picture before you start the practical checklist.
If you already know your route and simply want the step-by-step action list, use our Moving to Spain Checklist.
Section 02
People move to Spain for very different reasons, but the recurring themes are the same: climate, lifestyle, cost of living, healthcare quality, food, family-friendly culture and a strong expat community. After dark winters in Northern Europe or expensive healthcare systems elsewhere, Spain often feels like a quieter, warmer, slower-paced reset.
Spain isn't a single country in the way it's often imagined. The Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca are familiar to most British and Northern European visitors. Madrid and Barcelona are major European cities with their own rhythm. Andalusia is hot, dry and culturally distinct. Galicia, Asturias and the Basque Country are green, cool and feel more like Ireland than the holiday postcards. Valencia sits somewhere in between, with a fast-growing expat community.
It's honest to say not all of it is sunshine. Bureaucracy can be slow, the regional administration varies, and paperwork — visa, NIE, TIE, padrón, healthcare registration — takes longer than most people expect. Spanish is essential in many areas outside the main expat hubs. Tax planning needs care. But these are friction points, not deal-breakers — millions of expats have made the move and built happy lives here.
Section 03
Where you live in Spain affects almost everything else: cost of living, weather, expat density, English usage, healthcare network, schools, distance to international airports and the kind of daily life you'll have. It's worth taking it seriously rather than defaulting to wherever you've holidayed before.
The honest way to think about it is by trade-off. The classic English-friendly hotspots have strong private healthcare networks and lots of expats, but higher property prices and a more touristy feel. Inland and northern Spain are cheaper and feel more authentically Spanish, but English is less common and the climate is very different. Madrid and Barcelona offer big-city amenities at big-city prices.
Málaga, Marbella, Estepona. Highest English usage among expats. Hot summers, mild winters. Strong private healthcare network. Convenient airport. Higher property prices.
Alicante, Torrevieja, Dénia. Large British and Northern European communities. Affordable cost of living. Drier climate. Easy connections to the UK and Northern Europe.
Best for digital nomads, professionals and urban families. Most international amenities, schools and direct flights. Higher cost of living. More demanding pace.
Slower pace, lower cost, increasingly popular with families and remote workers. Strong food culture. Less expat-saturated than the southern coast.
Galicia, Asturias, Basque Country. Cooler, wetter, greener — closer to Ireland in climate. Lower expat density. For people who want "real Spain" and don't mind less English.
Section 04
Spain is generally cheaper than the UK, much cheaper than the United States, and broadly comparable to Ireland. Rent, eating out, fresh produce, mobile bills and public transport tend to be the obvious savings. Imported goods, international school fees and electricity bills are where Spain can sometimes cost more.
The bigger costs are rent (which varies wildly by region), groceries, eating out, transport, healthcare (if going private) and schools (if going private). The savings come from fresh food at local markets, public transport in cities, mid-range dining out and mobile phone plans, which are inexpensive compared to most English-speaking countries.
Rent (most regions), eating out, fresh produce, mobile bills, café and bar prices, public transport in cities.
Mid-range supermarket shop, fuel, school uniforms, mid-range clothing, mid-tier holidays inside Spain.
Imported UK / US brand goods, international school fees, electricity, some children's products and tech imports.
The actual cost of living depends massively on region. Madrid and Barcelona are not Marbella, and neither is Galicia. For a sense of typical health insurance pricing across regions and age bands, see our Health Insurance Cost Spain guide.
Section 05
Non-EU citizens — including the UK, US and Canada — need a visa to live in Spain long-term. EU citizens can move freely but need to register as a resident if staying more than 3 months. Each route has its own income requirements, paperwork and healthcare expectations.
At a high level the main routes are:
For people who can support themselves from non-Spanish passive income — pensions, savings, investments. The most popular retiree route. Private health insurance is required.
For remote workers employed by non-Spanish companies, with income thresholds. Private health insurance typically required unless paying into Spanish Social Security.
For enrolled study programmes. Sanitas International Students sits in the 14–35 age sweet spot and is purpose-built for student visa requirements.
For people with a Spanish job offer. The employer initiates the process and you usually access public healthcare via Spanish Social Security.
For spouses, partners and dependants of someone already entitled to live in Spain — including non-EU family of EU citizens already settled here.
The Certificado de Registro / Green Certificate route — not technically a visa, but the formal residency registration for EU citizens staying more than 3 months.
Section 06
Spain's public healthcare system is widely regarded as one of the stronger public healthcare systems in Europe, particularly once you are properly registered and eligible. The Sistema Nacional de Salud (SNS) is mainly tax-funded, broadly universal, and generally free at the point of use for eligible registered residents.
The system is regionally administered. Each autonomous community runs its own healthcare network, which is why your experience of public healthcare differs depending on whether you live in Andalusia, Catalonia, Valencia or Galicia. Primary care happens through your assigned local centro de salud, with a registered GP. Specialists are accessed via GP referral. Hospitals — public and private — cover the full range of medical care.
The important caveat for expats: public healthcare is not automatic the moment you arrive. You become eligible through one of several specific routes (employment, autónomo, S1, beneficiary, Convenio Especial) and you have to actively register, get your health card, and be assigned to a local centre. Until that process is complete, private health insurance is what bridges the gap. See our Public vs Private Healthcare Spain guide for a fuller comparison.
Section 07
Most expats in Spain end up using both systems rather than one or the other. Public healthcare provides the broad safety net for serious care, chronic conditions and major surgery. Private health insurance adds speed, choice and English-language access for everyday needs.
When public works well: long-term registered residents who are happy with referral pathways, families with school-age children using their local health centre, employees and autónomos contributing through Social Security, and anyone whose Spanish is comfortable in medical conversations. The standard of care is genuinely high.
When private helps: visa applicants who need formal cover certificates, retirees who want faster specialist appointments, families wanting paediatric ease and English-speaking doctors, people who want choice of clinic, and anyone bridging the period before public healthcare registration is complete.
It's rarely an either/or decision. See our full Public vs Private Healthcare Spain guide for the side-by-side comparison.
Section 08
Insurance for the move isn't one product — it's a stack: health, home, car, dental, pet and, often, funeral. Some pieces are required, some are strongly recommended, and some are situational depending on your family and life stage.
Broadly: required includes health insurance for many visa routes, and car insurance for any driver. Strongly recommended includes home insurance for property owners and renters, and dental cover for adults (the public system is limited). Situational includes pet insurance for cats and dogs, and funeral plus repatriation cover for retirees or families living cross-border.
Often required for visas. Always useful for fast specialist access and English-speaking clinics.
How to Get Cover →Public adult dental is limited. Routine cleanings, fillings, crowns, implants and orthodontics typically excluded.
Dental Insurance →Required by most mortgage lenders. Useful for renters too — water leaks and theft are common claims.
Home Insurance →Mandatory third-party at minimum for any driver in Spain. Comprehensive recommended for valuable vehicles.
Car Insurance →Vet costs add up. Sanitas Salud Mascotas reimburses 80% of eligible vet costs up to €2,500/year, subject to policy terms.
Pet Insurance →Section 09
Most expats rent first, then decide. Renting is easier paperwork-wise, lets you learn the area, and contracts are typically 1+ years (a Spanish standard contract is contrato de arrendamiento de vivienda). Buying is a serious commitment with significant tax and legal implications — most expats use a lawyer (not just an estate agent), and a mortgage requires a Spanish bank account and NIE.
Spanish mortgages for non-residents typically require a larger deposit (often 30–40%) and have age limits at term-end. Resident mortgages are more generous but still need income verification and a Spanish bank account. Buildings + contents insurance is required by mortgage lenders — see Home Insurance Spain for the practical picture.
Section 10
You'll probably need a Spanish bank account eventually — rent direct debits, utilities, taxes, mortgage payments and many official processes work much more smoothly with an IBAN starting ES. You don't need one before arriving in Spain, but plan to set one up in the first few weeks.
Online banking in English is gradually improving. BBVA, Openbank (Santander online), Sabadell, N26 and Wise all work for different parts of the expat market. Larger Spanish banks have multilingual apps; pure online banks tend to have a smoother English experience but may not offer the full range of services (e.g. some won't issue mortgages or accept certain direct debits).
To open an account you typically need: NIE or passport (depending on resident or non-resident status), proof of address (rental contract or padrón), and identification. Non-resident accounts are available but have higher fees. Once you have NIE and padrón, switching to a resident account is straightforward.
International transfers between countries are usually best done via Wise or Revolut rather than legacy bank wires — exchange rates are much better and fees lower. Most expats use them as a bridge before opening a Spanish account, and continue using them for cross-border family transfers afterwards.
Section 11
EU and EEA licences are generally valid in Spain and can be exchanged for a Spanish licence after residency.
UK licence holders can usually drive in Spain for a limited period after becoming resident, but long-term residents should check the current DGT exchange rules and time limits. Spain and the UK now have an exchange arrangement, but the process, required documents and deadlines can still catch people out. If you plan to live in Spain permanently, check the licence exchange position early rather than waiting until after you need the car daily.
US and Canadian licence rules vary depending on nationality, state or province and current bilateral arrangements. Some drivers may need to take the Spanish driving test, so it is worth checking before relying on your existing licence long term.
Car insurance is mandatory for any vehicle on the road — at least third-party (seguro a terceros). Comprehensive (todo riesgo) is recommended for newer or higher-value vehicles. Premiums depend on age, driving history, vehicle, region and any no-claims bonus transferred from your previous country.
Importing your own car vs buying locally is a real decision. Most expats buy local — paperwork is cheaper, insurance is easier, and you avoid the import duty and tax stack on a foreign vehicle. Used cars are widely available; check the vehicle's ITV (Spanish MOT equivalent) is current before buying.
The ITV (Inspección Técnica de Vehículos) is the Spanish vehicle roadworthiness test. For most private cars in Spain, the ITV is first required when the vehicle is four years old. From 4 to 10 years old, it is usually required every two years. Once the car is over 10 years old, it is usually required every year. Driving without a current ITV is a serious offence. For more on cover, see Car Insurance Spain.
Section 12
Bringing a dog or cat to Spain involves a few specific steps before you travel. Your pet needs to be microchipped, have a current rabies vaccination (usually administered at least 21 days before travel), and travel with either an EU Pet Passport (from EU/EEA countries) or an Animal Health Certificate (from the UK post-Brexit, USA, Canada and other non-EU countries). Some routes require tapeworm treatment.
Once in Spain, you'll need to: register your pet with a local vet, register the microchip with the regional pet database, keep up with ongoing rabies and other vaccinations, and follow Spanish rules for parasite protection. Many regions require leashing in public, and some have specific rules for certain breeds.
Climate and disease awareness matters. Dogs with thick coats can struggle with Spanish summers, especially in the south. Leishmaniasis — a sand fly disease — is more common in southern and central Spain, and is something to discuss with your Spanish vet. There are preventive collars, spot-on treatments and a vaccine; what's appropriate depends on region and lifestyle.
Pet insurance matters because vet costs are real and unpredictable. Sanitas Salud Mascotas reimburses 80% of eligible vet costs up to €2,500/year for dogs and cats, with free choice of veterinarian and an annual preventive consultation included, subject to policy terms. See Pet Insurance Spain, Dog Insurance Spain and Cat Insurance Spain for the detail.
Section 13
There are three main routes for educating children in Spain: public schools (free, taught in Spanish and the regional co-official language), concertado schools (semi-subsidised, often religious, with modest fees), and private international schools (English / American / French / German curriculum, with significant fees).
Public schools are highly regarded in many regions. Younger children typically pick up Spanish quickly through immersion. For older children with no Spanish, the language transition can be tough — many families use a tutoring bridge in the first year. Concertado schools sit in the middle for cost and offer a softer transition where curricula align.
International schools are concentrated near major cities and expat areas — the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia have the strongest networks. They allow children to continue in their home-country curriculum, with English as the main language. Fees vary widely but are a meaningful budget item — often in the range €6,000–€18,000 per child per year depending on school and age.
Term dates run roughly September to June, with major breaks at Christmas, Easter and summer. Local school holidays vary by autonomous community.
Vaccination records, school transport, after-school care and family health insurance all interact with the schooling decision. For families, having paediatric cover and the option of English-speaking doctors makes a real difference.
Section 14
Spanish tax residency is triggered if you spend more than 183 days in Spain in a calendar year, or if your main economic or personal interests are based in Spain. Once tax resident, you're taxed on worldwide income in Spain — not just income earned here.
The main pieces of the Spanish tax picture for new arrivals:
Section 15
If you own property in Spain, have Spanish bank accounts, or have children, it's worth thinking about a will and how Spanish inheritance rules will apply to your estate. The interaction between Spanish wills (testamento), foreign wills, the EU Succession Regulation, forced heirship rules and inheritance tax is genuinely complex — and varies by autonomous community.
The EU Succession Regulation (Brussels IV) allows you to elect the law of your nationality to govern your succession. For British, Irish and other expats with assets in multiple countries, this is an important choice — it lets you align your Spanish estate with the rules of your home country rather than defaulting to Spanish forced heirship.
Inheritance tax varies dramatically by region and by your relationship to the deceased. Andalusia, Madrid and several other communities have very low rates between spouses and direct descendants. Others tax more aggressively. A Spanish will doesn't automatically reduce your inheritance tax exposure — that depends on residency, relationship and which region the assets sit in.
Section 16
The first 3 to 6 months after arrival are admin-heavy — visa, NIE, TIE or EU registration, padrón, bank account, healthcare registration, school enrolment for any children, mobile contract, home internet, possibly driving licence exchange. Most expats find the admin takes longer than expected — sometimes much longer if the local administration is slow or appointments are scarce.
After that, life gradually shifts to lifestyle: building a routine, finding favourite places, joining expat or local groups, getting into Spanish even if slowly. The bureaucracy fades into the background and the everyday becomes Spain rather than "a new country".
Language matters. Even basic Spanish goes a long way for paperwork, neighbours, healthcare and feeling at home. Many regions also have co-official languages — Catalan in Catalonia and parts of Valencia, Valencian in Valencia, Galician in Galicia, Basque in the Basque Country. You don't need to speak them, but it's useful to know they exist (school instruction, official signage and some paperwork will be in the local co-official language).
Healthcare habits: register with a local centre once you have public access, find a private GP if you have private cover, know the nearest emergency department, and save 112 as the universal emergency number.
Building community happens through different routes depending on where you are: expat Facebook groups in most regions, language exchanges in cities, sports clubs (running, hiking, padel and swimming are big), volunteer groups, school parent WhatsApp groups, and informal coffee or wine meets. Don't underestimate how much easier life becomes once you have a couple of local friends.
Section 17
Most expats don't regret moving to Spain. But there are a few specific traps that come up often enough to be worth flagging — usually because they're easy to avoid with a bit of forethought.
Visa appointments, NIE and TIE bookings all take weeks. Start months before the move, not days.
Travel insurance is for trips, not for living in Spain. Long-stay visa and residency applications generally require proper private health insurance, not standard travel insurance.
Most expats benefit from renting for a year first to learn the area, prices and lifestyle before committing to a property.
Get professional Spanish tax advice before committing to a move date. Mistakes here are expensive and hard to unwind.
Costa del Sol, sure. Galicia or rural Asturias, much less. Plan for some Spanish — and check the region you're going to before you assume.
Each person needs their own cover. Don't only insure the visa applicant — partners, children and dependants need their own policies too.
Section 18
Spain is a federation of 17 autonomous communities, and each one has its own administration for healthcare, schools, regional tax matters, language and culture. This isn't just decorative — it has real practical effects on your daily life as a resident.
The areas where regional difference matters most:
Co-official languages matter too. In Catalonia, Catalan is the default school instruction language. In Valencia, Valencian is widely used. Galician in Galicia. Basque in the Basque Country. You can still live with English in most expat areas, but children in public schools will encounter the co-official language as a major part of their daily learning.
Climate is a regional decision in itself. Northern Spain — Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Basque Country — is cool, wet and green, more like Ireland than the holiday postcards. Southern Spain — Andalusia and the Mediterranean coast — is hot and dry, with mild winters. Central Spain — Madrid and the Castilian plateau — has hot summers and cold winters. Pick deliberately, not just based on holiday memories.
Where you live affects almost everything about your life in Spain. The Spain of Marbella in August is not the Spain of A Coruña in February. Visit out of season, ideally more than once, before committing.
Section 19
Different expat profiles face different priorities when moving to Spain. The five common shapes below show how the same guide content lands differently for retirees, families, digital nomads, students and EU citizens — and where each profile typically starts on the practical side.
Healthcare access, pension taxation, wills, inheritance, funeral insurance, repatriation cover, home insurance and whether private health insurance or an S1 route is more suitable.
NLV Health Insurance →Schools, family health insurance, dental cover, housing, local registration, child healthcare and how children will adapt to language and regional education systems. Trip cover for the journey itself is a separate topic.
Family Health Insurance →Visa eligibility, income documentation, private health insurance, tax residency, coworking options, city choice, banking and rental flexibility.
DNV Health Insurance →Student visa requirements, suitable health insurance, accommodation, university paperwork, banking and emergency healthcare access.
Student Visa Health Insurance →Do not need a visa, but may need to register as residents, prove healthcare cover depending on their situation, and understand the green certificate process.
EU Residency Health Insurance →Section 20
If this guide gave you the lay of the land, the next step is action. The pages below walk you from "considering Spain" through to "ready to apply for health insurance":
Most expats find the move smoother when they start the visa and insurance side early. The further ahead you start, the more options you have — and the less time-pressured the rest of the move feels.
This guide gave you the picture. The checklist gives you the steps. Pair them up — read the guide for context, work the checklist for action — and the move tends to be much smoother.
Use the Moving to Spain Checklist → Get a Sanitas Quote →Tell us about your situation and we'll come back with a personalised Sanitas private health insurance quote in English — based on your age, province, plan preference, visa context and number of people to cover. No obligation.
The 19 most common questions expats ask about moving to Spain — visas, healthcare, money, families, retirees, schools, taxes, insurance, settling in and where to start.