Moving to Spain from Dubai — International Removals, AEAT Customs & Door-to-Door Delivery

Franquicia de Mudanza — The Spanish Removal Goods Exemption

Spain administers the EU removal goods exemption through AEAT (Agencia Estatal de Administración Tributaria). The franquicia de mudanza exemption eliminates Spanish IVA (21%) and customs duty on qualifying used household goods imported by a person transferring their normal residence to Spain from outside the EU.

Eligibility Requirements

• You must be transferring your normal place of residence from outside the EU to Spain
• You must have lived outside the EU continuously for at least 12 months immediately before the move
• Goods must have been owned and used by you personally for at least 6 months before the move
• Goods must not be sold, lent, pledged, or hired out for 12 months after importation
• The AEAT declaration must be submitted before or at the time of importation — not after

Required Documentation

• AEAT customs declaration for removal goods (franquicia de mudanza)
• Complete lista de inventario (inventory list) in Spanish — with item descriptions and estimated values
• Proof of former residence outside the EU for 12+ months — UAE residence visa, employer letter, utility bills
• Proof of new Spanish address — contrato de arrendamiento (rental contract) or escritura de compraventa (purchase deed)
• Passport copy and UAE residency documentation
• Bill of Lading

Fusion prepares the AEAT declaration and the Spanish-language lista de inventario in-house. You do not need a separate translation or Spanish legal service for the customs documentation.

NIE — Número de Identidad de Extranjero

Non-EU nationals residing in Spain must obtain a NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) — a unique identification number issued by the Spanish Policía Nacional. The NIE is required for: opening a Spanish bank account, signing a property rental or purchase contract, registering utilities, paying taxes, and operating a vehicle in Spain. Without a NIE, it is very difficult to establish day-to-day life in Spain. The NIE can be applied for in the UAE at the Spanish consulate or embassy before departure, or at a Policía Nacional station in Spain after arrival. Fusion advises on the NIE process at survey stage and recommends starting the application before leaving Dubai where possible.

Padrón Municipal — Local Register

Residents in Spain must register at their local Ayuntamiento (town hall) on the Padrón Municipal — the local resident register. The padrón certificate (certificado de empadronamiento) is required for: registering with a GP (médico de cabecera), enrolling children in local schools, applying for a Spanish driving licence, and accessing many local authority services. Registration is typically possible within days of establishing residence. Fusion briefs every client on the padrón process before they depart Dubai.

Balearic and Canary Islands — Important Customs Note

The Canary Islands are an EU territory but have a separate customs and tax regime — they are outside the EU VAT area. Goods shipped to the Canary Islands (Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura) are subject to IGIC (Impuesto General Indirecto Canario) at 7% rather than Spanish IVA at 21%, and the franquicia de mudanza process differs slightly from mainland Spain. The Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca, Formentera) are fully within the EU VAT area and the standard Spanish AEAT franquicia de mudanza process applies. Fusion advises at survey stage on the specific customs process for your island destination.

Vehicles to Spain

Vehicles imported into Spain from outside the EU must obtain Spanish registration (matrícula). UAE-specification vehicles typically do not hold EU type approval (COC — Certificado de Conformidad) and require individual approval before Spanish registration at the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico). Vehicles are also subject to Impuesto de Matriculación (registration tax) and IVA (21%). Fusion advises at survey stage — see our Automobile Relocation page.

Pets to Spain

Spain is an EU member state. Dogs and cats entering from the UAE must comply with EU pet import regulations: ISO-standard microchip, valid anti-rabies vaccination, and an EU-format health certificate issued by an officially authorised UAE veterinarian within 10 days of travel. No quarantine is required for pets meeting EU requirements. Fusion advises at survey stage — see our Pet Relocation page.