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Expat guide: Barcelona
This guide offers information and advice if you are moving to Barcelona.
Click on the different tabs to find out about anything from tax rules and banking to education and cultural highlights.
Download this guide as a pdfMoving to Barcelona
The city's beautiful surroundings and cityscape make life appear paradisiacal in Barcelona. Yet while the city has these alluring aspects, relocating expats have difficulty making Barcelona their new home. Low wages, language barriers, schooling and high costs of life are all initial drawbacks.
A city in flux
The city's architecture is indicative of its long and unique history. Low and ornate Spanish influenced buildings are decorated between by skeletal structures of Gaudi and vie for attention with the ultra modernist downtown high rises. The push and pull between modern and old, Spanish and Catalan influences define the city in flux.
As Spain's second largest city and the capital of the autonomous region of Catalonia, Barcelona is a prominent city which is increasingly asserting itself in the world stage. Businesses can enjoy the city's new economy that betrays its image as an historic tourist destination. It now receives foreign businesses and relocating expats gladly in tow.
Shipping and removals
Barcelona has a major shipping port making removals to and from abroad easier than other locations in Spain. Unless expats can convince customs they are moving permanently to Barcelona they are liable to a 16 percent tax on shipped goods. Often the insured amount is used as an indicator by custom agents on how much to tax. It is still a good idea to insure shipped goods and to do so with a company other than the one used for transport. This ensures reliable coverage if anything goes wrong.
Bringing pets to Barcelona
Pets shipped to Barcelona must comply with Spanish custom laws. Animals must be tattooed or microchipped and be accompanied by official veterinary certificates. The APHIS form 7001 must be received and the Veterinary Certificate for non-commercial movements – for domestic dogs, cat and ferrets entering the European community – must be filled out. Barcelona has stricter rules than the US regarding ownership of pets.
This content is provided by www.expatarrivals.com, copyright © 2011 Globe Media Ltd. All rights reserved. By its very nature much of the information in this expat guide is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they're relying with the relevant authorities.
Neither Globe Media nor Bupa International can be held liable for any errors or omissions, or any loss, damage, illness and/or injury that may occur as a result of this information.
Bupa International is not responsible for the content of external websites.
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