Your Ultimate Expat Guide
Created by expats, for expats: Navigate the red tape, find the right property, and settle into everyday life in Southern Spain safely.
Up-to-date & Verified: All content is based on official regulations from the Junta de Andalucía and Spanish immigration law (As of 2026).
Where are you heading? Find your perfect region
Moving to Andalusia starts with a lovely question: where do you want to live? Whether it is city buzz in Málaga, family life on the Costa del Sol or wild nature around Cádiz – answer a few quick questions and our navigator shows you which region suits you best.
Provinces
Already have a favorite? Choose your province
You already know exactly where you want to start your life in Andalusia? Perfect. Whether you’re drawn to the desert of Almería or the surfer beaches of Cádiz – each province has its own quirks. But be careful: There’s a world of difference between property prices on the coast and the cost of living in the hinterland of Jaén. To ensure you don’t decide blindly, our insider guides provide the hard facts: We analyze the current rental market, the local climate, and where you’ll find the best international communities. Choose your destination:
Still undecided? The map of Andalusia shows every province, 184 places and their rents at a glance.
Guides
Latest Guides & Current Updates
Andalusia is constantly changing – and we keep you up to date on crucial immigration laws and deadlines. Whether it’s new income requirements for the Non-Lucrative Visa, practical tips for daily life, or updates on taxes and insurance: Here you’ll find fresh, hands-on guides that make your everyday life in the south easier and legally sound in 2026. Especially with Spanish bureaucracy, outdated information can mean expensive mistakes, which is why we regularly audit our guides for you.
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Andalucia Tourist Licence: VUT Rules, Registration and Tax
What a tourist licence in Andalucia involves: registering with the RTA, approval from your community of owners, guest registration and how Spain and HMRC tax your rental income.
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Torrox Is Really Two Towns, So Pick Your Half Before You Move
Hill village or beach flat? Rents and purchase prices in four Torrox neighbourhoods, the telework visa, English-language schooling and the town’s weak spots.
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Can You Live in Tarifa Once the Kitesurfers Leave?
Tarifa after the kite season: property prices, scarce long-term rents, four areas, visas, jobs in Gibraltar, schools and life with the wind.
News
Andalusia news: what mattered this week
New deadlines at the immigration office, changed fees, or a sudden court ruling that affects all residents: Here you will find the one daily story from Andalusia that actually matters to expats. We save you the hassle of translating local newspapers and deliver verified facts instead. Every update comes with the official source and a clear breakdown of what the change specifically means for your daily life, your paperwork, and your wallet. This way, you stay informed and avoid costly legal traps.
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Plan Renove Andalusia: €4,000 Towards a New Car, Apply by 15 November
The Junta now pays private individuals who scrap an old car and buy a new one. Who qualifies and when you need to apply.
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Spain E-Invoicing: Mandatory for Autónomos From October 2028
If you invoice other businesses as an autónomo, a PDF will soon not be enough. The deadlines started on 6 October, and you have two years to switch.
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Spain’s 2% Rent Cap Repealed: What Now Applies to Your Rent Increase
Spain’s parliament has repealed the 2% rent cap. Your next rent increase follows the index in your contract again.
Budget calculator
Budget Check: What will your new life cost?
Found your perfect region? Let’s get down to the numbers. If you want to move to Andalusia, rent, utilities, and lifestyle are your biggest factors. Calculate your customized budget for 2026 in just 2 minutes with our free cost calculator, ensuring your dream is built on a solid financial foundation.
Free download
Free: Your 7-Step Roadmap to Andalusia
Save yourself expensive rookie mistakes when relocating to Southern Spain. Our expat checklist guides you logically through the bureaucratic jungle – from applying for your visa and N.I.E., to opening a bank account, to signing a bulletproof rental contract. Plus, we’ll alert you immediately via email if immigration laws or tax deadlines change. Get the roadmap we wish we’d had back then, and start your adventure well-prepared instead of in chaos.
*Almost done! Briefly enter your email to unlock the download link immediately. We’ll also send you the most important price updates for Andalusia straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Calculators
Calculate, don’t guess – your tools for the move
Whether it is your monthly budget, unemployment benefit or registration tax, here you can work out in a few clicks what to plan for in Andalusia.
Budget calculator
Move the sliders and see right away which monthly fixed costs you can expect.
Open the budget calculatorRelocation Navigator
Compare towns across Andalusia by rent, climate, schools and distance to the nearest airport.
Open the navigatorUnemployment benefit calculator
Three figures from your payslip are enough. You will see how long and how much Spain’s employment service pays.
Open calculatorTraffic fine finder
Look up the fine and penalty points for speeding, using your phone at the wheel and many other offences.
Open calculatorITV due date
Work out when your car is due for its ITV, Spain’s version of the MOT.
Open calculatorRegistration tax
See the tax and fee for registering your car in Spain, and check whether the moving exemption applies to you.
Open calculator
Premium Handbook
The Andalusia Masterplan 2026
€29.00 €19.00*
The free Expat Starter Kit gives you the initial overview. This comprehensive handbook goes deeper: Over 70 pages covering property purchases, taxes, and real everyday life in Southern Spain—featuring the exact deadlines, forms, and calculation examples that cost us so much time and nerves during our own move.
*One-time payment, instant PDF download. No subscription. Offer valid until 27 October 2026, then €29.00 again; the struck-through price is the lowest price of the previous 30 days.
Book series
Books from Jerez – Read your way to Andalusia
Deadlines, forms and costs are all here on the site. But what does an ordinary Tuesday in the south feel like? You won’t find that on a checklist, but you will in my book series “Life in Andalusia”. In it I tell how an autónomo in Jerez gets through a quiet January and why no month here passes without a fiesta.
Whether you’re still dreaming or already packing boxes, each book stands on its own. Together they take you from the first thought of moving to the day you no longer feel like a tourist. Book 3 is coming soon.
Kindle and paperback on Amazon.
About ExpatAndalucia
Finally arriving in Andalusia – Your guide through bureaucracy & daily life
Relocating to Spain is the dream of a life under palm trees for many. However, anyone wanting to move to Andalusia quickly realizes that administrative processes in regions like Málaga or Sevilla often follow their own rules. These regional differences ultimately determine how smoothly your personal fresh start in the sunny south actually goes.
This is where ExpatAndalucia comes in: From the initial visa application (like the Digital Nomad Visa) to the TIE (Foreigner Identity Card) and tax registration, we break down complex administrative hurdles into plain English. We’ve navigated this path ourselves and now show you the shortcuts so you can avoid costly errors and unnecessary stress when moving to Spain.
Our focus is on the milestones of your journey: We guide you safely through Spanish tenancy law, property purchases, and crucial financial topics. Whether it’s the tax advantages of the Beckham Law, setting up as an Autónomo (freelancer), or understanding wealth tax implications – we provide you with the expert knowledge needed for a future in your new Andalusian home.
Experience the real Andalusia: While we guide you through the red tape, our friends at Andalusian Adventure will show you the best excursions and nature spots in the region. This way, you not only secure your legal base but also put down emotional roots, with genuine enthusiasm and valuable insider knowledge of your new home.
FAQ