# Pre-Move Checklist: Barcelona Relocation A complete, timeline-based checklist for your move to Barcelona. This covers everything from 6 months out to your final week at home. > For detailed guides on each step, visit [SettleBarcelona](https://settleinbarcelona.com) guides. --- ## 6 Months Before ### Documents - [ ] Verify your passport is valid for at least 12 months beyond your planned move date - [ ] Research which visa you need (EU citizens: none required; non-EU: digital nomad visa, work visa, student visa, or non-lucrative visa) - [ ] Begin the visa application process if non-EU (processing takes 2-4 months depending on the consulate) - [ ] Get a criminal background check from your home country (some visas require this) - [ ] Apostille or legalize key documents: birth certificates, marriage certificates, diplomas, criminal record check - [ ] Request certified translations of documents into Spanish (use a sworn translator, "traductor jurado") - [ ] Order extra certified copies of everything (you will need more than you think) ### Financial Prep - [ ] Open a Wise account with a EUR IBAN - you will use this constantly before you get a Spanish bank account - [ ] Notify your home bank that you are relocating (prevents fraud blocks on Spanish transactions) - [ ] Build an emergency fund of at least EUR 5,000-8,000 for deposits, fees, and first-month costs - [ ] Research tax implications of leaving your home country (exit taxes, pension transfers, capital gains) - [ ] If self-employed, research Spanish Autonomo registration requirements and social security costs (EUR 230+/month) ### Housing Research - [ ] Decide on 2-3 target neighborhoods based on your priorities (families: Sarria, Sant Gervasi, Les Corts; young professionals: Gracia, Poblenou, Eixample) - [ ] Create accounts on Idealista, Fotocasa, and Habitaclia - [ ] Set up saved search alerts for your budget and criteria - [ ] If possible, plan a scouting trip to Barcelona to visit neighborhoods in person ### For Families with Children - [ ] Research schools: public (free), concertada (semi-private, EUR 100-300/month), or private (EUR 500-1,200/month) - [ ] If arriving before September: pre-registration for public/concertada schools opens in March (check exact dates with Consorci d'Educacio de Barcelona) - [ ] If arriving mid-year: contact the Consorci d'Educacio for available spots - [ ] Request school records and transcripts from your current school, translated into Spanish or Catalan - [ ] Research after-school activities (extraescolars) in your target neighborhoods --- ## 3 Months Before ### Administration - [ ] Start trying to book a Cita Previa for your NIE appointment (the system opens slots unpredictably - check daily) - [ ] If you cannot get a Cita Previa within 2 weeks of trying, hire a gestoria (EUR 100-200) to handle the booking - [ ] Download and pre-fill your NIE form: EX-18 (EU citizens) or EX-15 (non-EU citizens) from policia.es - [ ] If non-EU: prepare your proof of reason for needing an NIE (job offer, rental pre-agreement, university enrollment) ### Health Insurance - [ ] Arrange private health insurance active from your arrival date (you need this for the visa and the 4-8 week gap before CatSalut activates) - [ ] If EU citizen: request your EHIC card (European Health Insurance Card) as a bridge - [ ] If you have ongoing prescriptions, get a 3-month supply and a letter from your doctor ### Housing - [ ] Prepare your rental application package: NIE (or passport), proof of income (3x monthly rent), bank statements (3-6 months), work contract, passport copies - [ ] If renting from abroad, consider Spotahome for verified listings with remote signing - [ ] Budget for deposits: typically 2 months' rent (1 month deposit + 1 month agency fee) plus first month's rent upfront ### Shipping vs Buying New - [ ] Get quotes from 3 international movers (expect EUR 2,000-5,000 for a standard household within Europe, EUR 5,000-12,000 from outside Europe) - [ ] Compare shipping costs against buying new in Spain (IKEA, Amazon.es, Wallapop for second-hand) - [ ] Remember: most Barcelona rentals are unfurnished, meaning you may need to buy kitchen cabinets and appliances - [ ] For small moves: consider shipping only sentimental items and buying the rest locally ### Car Import Considerations - [ ] If bringing a car: research the ITV (vehicle inspection) and re-registration process - it is complex - [ ] Budget EUR 500-1,500 for import taxes, registration, and ITV fees - [ ] Find a law firm experienced with vehicle imports before arriving (most are not) - [ ] Alternative: sell your car at home and go car-free in Barcelona. Public transport (EUR 40/month unlimited) + Bicing (EUR 50/year) covers 95% of daily needs --- ## 1 Month Before ### Final Prep - [ ] Confirm your temporary accommodation for at least the first 2-4 weeks (Airbnb, apart-hotel, or short-term rental) - [ ] Ensure your temporary accommodation has a proper address for empadronamiento (some Airbnbs do not allow this - confirm with the host) - [ ] Print all documents: visa approval, NIE appointment confirmation, passport copies, insurance certificates, rental agreements - [ ] Set up mail forwarding from your current address - [ ] Cancel or transfer subscriptions and memberships that will not follow you ### Tech Setup - [ ] Research Spanish eSIM options: Holafly (works from the moment you land), or physical SIMs from Vodafone, Orange, or Movistar at the airport - [ ] Download essential apps: Google Translate, Citymapper (Barcelona), Idealista, Caixabank (you will need it), MiCarpeta Salut (health system) - [ ] Save offline maps of Barcelona in Google Maps ### Financial - [ ] Load your Wise account with at least EUR 3,000-5,000 for first-week expenses - [ ] Carry EUR 200-300 in cash for small expenses, Modelo 790 bank payment, and photo booths - [ ] Ensure your credit/debit cards work internationally and have no foreign transaction fees --- ## 1 Week Before - [ ] Final document check: passport, visa, NIE appointment confirmation, insurance certificate, rental contract/Airbnb booking, translated documents, passport photos (6-8 photos, white background, 32x26mm) - [ ] Pack a "bureaucracy folder" in your carry-on with all original documents and 3 photocopies of each - [ ] Download your boarding pass and check baggage allowance - [ ] Do a final check on your Cita Previa appointments (empadronamiento, NIE) - [ ] Say your goodbyes - you are about to start something amazing --- ## EU vs Non-EU: Key Differences ### EU Citizens - No visa required for living and working in Spain - NIE form: EX-18 (Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la Union) - Proof needed: employment contract, Autonomo registration, proof of sufficient funds (EUR 7,000+ or monthly income above EUR 600), or student enrollment - EHIC card provides temporary health coverage - Process is simpler but still requires patience with the bureaucracy ### Non-EU Citizens - Visa required before arrival (digital nomad visa, work visa, student visa, or non-lucrative visa) - NIE form: EX-15 (Solicitud de Numero de Identidad de Extranjero) - Must provide concrete proof of why you need the NIE (job offer, rental contract, etc.) - Additional documents: TIE application, extra bank statements, gestoria letter confirming legal status - Plan for longer processing times and more appointments - Consider hiring a gestoria or immigration lawyer from the start --- ## Quick Budget Overview | Item | Estimated Cost | |------|---------------| | First month's rent (2-bed, decent area) | EUR 1,100-1,800 | | Deposit + agency fee | EUR 2,200-3,600 | | Private health insurance (first 3 months) | EUR 150-300 | | NIE appointment fee (Modelo 790) | EUR 12 | | Gestoria (optional, recommended) | EUR 100-200 | | SIM card / eSIM (first month) | EUR 15-30 | | Groceries (family of 4, first month) | EUR 400-550 | | Transport pass (T-usual monthly) | EUR 40 | | Emergency buffer | EUR 2,000-3,000 | | **Total first-month minimum** | **EUR 6,000-9,500** | > Tip: These numbers assume you already have temporary accommodation sorted. If not, add EUR 1,500-3,000 for a month of Airbnb or apart-hotel. --- *Part of the SettleBarcelona Starter Pack. For detailed guides on each step, visit our free guides at [settleinbarcelona.com](https://settleinbarcelona.com).*