Shipping to Spain from North America or Australia

Key rules

• Lead time: Book your mover before the visa arrives, because sea freight from Australia can take 8 to 12 weeks.
• Duty-free relief: You must have owned and used your goods for at least 6 months and not sell them for 12 months after the move.
• 110V appliances: Spain runs on 230 V at 50 Hz, so replace high-power 110V items rather than shipping them.
• Restricted items: New items, alcohol, tobacco and vehicles are handled separately, so ask your broker before packing.

Start earlier than you think

Sea freight from North America or Australia is slow, so book your mover before your visa is approved. Your goods can only clear customs properly once you have your visa and proof of your Spanish address, so plan the shipment to land after those are in hand.

Typical door-to-door times:

• North America by sea: about 4 to 8 weeks, including port and clearance. East Coast origins are usually faster than West Coast.
• Australia by sea: about 8 to 12 weeks.
• Air freight: about 1 to 2 weeks from most origins. It costs more, so keep it for urgent items.

Times change with port, season and how full the container is. Ask your mover for a door-to-door estimate for your port and month, then work back from your visa dates.

Plan for 110V appliances

Spain uses 230 V at 50 Hz, with Type C and Type F sockets. What you do depends on the item:

• Dual-voltage items (110–240 V): laptops, phone chargers and many cameras only need a plug adapter. Check the label on the charger.
• 110V-only items: these need a step-down transformer with enough wattage. Transformers are bulky, so for heaters, hair dryers and kitchen appliances it is usually cheaper to replace them in Spain than to ship them.
• Items tied to 60 Hz: some clocks, turntables and motor-driven devices can run at the wrong speed or overheat on 50 Hz, even with a transformer. Leave them behind or plan to replace them.

Duty-free relief for your belongings

If you are moving your normal home to Spain from outside the EU, your personal effects can come in without import duty. The conditions:

• You owned and used the goods for at least 6 months before the move.
• You lived outside the EU for at least 12 months before the move.
• The shipment arrives within 12 months of your move of residence.
• You do not sell the goods for 12 months after the move.

You apply by sending a request for relief to the customs office. Your mover or customs broker usually handles this, but the paperwork is yours to supply. The documents list below shows what to gather. Customs may ask for extra papers, so confirm the list with your broker and the Agencia Tributaria.

Items that are treated separately

New items, alcohol, tobacco and vehicles do not follow the normal relief rules. Ask your mover or broker how each is handled before you pack, because a single restricted item can hold up the whole shipment.

Match the shipment to your visa

1. Get your visa and secure your Spanish address (lease or deed).
2. Confirm sailing and arrival times with your mover.
3. Write the inventory and gather your documents.
4. Ship so the goods arrive after you do, within the 12-month window.

Use the timeline, documents and checklist below to track each step.

Timeline and deadlines

• Ship from North America by sea: 4 to 8 weeks door to door, East Coast faster than West Coast

• Ship from Australia by sea: 8 to 12 weeks door to door

Confirm transit times with your mover, as they vary by port, season and shared-load schedules.

Documents you need

• Passport copy

• Your visa

• Residence card, proof of your residence application, or your NIE (your Spanish foreigner number)

• Proof that you lived outside the EU for at least 12 months before the move

• A detailed signed inventory of your goods, in Spanish if possible

• Proof of your new Spanish address, such as a lease, a deed or padrón registration (registration at your town hall)

• A request for duty-free relief, submitted to the customs office

• The bill of lading (sea freight) or airway bill (air freight) from your carrier

Checklist

• Sort electrical items into dual-voltage (110–240 V) and 110V-only.

• Buy plug adapters for dual-voltage items such as laptops and phone chargers.

• Replace high-power 110V items such as heaters, hair dryers and kitchen appliances instead of shipping them.

• Leave behind 60 Hz clocks, turntables and motor-driven devices, or plan to replace them.

• Ask your mover for door-to-door timing from your port and season, and plan around your visa dates.

• Write a detailed signed inventory, in Spanish if possible.

• Gather your passport, visa, residence or NIE proof, proof of 12 months abroad and proof of your Spanish address.

Frequently asked questions

How long does sea freight from Australia take?

Sea freight from Australia usually takes about 8 to 12 weeks door to door.

Can I use my 60 Hz clocks and turntables in Spain with a transformer?

Not reliably, because a transformer changes voltage but not frequency. Devices with motors or timing tied to 60 Hz, such as some clocks, turntables and certain motors, may run at the wrong speed or overheat on Spain's mains. It is usually safer to replace them.

Can I still get duty-free relief if my goods arrive after I move?

Yes, but relief normally requires the shipment to arrive within 12 months of your move of residence. The goods must also have been owned and used for at least 6 months before the move. New items, alcohol, tobacco and vehicles are treated separately.

Can I sell my goods after they arrive in Spain?

Not within 12 months if you want to keep the duty-free relief.