Moving to Spain as an American family will be one of the most formative experiences of your children’s lives. (And yours too!) And yet, your move abroad will present many hoops to jump through. Hoops unique to moving to Spain as an American family. Hoops that many EU expats might get to avoid.
First off, how to move to Spain. You’ll face a daunting visa application process your future EU expat friends get to skip. In addition, you’ll need to manage all the other relocation practicalities from here in the US. In particular, things like looking for housing or finding a school will be inherently more challenging from a continent away. Above all, you must manage your children’s social, emotional, and educational well being. While all expat families must deal with this, the task will be more difficult compared to, say, children arriving with some Spanish.
Advice for American Expats Moving to Spain
Compared to European expats, as an American family moving to Spain, you’ll likely be less well connected to your new locale. You’ll be farther from home, making a quick homesickness fix more difficult. You might not have any personal connections, let alone friends. In fact, when my family first arrived in Spain, we didn’t know anyone at all! From cultural differences to language barriers, moving your kids to a foreign country is not for the feint of heart.
These 7 tips are written specifically for the American family moving to Spain. I share information to help ease your transition, including:
- Learning how to recognize culture shock
- Researching and planning your move to Spain
- Managing your children’s adaptation
- Building support networks
- Seeking paid guidance
- Choosing Schools in Spain
- Understanding the impact of a language barrier
- And much more.
Moving to Spain from the US will without a doubt be challenging. But, done right, it will be an unforgettable experience for everyone in the family. Originally published for Torrevieja Translation, read the 7 tips here.