Moving abroad
How we turned
someday into a move.
We sold most of what we owned in Los Angeles and moved to the southern coast of Spain. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. It was also considerably more complicated than buying a plane ticket and packing a few bags.
This is what we wish we’d had at the beginning: a clear look at the process, what worked for us, and the people who helped us navigate the complicated parts.
Read this first
We are not lawyers, tax advisors, or immigration consultants, and nothing here is legal, tax, or financial advice. We are two people who went through this once and are telling you what happened to us.
Rules change, they differ by consulate and by region, and your situation is not ours. For anything that carries real consequences, talk to a licensed professional. Several of them are listed further down this page, which is the most useful thing we can offer.
The shape of it
Four stages, roughly in order.
Almost everyone we talk to is somewhere in one of these. Knowing which one you are in tells you what to worry about now and what can wait.
01
Wondering
You are curious but have not committed. The work here is honest math: what it costs, what you would give up, and whether the life you are imagining is the one that exists.
02
Deciding
You are choosing a country and a visa route. This is where most people stall, because the options are written in language designed for lawyers rather than for you.
03
Applying
Documents, apostilles, translations, consulate appointments, insurance, proof of income. The stage where good help pays for itself many times over.
04
Landing
Residency cards, a local bank, taxes in two countries, a phone number, a doctor, a place to live. The part nobody warns you about, and the part that makes it real.
The guide · Volume One
So You Want to Move Abroad.
The Roadmap. A high-level guide from a couple who actually did it: what we thought about, in what order, and when we asked for help. Written from our own move, not assembled from forums.
- A step-by-step timeline from first idea to residency card
- Some honest advice at each stage of the process
- The document list, and the ones that caused delays
- What we got wrong, so you do not repeat it
- Instant PDF download
Delivered as a PDF download immediately after checkout. Payment is handled securely by Shopify.
People who can help
The ones who do the heavy lifting.
These are the people and services we used or would use again. They answer the questions we cannot, and they handle the parts that genuinely need a professional. Reach out to them directly; they are used to hearing from people at the very beginning.
Digital nomad visa · Spain
Move To Spain Guide
Specialists in Spain's digital nomad visa, trusted by thousands of expats. They handle the application end to end, and also help with tax, neighborhoods, and schools, so the move to Spain feels like a fresh start rather than a paperwork marathon.
Visit site Affiliate or referral link
Relocation & settling-in · Spain
Be Spain Savvy
Relocation and administrative support for people moving to Spain, from the paperwork to everyday life. They translate documents, interpret at appointments, connect you with vetted local businesses, and run clarity calls in plain English when you are unsure where you stand.
Visit site Affiliate or referral link
Real estate · Costa del Sol
Viva España
A real estate agency specializing in Malaga, Marbella, and the wider Costa del Sol, with one of the largest local property selections. They live in the area, handle the legal process in your own language, and their buyer services cost you nothing.
Visit site Affiliate or referral link
Currency · International payments
GC Partners
A specialist money-transfer provider moving funds overseas since 2003, for more than 150,000 clients across 125 markets. When you are buying property abroad or sending money between currencies, their rates and service beat handling it through a bank.
Visit site Affiliate or referral link
Tax & accounting · Spain
Jose Consulting
A tax and accounting advisor with over twenty years of experience, working one to one with freelancers, expats, and small businesses. He handles Beckham Law registration, non-resident returns, US-expat tax questions, and the filings that catch newcomers out, like Modelo 720.
Visit site Affiliate or referral link
Moving & relocation · Spain
Global
More than thirty-five years of international moves and relocation, one of the highest-rated in Spain. They cover the whole move under one roof: shipping and tracking your things, finding a home and schools, registering a car, and immigration paperwork.
Visit site Affiliate or referral link
Health insurance · Spain
Sanitas
Private health cover is a requirement for most Spanish residency visas, and the policy has to meet specific conditions. Our contact handles English-speaking applicants and knows which policies satisfy the consulate.
Get in touch Affiliate or referral linkSome of the links above are affiliate or referral links, which means we may earn a commission or referral fee at no additional cost to you. We only list people we have used or would use ourselves. It does not change what they charge you, and it does not change who we recommend.
Go to the source
Official information, free.
Before you pay anyone for anything, these are the authorities that actually set the rules. We link them because guidance found anywhere else, including here, can go out of date.
- Spanish visas Requirements are set by Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and applied by the consulate covering your region, so always check both. Start at exteriores.gob.es.
- US passports Apply or renew through the U.S. Department of State. Do this earlier than you think you need to.
- Americans abroad The State Department publishes country information, entry requirements, and embassy contacts for US citizens living overseas.
- Taxes from abroad US citizens generally keep filing regardless of where they live. The IRS explains the rules for citizens and resident aliens abroad.
One more thing
The paperwork ends. The life starts.
Every part of this is temporary except the reason you are doing it. If you are somewhere in the middle of it right now, keep going.
See where we ended up