Moving personal goods to Spain for a holiday

Used household items incl. vehicles and professional outfits can be imported exempted from taxes and duties within 6 months from the date of becoming resident. Better check with your nearest Spanish Consulate the steps to follow for easy customs clearance. The document http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Embajadas/ABUDHABI/es/VivirEn/Documents/Importaci%C3%B3n%20de%20enseres%20personales.pdf should be available in English ant any Spanish Consulate in GB.

Hi Jonathon

we,re in the same boat, non residents had 2nd home 15yrs but now facing customs procedures for anything transported. I haven't got to bottom of it yet, like you everything mentions transferring residencies so if you find anything out lease let me know, I,d be grateful for advice. 

Regards 

Pauline 

Hi Pauline, thanks for the reply. We are hoping to visit the Spanish Consulate in Manchester to get clarification. I’ll let know when get there. 

Hi Jonathan

that would be fantastic, much appreciated. You are the only person as non resident who wants to do this. We had done 2 van transfers before Brexit, so easy, but never realised freedom of movement isn't just for people but everything else too that crosses the border. We did also wonder if you loosly packed back of a car, would one still have to complete customs paperwork and get charged iva and import duties. 

Good luck with your experiences. 

Regards 

Pauline 

Thanks for replying. 

We are not going to be resident in Spain, so wondered if you know the rules covering movement of good from UK to Spain for non-residents. Everything we’re bringing is existing property. I can’t find any info anywhere and the Spanish are not answering the phone! 

Help with this would be greatly appreciated. 

I spent hours on Thursday phoning 5 Consulates and nearly gave up as no one answered, however eventually London answered me. I posed the question and was asked to put it in an email to be passed to their finance depot. So will have to wait. I am so fed up of residents(or residency in progress) answering many posts on various websites telling me of their experiences, but having stressed need answers from non residents they seem to ignore the status. I,ve been asking customs agents who will only deal with companies not private individuals and hauliers who refuse to help as we don't need their transport service. As shortly more people will be doing this once we can all travel hopefully more answers will evolve. 

Hope you get some answers as we don't even want to return due to this issue. 

Regards 

Pauline 

Hello Pauline

I share your frustrations completely. I’m in a similar position. We’ve bought a villa and will not retire and live there permanently until 2024. Until then we will ‘holiday’ there. We were originally going to take half of our 3 bed house contents and the other half when we permanently live there in 2024 (& do the removal ourselves but since finding out the Britannia ferry costs, van hire costs then fuel on top it’s just far too expensive and not cost effective). I have tried and tried and tried to get my questions on 21% tax answered and have got no where. I’m currently waiting for the consulate in Manchester to reply to my email. We want to ensure we are doing everything LEGALLY but with no unexpected financial implications. I will try and help you. If you or I find the answer out first can we please PM each other. (& post it to try and help others). I know how stressful it is  especially when you want to do things the ‘right’ way. Keep smiling :)

Hi Pauline, 

Thanks for the update, I’ve experienced the same thing with the consulate. The Manchester one never answers the phone. Very frustrating and very unprofessional. I’ve not got any further with finding out the answers but will let your u know when I do. 

Jonathan 

I know so frustrating! As soon as one of us finds out the answer we can post it! Just got to keep chipping away :)