Moving to Barcelona: What to Know Before You Go
Moving to Barcelona is much more than packing a suitcase: it’s beginning a new phase filled with opportunities, culture, sunshine, and quality of life. This Mediterranean city has become a favorite destination for expats thanks to its pleasant climate, cultural diversity, and excellent services. However, an international move requires planning and understanding the key aspects before taking the plunge.
In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know before moving to Barcelona, especially if you’re coming with your family or for work.
Why choose Barcelona to live?
Barcelona combines the best of a cosmopolitan city with the charm of life by the sea. Its service network, international connections, and focus on innovation make it perfect for expats seeking a balanced life between work and leisure.
Advantages of living in Barcelona:
- Mediterranean climate with more than 300 days of sunshine a year.
- Excellent public transport network.
- Wide range of international schools and extracurricular activities.
- Very active international community.
- Rich culture, quality cuisine, and a wide range of leisure activities.
Essential documentation and procedures
One of the biggest challenges when moving is managing the administrative procedures in Barcelona. At Leave and Live, we’ll be with you every step of the way to make the process simple and stress-free.
Main actions:
- Obtaining the NIE (Foreigner Identity Number).
- Registration at the town hall.
- Registration in the Catalan health system (CatSalut).
- Homologation or exchange of driving license.
- Hiring health and home insurance.
✅ If you’d like to learn more about this, we recommend visiting our page on administrative procedures for expats in Barcelona.
Housing: search, rent or buy
Barcelona offers a wide variety of neighborhoods, from quiet, family-friendly areas like Sarrià or Poblenou, to more central and lively areas like Eixample or Gràcia. Whatever your profile, Leave and Live can help you with the entire home search, rental, or sale process, including home staging, renovations, and legal procedures.
👉 You might be interested in our section on housing for sale and rent in Barcelona for expats.
Education and family life
If you’re coming with children, it’s essential to know the educational options. Barcelona has a wide network of international schools, with programs in French, English, German, and more. There’s also a wide range of extracurricular activities, sports centers, and social clubs so the whole family can easily integrate.
🎓 Discover our analysis of the best international schools in Barcelona.
Support services upon arrival
At Leave and Live, we don’t just help you with the paperwork: we also offer city adaptation services, such as:
- Organization of social and family activities.
- Mobility advice: car rental or purchase.
- Recommendations for beauty, wellness, and veterinary centers.
- Maintenance of your home if you do not yet reside there permanently.
Conclusion: Living in Barcelona with the right support
Moving to Barcelona is an enriching experience if you have the necessary information and support. At Leave and Live, we’ll be with you before, during, and after your arrival, so your only concern is enjoying your new life.
Are you ready to take the plunge? We’ll help you with the entire process, from administrative procedures to maintaining and managing your home and finding a school for your children.