Moving to Madrid: a practical guide
Moving to Madrid means choosing an area, registering your address at the town hall and, if you are not Spanish, sorting out your foreigner identity number. The move has its own local rules: old buildings with small lifts, busy streets and parking permits for the truck. This guide covers all three, from a Madrid removal company's point of view.
01
Choosing where to live
We will not tell you which area is best: that depends on your work, your budget and whether you need schools nearby. What we can tell you is what each type of area means on moving day.
- Central Madrid (Centro, Chamberí, Salamanca, Retiro): classic apartment buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many with lifts added later that are too small for large furniture. Streets are busy and parking is regulated almost everywhere.
- Chamartín and El Viso: quieter residential streets, a mix of 1930s houses in El Viso and larger apartment blocks with garages elsewhere in the district.
- The north-west and the north (Pozuelo, Majadahonda, Las Rozas, Boadilla del Monte, Aravaca, La Moraleja, Tres Cantos): houses and townhouses with gardens and garages, popular with families. Parking is easier; the challenge is volume.
When you view a flat, check the size of the lift, whether a truck can stop at the door and how wide the staircase is. Those three things decide how long your move will take.
02
Paperwork: the basics
This is general information, not legal advice. Rules and requirements change, so always check with the official body or your consulate before you move.
Registering your address (empadronamiento)
Everyone who lives in Spain must register on the municipal register (padrón) of the town where they live. In Madrid you can do it online at the town hall's electronic office if you have a Spanish electronic ID, or in person at a Línea Madrid citizen office with a prior appointment.
You will need your identity document and a document proving you use the home, such as your rental contract or title deeds. The registration certificate (certificado de empadronamiento) is asked for in many other procedures, so it is worth doing early.
NIE and TIE
The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is the identification number foreigners use in Spain for almost everything: renting, opening a bank account, signing up for utilities or working. How you get it, and whether you also need a TIE (the foreigner identity card), depends on your nationality and your situation. EU citizens and non-EU citizens follow different procedures. Check the current requirements with the Spanish authorities or the Spanish consulate in your country.
After you arrive
Once you are registered, update your address wherever it matters: your bank, your employer, your insurance and, if you drive, the Spanish traffic authority (DGT). Arrange electricity, gas, water and internet before moving day. Internet installation usually needs an appointment and can take a while.
03
What a move in Madrid is like
Old buildings and small lifts
Many central buildings have narrow staircases and lifts that fit two or three people but not a wardrobe. Large furniture has to be dismantled or carried down the stairs. We check this on the home visit so there are no surprises on the day.
Parking the truck
Most central streets are part of the regulated parking zone (SER), and loading bays are usually taken. To guarantee a space in front of the building, the city council grants a street parking reservation for the day of the move. We apply for it ourselves.
The historic centre
The whole Centro district is a special low-emission zone with camera-controlled access. For removal trucks, the city council links the access permit to the removal authorisation, with the same validity. That is why the authorisation has to be requested properly and in time.
Timing
End of month, weekends and summer are the busiest dates. If you can choose, a mid-month weekday is easier to book. We work Monday to Saturday, 9:00 to 21:00.
04
Moving on from Madrid later
Our international removals leave from Madrid by road to Portugal, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Andorra, with inventory, insurance and any paperwork the destination needs.
Our base is in Chueca, in central Madrid, and there is no travel surcharge anywhere in the Madrid region.
05
How to get a quote
Send us a message on WhatsApp or fill in the form on our contact page with both addresses, the floor, whether there is a lift and your preferred date. For a small move, a few photos or a video are enough. For a larger home, we visit, measure the volume and give you a fixed written quote. That is the price you pay.
06FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the best area to live in Madrid?
It depends on your work, budget and whether you need schools nearby. Central areas are lively and walkable, with older buildings and harder parking. The north-west towns offer houses with gardens and more space. We can tell you what the move will involve in each.
Do I need to register at the town hall when I move to Madrid?
Yes. Everyone who lives in Spain must register on the municipal register of the town where they live. In Madrid you can do it online with an electronic ID or in person with an appointment.
Can you help me with my NIE or TIE?
No. We are a removal company and do not give legal or immigration advice. Check the requirements with the Spanish authorities or your consulate.
Do I need a parking permit for the removal truck in Madrid?
In most central streets, yes, because parking is regulated and loading bays are usually taken. We apply to the city council for the street parking reservation on your behalf.
Do you speak English?
You can write to us in English on WhatsApp or through the form on our contact page, and we will reply in English.