Moving to Spain can be an exciting opportunity, whether you are starting a new job, relocating with your family or transferring employees to a new market. But getting established in another country involves much more than booking a flight and finding somewhere to live.

From immigration procedures and housing to schools, local registration and everyday arrangements, there are many details to coordinate. Requirements can vary depending on your nationality, personal circumstances and destination, making the process difficult to manage from abroad.

This is where professional relocation support can make a difference. A relocation company brings together local knowledge, practical assistance and specialist services to help individuals, families and companies navigate the move. At BRS Global Mobility, this means supporting clients through the different stages of relocation, from immigration and home search to tax and compliance, cultural training and settling into life in Spain.

What is a relocation company?

A relocation company helps individuals, families and businesses manage the practical and administrative aspects of moving to another country or city.

In Spain, relocation services can cover a wide range of needs, including finding a home, choosing a school, completing local registration procedures and arranging essential services. Depending on the provider, they may also include immigration assistance, tax and compliance support, and cultural or language training.

Not every relocation company offers the same combination of services. Some focus primarily on destination services, while others bring together several areas of expertise to support a more coordinated move.

With +15,000 relocations managed, BRS Global Mobility combines destination, immigration, tax and compliance, and cultural and language training in a full-range service offering tailored to individuals, families and companies. This integrated approach helps clients coordinate the different elements of their move with a single relocation partner.

Explore BRS Global Mobility’s relocation and immigration services to see how the different services can support your move to Spain.

What services does a relocation company in Spain provide?

1. Immigration and documentation

Understanding Spain’s immigration requirements is one of the first steps in planning an international move. Depending on your nationality, reason for relocation and personal circumstances, you may need a visa, a residence permit or a work authorisation.

A relocation provider with immigration expertise can help identify the applicable requirements, coordinate documentation and guide you through the relevant procedures. Depending on the case, specialist legal assistance may also be required.

For more than 25 years, BRS Global Mobility has been providing dedicated immigration services covering matters such as visas, residence and work permits, renewals and other immigration procedures. Having access to this expertise can help individuals and employers understand the steps involved and prepare the necessary documentation.

Getting the sequence of procedures right is important, as some administrative steps may depend on others being completed first.

2. Home search and accommodation

Finding suitable accommodation is often one of the most challenging parts of moving to Spain, particularly when you are still living abroad.

Rental markets vary considerably between cities and neighbourhoods. Property availability, rental prices, documentation requirements and landlords’ conditions can make the search difficult to manage remotely.

A relocation company can help you identify suitable areas, understand the local market, arrange property viewings and navigate the rental process. Depending on your circumstances, support may also include temporary accommodation while you look for a longer-term home.

BRS has access to off-market properties and offers a dedicated home search service to help clients find accommodation that matches their budget, lifestyle, workplace and family needs.

Local expertise is particularly valuable in cities such as Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia, where neighbourhood choice, commuting times and local rental practices can have a significant impact on daily life.

For more destination-specific advice, explore our guides to moving to Barcelona, moving to Madrid and moving to Valencia.

3. School search and education support

For families relocating with children, finding the right school is often one of the most important decisions.

Spain offers different educational options, including public, private, bilingual and international schools. The best choice will depend on factors such as the children’s ages, language requirements, curriculum preferences, availability and budget.

A relocation company can help families understand the options, identify suitable schools and coordinate visits or applications where appropriate. School planning can also be integrated with the home search, helping families make decisions based on both education and location.

Having managed relocations for families of over 80 nationalities, BRS Global Mobility offers relocation services that include school assistance, helping families consider their educational options alongside the practicalities of moving to a new city.

Planning both searches together can make it easier to find a home that works for the whole family, rather than treating housing and education as separate decisions.

4. Settling-in services and local registration

Finding a home and arriving in Spain are only the beginning. Once you are here, there may be several administrative procedures and practical arrangements to complete before everyday life starts to feel familiar.

Depending on your circumstances and destination, these may include registering with the local Town Hall through the Padrón Municipal, applying for a relevant healthcare card, opening a bank account or setting up household services.

BRS provides relocation and settling-in assistance for practical matters such as town hall registration, NIE procedures, public healthcare cards and bank account opening.

The exact requirements depend on your personal situation and the municipality where you will live. Having local guidance can help you understand which procedures apply to you, what documentation to prepare and how to coordinate the different steps.

5. Healthcare and everyday arrangements

Accessing healthcare, arranging insurance and setting up essential services are also part of establishing a life in Spain.

Your access to public healthcare will depend on your eligibility and circumstances. Some newcomers may need private health insurance, while others may be entitled to join the public system. Requirements should be checked according to each individual’s situation.

A relocation partner can help you understand the practical arrangements involved, including relevant healthcare registration procedures, alongside other essentials needed to make your new home operational.

BRS includes public healthcare card assistance and other destination services within its broader relocation offering. Depending on your needs, support can also cover opening a Spanish bank account and arranging practical services associated with your new home.

These details may seem minor compared with securing a visa or finding a property, but having them organised can make the first weeks in Spain considerably easier.

6. Cultural and language support

Moving to another country also means adapting to different customs, communication styles and everyday routines.

Although many people in Spain speak English, Spanish is important for navigating daily life, interacting with local institutions and building relationships. In regions such as Catalonia, Valencia and the Basque Country, regional languages and cultural traditions may also form part of the local experience.

Cultural orientation and language training can help newcomers understand their surroundings, communicate more effectively and feel at home more quickly.

BRS Global Mobility offers cultural and language training as part of its global mobility services. This support can help individuals and families adapt to their new environment, while helping international employees build confidence in their new workplace and community. This has allowed BRS to achieve a 98% satisfaction rate on their managed relocation cases.

For companies, cultural training can also contribute to a smoother transition for employees joining a new team or working in a different business environment.

7. Tax, compliance and corporate mobility support

For employees relocating internationally, the move can involve considerations beyond housing and everyday logistics. Employment arrangements, tax obligations, social security and immigration compliance may all need to be assessed.

Companies must also coordinate internal processes, timelines and documentation while ensuring that employee transfers meet the applicable requirements.

Through a dedicated in-house tax & legal team, BRS provides dedicated Tax & Compliance services that can support clients with relevant tax and administrative matters, including tax registration and other services depending on their circumstances.

For employers and HR teams, coordinating relocation with the appropriate immigration and tax expertise can help bring greater clarity to employee moves. It also allows the practical needs of the employee and their family to be considered alongside the company’s obligations.

The precise support required will depend on the employee’s situation, the company’s arrangements and the applicable regulations.

Do you need a relocation company to move to Spain?

Not everyone may need professional relocation support. If you have time to research the process, speak Spanish and manage administrative procedures independently, you may prefer to organise your move yourself.

However, professional assistance can be particularly valuable if you:

• Are moving to Spain from abroad and need to coordinate everything remotely.
• Are unfamiliar with Spanish administrative procedures or the local property market.
• Are relocating with children and need to find suitable schools.
• Have a tight moving deadline or several arrangements that depend on one another.
• Are moving for work and need to coordinate immigration, housing and family arrangements.
• Need support with tax or compliance matters related to your relocation.
• Are an employer or HR professional managing the relocation of one or more employees.

The right level of support depends on your needs. You may only require help with a home or school search, or you may benefit from a coordinated relocation plan covering several stages of the move.

One advantage of working with a provider offering several complementary services is the ability to coordinate different aspects of the relocation without having to manage every provider and procedure independently.

How to choose a relocation company in Spain

Relocation providers do not all offer the same services or level of support. Before choosing one, it is worth considering a few key questions.

Which services are included? Check whether the provider covers the specific areas you need, such as home search, immigration, school assistance, tax and compliance, or cultural training. If your situation requires several types of support, check whether they can be coordinated through the same provider.

Does the company have local expertise? Knowledge of the city, its housing market and local administrative procedures can make a meaningful difference.

Can the service be tailored to your circumstances? A single professional moving alone will have different requirements from a family with children or a company transferring several employees.

How will the process be coordinated? Understand who your main contact will be, how progress is communicated and how different services will be managed.

What experience does the provider have? Look at its track record, client feedback and experience supporting people with similar relocation needs.

Are specialist services available when needed? Immigration, tax and compliance matters may require expertise beyond general relocation assistance. Check what the provider handles directly and when external specialists are involved.

It is also important to understand what is included in the quotation, which services are provided by external specialists and which costs may be charged separately.

How BRS Global Mobility can support your move to Spain

BRS Global Mobility brings together several areas of global mobility expertise to support individuals, families and companies relocating to Spain. Founded in 2001, the company has more than 25 years of experience in relocation and immigration, with a team supporting clients across the country.

Its service offering covers four main areas:

• Relocation services: home search, school assistance, local registration, healthcare card procedures and other practical arrangements to help clients settle in.
• Immigration services: support with relevant visas, residence and work permits, renewals and other immigration procedures.
• Tax & Compliance: assistance with relevant tax and compliance matters associated with living or working in Spain.
• Cultural & Language Training: support to help international employees and families adapt to their new environment.

Explore the full range of BRS Global Mobility services to find out more about the support available.

Whether you are moving to Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia or another destination in Spain, the starting point is understanding your priorities, timeline and personal circumstances. BRS can help identify the services that best fit your needs, from assistance with specific tasks to a more comprehensive relocation plan.

Planning to relocate to Spain?

Moving to another country involves many interconnected decisions, but you do not have to manage every detail alone.

The right relocation partner can help you navigate the practicalities of moving to Spain, coordinate the services you need and focus on what matters most: your new job, your family and the opportunities ahead.

Planning a move to Spain? Contact BRS Global Mobility to discuss your relocation needs and find out how our team can support you.