Shipping and Removals in Spain

Expats planning on shipping to Spain should think carefully before they pack up their prized possessions. Even though Spain has a number of well-respected, efficient ports, shipping is expensive, and the nation’s major cities claim both furnished accommodation and plenty of store options to purchase reasonably-priced items.  

That said, for those who simply can’t relocate without their beloved bedside tables and cutting edge crockery, there are some simple rules of thumb you should keep in mind when shipping to Spain.

It’s advised expats solicit quotes from multiple service providers, at least three, before selecting a company.

Common services to look for in a shipper

• Pick-up goods at your location
• Basic disassemble and reassemble of furniture
• Border clearance and customs formalities at the destination
• Professional wrapping of all wooden, metal and fabric furniture
• Fuel surcharge
• Export documents for household goods only
• Wooden crate liftvan or palletizing
• Preparing professional inventory list
• Unloading all items to destination residence, and setting all items per your request
• Agent fees and NVOCC deconsolidation charges
• Removing packing debris from destination resident
• Shipping costs are linked to weight (in pounds or kilograms) and/or the number of cubic feet of space your items require. Additional expenses, like packing materials and the lifting and handling of heavy objects, should also be accounted for.

Common extra expenses a shipper might charge

• Custom built wooden crates
• Documentation fee for vehicles and commercial cargo
• Piano handling
• Custom exam, inspection and/or x-ray
• Storage
• Local duties and taxes
• Packing service for small and breakables items  
• Fumigation charges and quarantine
• Insurance (unless purchase separately ahead of time)
• Insurance processing fee
• External hoisting or crane equipment
• Additional collection or split delivery locations
• Long carry over 75 feet away from main entrance
• Stairs fees- over 1st floor walk-up

Furthermore, it’s a good idea to buy insurance from a company other than the shipping company used, to ensure reliable coverage on broken cargo.

Expats can import their household items duty-free to Spain, provided they’ve owned the goods for a minimum of six months, and they import the goods within one year of securing a residence or work permit.

Documents required to ship goods to Spain

• Passport - original or notarized copy by the Spanish Embassy/Consulate at origin
• Residence Visa
• Residence /Work Permit – original
• Registration with Town Hall (Empadronamiento)
• NIE number (non-EU members) – this is obtained when applying for the Work/ Residence Permit
• Comprehensive Valued Inventory – 2 copies in Spanish, signed, dated by customer & notarized by Spanish Consulate at origin
• Customs Application - for duty free import of personal goods & effects
• Bill of Lading/AWB