Moving to Spain From Dubai: Requirements in the Right Order

To move from Dubai to Spain, a non-EU national needs the right Spanish visa first, then UAE documents (police certificate and medical certificate where required, legalised and translated), then health insurance and proof of funds. Book the move and your household shipment once the visa is on track. After arrival, register your address (empadronamiento) and apply for your residence card (TIE) within 30 days. Do these in order, because each step depends on the one before it.

What is the right order at a glance?

Visa decision times vary by route and consulate. Official pages cite anything from about 10 days to 90 days, so build in a buffer.

Step 1: Which visa route fits you?

You can’t move to Spain to live without a residence route. Residents of the UAE typically look at these:

Spain’s investor “Golden Visa” route was abolished in April 2025, so entrepreneurial, digital nomad, work and non-lucrative routes are the main options now.

Income figures are tied to yearly benchmarks, so check the current amount on the consulate page before applying. See Spain’s official digital nomad visa requirements.

Step 2: Which UAE documents do you need, and how do you prepare them?

Visa checklists commonly ask for:

• A police certificate (good conduct certificate) covering the last 2 years, plus a declaration of no criminal record for 5 years. For UAE-issued certificates, the BLS Spain checklist for the UAE says they must be legalised by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
• A medical certificate (for the non-lucrative route), signed by a registered doctor and issued within 3 months of submission.
• Employment or experience proof, a degree certificate and company documents for the digital nomad route.
• Civil documents (marriage and birth certificates) for family members.

Two points keep many applicants out of trouble:

1. Legalise first, translate second. Spanish sworn translations should be done after legalisation, so the translation includes the stamps.
2. Mind the validity. Police certificates are usually accepted only if issued within the last 6 months, and medical certificates within 3 months.

Read the BLS Spain UAE checklist for the current list.

Step 3: What insurance and proof of funds do you need?

• Health insurance: the non-lucrative route requires full private cover for 12 months with no co-payments or deductibles. Travel insurance is not accepted.
• Proof of funds: bank statements, or income evidence, covering the minimum for you and each family member. Large recent deposits may need an explanation of where the money came from.

Step 4: How do you apply for the visa?

Applications for Spanish national visas are submitted in person, either by you or through an accredited representative, after booking an appointment. The BLS Spain visa centre handles the UAE process, according to its official checklist.

Don’t cancel your UAE residence or lease until the visa is approved. An approved visa is typically a sticker in your passport valid for 90 days, so your travel date needs to fit that window.

Step 5: When should you plan the move with ISS?

Start planning your shipment while the visa is processing, so your goods arrive when you can receive them. A good order is:

1. Request a survey and quote. Request a free quote or call +971 4 234 8100.
2. Choose a shipping method. Sea freight costs less and takes longer. Air freight is faster and costs more. ISS’s freight forwarding team can compare the options.
3. Decide what goes. Ship, sell or store. Storage services can hold goods if your Spanish home isn’t ready.
4. Prepare customs paperwork early. See the next section.
5. Protect the shipment. Consider transit insurance.

ISS offers international relocation from the UAE with packing, shipping, customs support and storage. For destination guidance see Moving to Spain and our guide to international movers to Madrid from the UAE.

How do you bring household goods into Spain duty-free?

Spain’s tax agency allows duty and tax relief on household goods when you transfer your normal residence from outside the EU. Key conditions from the Spanish Tax Agency:

Documents customs typically expects:

• Evidence of 12 months’ residence in the UAE (tenancy contract, utility bills, bank letters, employment contract)
• Proof that you’ve left your previous residence (a change-of-residence notice if no deregistration document exists)
• Proof of Spanish residence (your TIE application or TIE)
• A detailed inventory with estimated values and purchase dates

Keep your UAE residence evidence safe before you cancel anything. ISS’s customs clearance team can help you assemble these.

Step 6: How do you secure housing?

A rental contract or property deed matters twice: it gives your shipment a delivery address, and it is the proof of address you’ll need to register at the town hall after arrival. If you can’t sign before you arrive, consider temporary accommodation and storage.

Step 7: What about pets and vehicles?

Pets. The UAE is on the EU’s list of countries with a standard pet entry route, so dogs and cats don’t need a rabies titer test. They need an ISO microchip (implanted before the rabies vaccine), a rabies vaccination with a 21-day wait, and an EU health certificate issued by an official vet within 10 days of arrival. Pets must enter through a designated entry point, and Spain restricts certain “potentially dangerous” dog breeds. See pet relocation and the Pet Relocation Checker.

Vehicles. Spain’s customs page treats private vehicles as personal property under the residence-transfer relief, but car shipping has extra rules on registration and technical compliance. Ask ISS about automobile shipping early.

Step 8: What should you close out in the UAE?

In your final month, work through your UAE exit list: cancel your tenancy and utilities, close or redirect local accounts and subscriptions, handle school transfers, and cancel your residence visa at the right time for your plans. Keep copies of everything. Some of it serves as proof of residence abroad for customs.

Step 9: What do you do in your first 30 days in Spain?

1. Arrive with your visa and make sure your passport is stamped at the border.
2. Register your address (empadronamiento) at the local town hall. You’ll need your passport and proof of address. This registration is needed for school enrolment, public healthcare and your residence card.
3. Apply for your TIE (foreigner identity card). Book the appointment within 30 days of arrival. Appointments can be scarce, so book early.
4. Obtain your NIE if you don’t already have one. It’s needed for tax, banking and employment.
5. Register your dog and your children in schools where relevant.

Step 10: When do you complete customs for your goods?

Once you have your residence documents, your shipment can be declared under the residence-transfer relief, within 12 months of taking up residence. Remember the 12-month no-sale rule, and keep your inventory.

What mistakes cause delays?

• Applying before the documents are legalised and translated.
• Letting certificates expire between preparation and submission.
• Cancelling the UAE lease before the visa is approved.
• Throwing away proof of UAE residence, which customs may ask for.
• Shipping with no delivery address in Spain.
• Missing the 30-day TIE deadline.
• Assuming your breed of dog is allowed without checking.

FAQs

What is the first step in moving from Dubai to Spain? Choose a visa route. Everything else depends on it, including your documents and timeline.

Do I need a visa to move to Spain from the UAE? Yes, if you are a non-EU national planning to live there. You should apply before travelling, from the UAE.

Can I work remotely from Spain while living there? Yes, with the right visa. The digital nomad route is built for remote workers employed outside Spain.

Which UAE documents do I usually need legalised? Police certificates and other UAE-issued documents, which the official BLS UAE checklist says must be legalised by MOFA, then translated into Spanish by a sworn translator.

Can I ship my household goods duty-free? Often yes, under Spain’s residence-transfer relief. You need 12 months of prior residence outside the EU, 6 months of ownership, and the right documents, and you must declare goods within 12 months of taking up residence.

How soon after arrival must I apply for my TIE? Book your appointment within 30 days.

Can I bring my dog or cat? Yes. They need a microchip, rabies vaccination, an EU health certificate and entry through a designated point. Restricted breeds apply.

Can ISS Relocations handle the whole move? ISS manages packing, shipping, customs, storage, pets and vehicles. Visa applications are handled by you or an immigration adviser.

About ISS Relocations

ISS Relocations is a Dubai-headquartered international moving company with 30+ years of experience, FIDI accreditation, and ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certification. Explore all services, read our Moving Guide and Moving Tips, see customer reviews, contact us, or read about ISS. Call +971 4 234 8100.