Moving To The Canary Islands From The UK

Moving to the Canary Islands

If you are planning to move the the Canary Islands, whether to Tenerife, Lanzarote or Gran Canaria, Britannia Movers International has the expertise and the local knowledge to tailor the move to your needs.

	Importing Personal Effects to the Canary Islands The UK has now left the EU and therefore new rules apply to movement of goods between the UK and EU Countries. Please bear in mind that all shipments to the EU from the UK will now have to clear customs on arrival and you must ensure you can provide all relevant customs documents required at destination. Your contact at your local Britannia office will assist you with which forms are necessary along with what supporting documentation you will need to provide. However, the responsibility for completion and submission of these forms now falls with the customer and it is advisable that all these formalities are prepared for prior to the move to avoid potential delays in transportation and additional charges.
	Prohibitions and Restrictions In general it is in your interest not to import the following items: Firearms & ammunition Inflammable goods & substances Plants & plant material Foodstuffs, perishables or otherwise Narcotics and dangerous goods Offensive materials Alcohol & Tobacco
	Transit Times Groupage or shared containers usually take an average of 7-9 weeks door to door. However, this can vary depending on volumes being shipped, customs or immigration delays and prevailing weather conditions. Sole use container loads take on average 4-6 weeks door to door.
	Bar Coding All shared load consignments will be bar coded before they are loaded into the vehicle. This will ensure that no items are left at origin.
	Domestic Pets Britannia can recommend a specialised shipper of animals to assist you in sending your family pet(s) from home to home. They will coordinate all documentation and necessary veterinary procedures. Find out more about pet transport.
	Importing Motor Vehicles to the Canary Islands Importation of motor vehicles will be subject to compliance. If you’d like to move your car the Canary Islands tax free, you should have owned the car for at least two years and been resident in the Canary Islands for less than 12 months. If tax is due, it will 13% of the market value of the car as determined by Customs.
	International FX When you are making international payments for individuals you can benefit from IFX expertise in seeking the best possible rate, whether you are sending or receiving foreign currency. IFX can help to protect you from exchange rate fluctuations and save you time and money on international payments. IFX offers : International payments Regular Overseas Transfers Prepaid Currency Card Forward Contracts More info on the IFX website.

Moving to the Canary Islands with Britannia

Your Move to the Canary Islands with Britannia – Britannia can offer you a door to door service to the Canary Islands, and can either ship your effects by shared load (groupage) or by full container load. In addition we can offer a door to door airfreight service. Our agents in the Canary Islands will arrange customs clearance, and deliver and unpack the effects, including removal of debris on day of delivery.

Additional Removal Services – Britannia can provide a range of additional moving services when moving to the Canary Islands. We are authorised to provide comprehensive insurance, arrange international storage, and can also recommend a convenient way to transfer your money.

If you are interested in moving to the Canary Islands, find out your removal costs, and read more about our international removals.

Living in the Canary Islands

If you are looking for a relaxed lifestyle in a place where you can enjoy the sun and sea all year round, the Canary Islands would be the perfect choice. Whereas just a few decades ago, the Canary Islands were poor and not very well-known, rapid development and the tourism industry made them one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.

Located off the northwest coast of Africa, and to the southwest of mainland Spain, the Canary Islands are a Spanish archipelago. The islands are a Spanish autonomous territory and an outermost territory of the European Union. They comprise seven main islands, including Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro and a number of smaller islets. The Canary Islands have a population of over 2 million, and an economy based on  tourism, property development, construction and agriculture. The islands are originally volcanic  and offer a favourable climate where you can sunbathe, hike, sail, and swim most of the year, beautiful mountainous landscapes, and idyllic beach resorts.

Whether you are moving to Tenerife, the largest island, which has the highest peak in Spain, the Teide, Gran Canaria, with its variety of climates and landscapes, or the mountainous La Gomera, the Canary Islands can be a very attractive location. You’ll definitely enjoy the natural landscape, the almost endless sunny days, an outdoors lifestyle and a slower pace of life.

Interesting Facts About the Canary Islands

• Two cities share the status of being capitals – Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
• Four out of Spain’s thirteen natural parks are located on the Canary Islands.
• The Canary Islands still have some active volcanoes.
• Renewable energy plays an important role in the Canary Islands. El Hierro will be 100% self-sufficient in renewable energies in a few years, and the airport of La Palma is completely powered by wind energy.

Moving to and Living in the Canary Islands

• If you are moving to the Canary islands from another EU or EEA country, you won’t need a visa to enter the islands. If you are staying permanently, you’ll need to obtain a residence permit and an NIE card which will be issued by the immigration service and is needed to file taxes, open a bank account, etc.
• If you are moving to the Canary Islands with your children, you’ll also have to think about schooling. The bigger islands, such as Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Lanzarote have a number of international schools, some of which even cover the British National Curriculum. If you are planning to stay in the Canary Islands or Spain permanently, you could also think about enrolling your children in a Spanish-speaking school, which will contribute to their quicker integration.
• The official language of the Canary Islands is Spanish, and it is recommended that you learn at least some basic Spanish, as English is not as widely spoken as in some other Western European countries.
• Living and housing costs in the Canary Islands are generally lower than in Western Europe.

Moving to the Canary Islands brochure