Move to Costa Blanca Los Dolses & the southern Costa Blanca
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UK movers

Moving to the Costa Blanca from the UK

Since Brexit, moving from the UK to Spain involves more planning than it used to — visas, residency registration and healthcare all typically need working through. Here's a plain-English overview of what's involved, and how we help.

This page is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Rules for UK nationals moving to Spain can change and depend heavily on your personal circumstances. Always confirm current requirements with an appropriately qualified immigration professional or the official gov.uk living in Spain guidance before making decisions.

Why UK moves changed after Brexit

Before 2021, UK citizens could live in Spain under EU freedom-of-movement rules. UK nationals are now generally treated as third-country (non-EU) citizens for immigration purposes, which typically means a specific visa or residency route is needed for stays longer than 90 days in any 180-day period, along with residency registration once in Spain. The right route — non-lucrative visa, work-based routes, family reunification and others — depends entirely on your circumstances, so this needs a proper conversation with a qualified immigration professional.

TIE, residency registration, NIE and padrón — different things

These four terms get used interchangeably, but they're separate processes, often with different offices:

  • NIE — a foreigner's identification/tax number, generally needed for almost anything official in Spain (opening a bank account, buying property, and so on).
  • Residency registration / TIE — the process (and, for many post-Brexit UK nationals, physical card) confirming your legal residency status in Spain. See the official gov.uk TIE guidance.
  • Padrón (empadronamiento) — separate registration of your address with your local town hall (ayuntamiento), used for local services and often required alongside residency paperwork. Locally, this is handled through the Ayuntamiento de Orihuela's padrón office, which also covers Orihuela Costa.

We can explain how these generally fit together and in what order people typically handle them — but the specific requirements for your situation should always be confirmed with a qualified immigration adviser or gestor, since rules and personal circumstances both affect the answer.

Rental apartment balcony with sea view on the Costa Blanca

Renting vs buying

Most UK movers rent before they buy

Renting for a period — often six to twelve months — is a common and sensible way to properly get to know an area before committing to a purchase. It also gives more flexibility while residency paperwork is being finalised. See our dedicated renting before buying guide for more detail.

Practical planning

Children, pets and belongings

Children

School terms, language support and timing a move around the academic year all need thought — see our moving with children guide.

Pets

Pet travel rules for UK-to-EU moves have changed since Brexit — always check the current requirements on gov.uk well in advance.

Belongings & removals

We can introduce you to removal firms experienced in UK-to-Spain moves so your logistics are handled by specialists.

Frequently asked questions

UK movers — common questions

Do I need a visa to move to Spain from the UK now?
Since Brexit, UK nationals are treated as non-EU citizens for immigration purposes, which typically means a visa or residency route is required for stays beyond 90 days in any 180-day period. The right route depends on your circumstances (retirement, remote work, family, investment, and so on), so this needs personalised advice from a qualified immigration professional or the official gov.uk living in Spain guidance rather than a generic answer.
What's the difference between a TIE, NIE and padrón?
In broad terms, an NIE is a foreigner's tax identification number, a TIE is the physical residency card that non-EU nationals (including most UK nationals post-Brexit) typically need once resident, and the padrón is separate local town-hall registration of your address. They are different processes with different offices involved, and requirements can change — see the official gov.uk TIE guidance and confirm current steps with a qualified adviser.
Should I rent or buy first?
Many UK movers rent for six to twelve months first to properly test an area before buying. It's rarely the wrong instinct, though the right approach depends on your finances, timeline and residency plans.
Can I bring my pet with me?
Generally yes, subject to the current pet travel rules for the destination country, which have changed since Brexit. Always check the current requirements on gov.uk's pet travel guidance well ahead of your move.

Tell us about your move from the UK

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