Thinking about moving to Spain to teach English? There are a few things no one really prepares you for, and not just the big stuff like visas or finding housing.
It is the small, real-life things that catch people off guard. The culture shock. The overpacking. The paperwork. The random moments where you realize living in Spain is very different from just visiting.
If you are planning a move to Spain, here are 11 things many expats wish they knew before they arrived.
1. You will wish you packed lighter
Your future self will thank you for every item you don’t bring.
That third pair of boots? Leave them. Your full bathroom shelf worth of products? You can replace most of it in Spain. A lot of people move abroad thinking they need to bring their whole life with them, and then end up dragging heavy suitcases through airports, train stations, stairs, and cobblestone streets.
When you are moving to Spain, lighter is usually better. You want enough to feel comfortable, but not so much that your luggage becomes its own personality. Most ESL teachers realize after arrival that they brought way too much. You’ll be lugging your stuff through airports, metro stations, and maybe even cobblestone streets. Keep it tight. Keep it light.
Pro tip: Bring the essentials you actually use, and skip anything you can easily buy once you arrive.
2. Culture Shock Hits Harder Than You’d Expect
A lot of people picture culture shock as one dramatic moment, but usually it shows up in smaller ways.
At first, dinner might feel way too late. Mid-afternoon store closures can catch you off guard, and the slower pace of life may take some getting used to.When you are moving to Spain, even normal everyday routines can feel unfamiliar for a while. The current post already points to examples like late dinners and midday closures, so this section is a strong place to lean harder into Spain-specific search intent.
That does not mean something is wrong. It just means you are adjusting.
Pro Tip: Give yourself time. Culture shock does not mean you made the wrong choice. It usually means you are in the middle of the learning curve.
3. Finding your people makes moving to Spain way easier
Moving to Spain feels a lot less overwhelming when you are not doing it alone.
One of the best things you can do early on is find people who get what this transition feels like. That might be other teachers, expats, locals, or a mix of all three. Community makes a huge difference when you need advice, want weekend plans, or just need someone to tell you that yes, the paperwork is confusing for everyone.
Your people might come from a WhatsApp group, a meetup, a Facebook group, a Reddit thread, or one random coffee hang that turns into an actual friendship.
Where to find your people:
- Reddit: Subreddits like r/Spain, r/IWantOut, and r/expats are full of real talk, advice, and memes only fellow travelers will understand.
- TikTok: Search hashtags like #expatinspain, #teachabroad, or #movingabroad to find creators documenting their lives abroad — and message/comment to connect. Follow @rvfinternational for more advice.
- Discord: Look for Spain-specific or language-learning servers like Language Learning, Expats Around the World, or ones tied to specific TEFL communities.
- Instagram: Follow creators who teach English in Spain or travel long-term. Try hashtags like #AuxiliarDeConversacion or #TeachInSpain. Follow @rvfinternational for tips and inspiration.
- Facebook: Still useful for housing and paperwork help: American Expats in Spain, Americans in Spain, Expats retired or working and living in Spain
Pro tip: Do not isolate yourself at the beginning. Say yes to things, even if you feel awkward. A lot of friendships abroad start that way.
4. Duolingo is helpful, but it will not prepare you for real Spanish in Spain
Language apps are great for getting started. They are not great at preparing you for fast conversations, regional accents, slang, and the kind of Spanish people actually use day to day.
That is one of the biggest surprises for people moving to Spain. You can study for months and still have moments where someone says something and your brain just fully logs off.
That is normal. Real progress usually happens when you start using Spanish in real life, not when you wait until you feel perfectly ready.
Pro Tip: The best way to learn? Talk to locals. Make mistakes. Laugh it off. Repeat.
Want a cheat sheet? Check out Spanish Slang Words and Phrases You Should Know.
5. The smallest differences are the ones that really get you
People expect the obvious differences when they move to Spain. They expect a new language, different streets, different food, different routines.
What usually catches people off guard are the tiny things.
It might be the outlets, the 24-hour clock, the lack of dryers, or the different grocery brands. Even simple tasks can take more brainpower than they used to, and those tiny differences often become some of the most memorable parts of moving to Spain.
Those little things can feel random at first, but over time they become part of your new normal.
Pro Tip: Pro tip: Let yourself notice the weird little cultural differences. They are often the things you end up remembering most.
6. Spanish bureaucracy will test your patience
There is no beautiful way to say this. Bureaucracy can be one of the most frustrating parts of moving to Spain.
Between visa-related steps, local registrations, appointments, copies, forms, and trying to understand what each office actually needs from you, things can get chaotic fast. The live post already highlights document organization, passport memorization, and keeping physical copies on hand, which makes sense to preserve in a cleaner version.
The process is manageable, but it usually feels less straightforward than people expect.
Pro tip: Keep your documents organized from day one. Save digital copies, bring printed copies, and keep everything in one place so you are not scrambling later.
7. Visa Paperwork Is…the Worst
If you are moving to Spain to teach English, visa paperwork will probably become one of your main characters for a while.
It can feel confusing, repetitive, and weirdly stressful, especially when one missing document can slow everything down. That is why it helps to start early and stay organized
That’s why it pays to go with a program like RVF International that literally does this every day. We have local connections and expertise to help you avoid delays, confusion, and last-minute panic.
Pro Tip: Start earlier than necessary. Future you will be grateful.
8. Some of your favorite moments in Spain will be the ones you did not plan
Not every good memory comes from the major landmarks.
A lot of the best moments happen when you wander into a tiny bar, stumble onto a local festival, say yes to a spontaneous weekend trip, or end up somewhere that never made it onto your itinerary. The current page already frames off-the-beaten-path experiences as some of the most memorable parts of living abroad in Spain.
When you are moving to Spain, it helps to leave room for life to surprise you a little.
Pro Tip: Do the iconic things, but do not build your whole life around checking boxes. Some of the best parts of Spain are the parts you do not plan for. Need inspiration? Check out our guide to the Best National Parks in Spain.
9. Moving money internationally can be a hassle
Sending money across borders is easier than it used to be, but that does not mean it is always smooth.
Picture this: you lose your wallet abroad. Your friends or family back at home can send you money, but you have no account or service set up to receive it. Stressful, right?
When you are moving to Spain, it is smart to think ahead about how you will access money, transfer money, and handle emergencies.
Some popular, reliable services include:
- Wise (formerly TransferWise) — our go-to for quick, affordable transfers
- N26 — great for digital nomads in Europe
- Revolut — flexible and travel-friendly
- PayPal Xoom — easy if you already use PayPal
- Western Union — widely available, even in small towns
Even if you do not end up needing every backup plan, having one in place can save you a lot of stress.
Pro Tip: Set up a contingency plan before you go. Have at least one international money transfer option ready so you can get funds fast in an emergency.
10. Finding English-speaking doctors can take some effort
Nobody wants to think about getting sick while moving abroad, but it is something worth planning for before you need it.
In bigger cities, finding English-speaking healthcare providers may be easier. In smaller towns, it can take more digging.
Having a plan ahead of time makes a bad day feel a little less overwhelming.
Pro Tip: Ask your local expat group for referrals, or use Doctoralia Spain to find English-speaking healthcare providers in your area. Save a few healthcare resources early, even if you hope you never need them.
11. Moving to Spain might change you more than you expect
A lot of people move abroad thinking it will be one chapter of their life.
Sometimes it is, and sometimes it becomes much bigger than that.
Living in another country can make you more independent, more flexible, and more confident. It can change how you define routine, success, comfort, and even home.
“Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you. Most of the time, those marks — on your body or on your heart — are beautiful.”
Anthony Bourdain
That is part of what makes moving to Spain such a big deal. It is not just about where you live. It is about who you become while you are building a life there.
Pro Tip: Let yourself be changed by the experience. That is kind of the point.
Ready to make the move to Spain?
If moving to Spain has been on your mind, you do not have to figure it all out alone.
RVF International helps future teachers navigate the process with more clarity, more support, and a better idea of what real life abroad actually looks like. From getting prepared before departure to adjusting once you arrive, having the right support can make the whole move feel a lot more doable.
With RVF, you can:
- Learn what to expect in the classroom and beyond
- connect with other future teachers
- move abroad with more confidence and less guesswork
