Pre-move planning for your move to Valencia: visa, documents and budget
The most expensive relocation mistakes happen before you leave. Our 1-hour pre-move planning consultation maps your visa route, documents, timeline and budget so you arrive prepared.
Why pre-move planning matters
Most relocation problems are caused by poor preparation - choosing the wrong visa, missing document apostilles, not allowing enough time for processing, or arriving in Valencia without an NIE and finding you cannot open a bank account or sign a lease.
One avoidable mistake we see again and again is arriving in August, when most Spanish estate agents, lawyers and government offices run at minimal capacity. September to November gives you the most property choice and full administrative capacity. See our full breakdown of the best months to move for the reasoning. Our pre-move planning service exists to eliminate these problems before they happen.
A 1-hour planning consultation with a ValenciaMove consultant gives you a personalised roadmap for your entire move. By the end, you will know exactly what to do, in what order, and by when.
What the pre-move planning session covers
Visa selection
We assess your income, employment situation and goals and recommend the optimal visa route - Digital Nomad, Non-Lucrative, Highly Qualified Professional, or another. Check your passport too: the Spanish consulate in Houston, for example, asks for at least one year of validity and two blank pages, so confirm your own consulate's rule.
Document checklist
A personalised list of every document you need, where to get it, whether it needs apostilling, and how long each will take.
Timeline
A week-by-week schedule from today to your arrival date, with clear milestones and dependencies. Aim to register on the padrón in your first week, as most later steps depend on it, and request your TIE within one month of arrival.
Budget briefing
Visa fees, service costs, relocation expenses, first-month Valencia costs - all estimated for your specific profile. We also flag where a specialist currency provider such as Wise, OFX or Moneycorp can often beat a high-street bank's rate on a large transfer.
Top 5 mistakes to avoid
Specific to your situation - the things we have seen go wrong before and how to dodge them, from booking a viewing trip in August to underbudgeting the move.
Housing briefing
An honest overview of the Valencia rental or purchase market for your budget and preferred area, including a realistic shortlist target of 5 to 8 properties for a viewing trip.
Tax pre-brief
What to expect from Spanish taxes based on your income type, and whether the Beckham Law applies to you. Several visa routes, the non-lucrative visa among them, require private health insurance from an insurer authorised in Spain, and we explain what a comprehensive policy involves.
Photo: Shixart1985, CC BY 2.0
Month-by-month timeline for moving to Valencia
A good move is sequenced, not rushed. This is the rhythm we map for most clients, from initial research to long-term integration.
Initial research
Research visa options, check your passport has at least a year of validity left (your consulate may ask for more), compare cost of living, and identify target neighbourhoods.
Legal and financial prep
Apply for your visa at the consulate, open a currency-transfer account, research Spanish banks, and consult a tax advisor.
Property search
Engage an estate agent and plan a viewing trip - avoiding August - with a shortlist of 5 to 8 properties.
Property secured
Sign the rental contract or complete the purchase, arrange your NIE, and set up a Spanish bank account.
Logistics
Book the removal company, arrange pet travel if needed, sort health insurance, transfer medical records, and arrange school visits.
Arrival
Empadronamiento in your first week, TIE application within one month, utility connections, and a local SIM card.
Settling in
Social Security registration if working, tax advisor consultation, school enrolment, language classes, and joining the expat community.
Long-term integration
Driving licence exchange, professional qualification recognition, long-term tax planning, and getting involved in your community.
Shipping your belongings to Valencia: what to compare
Removal quotes vary widely by route and volume. We walk you through the options so you know what to compare before you collect quotes.
- UK to Valencia, small move of 1-2 rooms (part-load or MoveCube).
- UK to Valencia, full 3-bed house (full container).
- US to Valencia, full 20ft container by sea.
- US to Valencia, excess baggage or small boxes by air.
Photo: Steven Lek, CC BY-SA 4.0
What you receive after your planning session
A written summary document covering your personalised document checklist, recommended timeline, estimated costs and next steps. This document becomes your relocation bible - everything you need to manage your own move, or to hand to us if you want us to handle it for you.
Book a pre-move planning consultation
The 1-hour consultation is EUR 200, available by video call (Zoom) or in person in Valencia. The fee is credited against any subsequent ValenciaMove service you use. Contact us to schedule yours.