Guide for moving to Madrid from NYC

Did you know that Madrid, the beautiful capital of Spain, is the third-largest city in the European Union? It has over 3 million inhabitants and is also the political, economic, and cultural center of the country. With its influence in politics, education, science, entertainment, fashion, culture, and the arts, it is considered as one of the world’s major global cities. Even though living in NYC has its advantages, there are also many reasons why moving from USA to Spain was a great idea! We know that moving is never an easy task, especially moving long-distance! That’s why we made this guide for moving to Madrid from NYC so you can organize efficiently and have a pleasant experience overall.

Preparations before moving to Madrid from NYC

The first thing you should do once you decided to relocate from NYC to Madrid is writing a moving abroad checklist. By doing so, you will always know what your next step is. You will also be able to do all those things that require thorough planning and time properly.

One of the most important things is to prepare financially. Therefore, we advise you to:

• Research the average cost of living.
• Familiarize yourself with local currencies.
• Budget for a year of expenses.
• Meet with your financial advisor or accountant.

We all know that moving all your things from one country to another can be very expensive. Another thing you should do to budget properly, and also ensure you have a stress-free relocation, is to enlist the help of professional international moving companies NYC. Since laws are different for each country, the moving company you choose must be reliable and have experience with the moving process overseas.

Get the right documents

Researching the proper documents and making sure you have everything you need to get them is the most important step in any international move. We suggest you gather and store all your documents in one place so you can easily find it before moving to Madrid from NYC. We encourage you to put aside these important documents:

• Passport and visas.
• Flight tickets.
• Adoption papers, birth certificate, child custody papers.
• Marriage certificate.
• Driving license(s).
• Divorce papers.
• Social Security cards and insurances.
• Dental and medical records (including insurance cards and prescriptions). 
• School records/University papers. 
• Any legal documents, such as your will, power of attorney, trust, medical consent forms, and any other important notarized documents.
• Other important financial records, such as income tax statements and financial statements for any business you own.

Sorting out your living situation

If the place where you live in NYC is your property, you can consider selling it, especially if you’re planning to move for good. If you are not sure how long you will stay in Spain, you can always rent the place. This way, you will have some of your expenses covered. If you are not the owner and if you are paying for the rent, you should sort that by speaking to the landlord and moving out.

Now it’s time to find a new home in Madrid. Even though you will have to pick a place without seeing it first, it doesn’t mean that it will not be good. If you do some research and get familiarized with the areas and districts, it will be easier for you to find a place to stay. Also, this will depend on your budget. Whether you’re relocating with your family or not will also affect the location of your new home. If you are not happy with your choice, you can always find another place to stay. Anyways, this will be a piece of cake after moving from New York to Madrid.

Downsizing matters

Before you start packing, you should get rid of as much stuff as you can. A great way to downsize before your move abroad is to sell stuff online. There are many websites, apps, and even local garage sale sites so that you can earn a bit of extra cash for your relocation. After that, you can donate any remaining items to friends, family, or charity. Not only that by downsizing it will be a lot easier for you to pack, but you will also reduce the costs of your relocation.

Start packing as soon as possible

Now that you know which items you want to take with you, you can start packing. When it comes to packing your belongings, you should take extra caution. All your packing materials should be high-quality so you avoid any damage during transportation. Avoid using big boxes for books since they tend to get very heavy when packed together. When you are packing glass and other fragile items, make sure to use plenty of bubble wrap to protect them from breaking. There are many things to consider when packing your belongings for a long-distance move. If you are too stressed out to concentrate on packing properly, you can arrange with your moving company to provide packing services as well. 

What should I do if I own a car?

In case you own a car, there are a couple of options when relocating to Europe. If you’re staying for a long time, you can consider selling it. That is a great option because you won’t have to worry about registration bills or insuring the vehicle. Otherwise, you can lend it to a friend or a family member who agrees to take over the bills and maintenance. If you want your car shipped to Madrid, you can go through international moving services that your moving company offers. 

What could I do to prepare my pet for the move?

Is your beloved pet healthy enough to move overseas? Are you moving for a long time or not? Is the new place where you’re moving to pet-friendly? Air travel can be hard and stressful on pets, so you should make sure he does not have any health issues before relocating. If you make all preparations on time, the move with your pet internationally will be a lot easier for both of you.

Now you can spend those last moments with family and friends! You can also make some fun plans and things to do once you arrive in beautiful Spain! We hope you enjoyed this guide for moving to Madrid from NYC! We wish you all the best!