MOVE TO MIJAS
A practical UK-to-Spain relocation adventure with Emma, Liam, their three children and Fabulingo. Learn the Spanish you will genuinely need before the boxes arrive.
One search. One blog. One life-changing idea.
Emma and Liam love Spain. Emma runs Fabulingo, a language-learning company, and together they are raising three children. One rainy evening in the UK, they type “move to Mijas with children” into a search engine. They discover Neuro-Spanish for You! — and their relocation mission begins.
Emma: “If we really want to mudarnos, we need more than sunshine and a dream.”
Liam: “We need a hoja de ruta, the right vía de residencia, a home, schools — and enough Spanish to avoid saying sí to a nine-month rental by mistake.”
Emma: “Then let us do it properly. Plan well. Move smart. Live our dream in Mijas.”
Choose your legal route before you pack
British visitors normally use the Schengen 90 days in any 180-day period allowance. That visitor rule is not a residence permit. If you plan to live in Spain, identify the correct route before moving.
Non-Lucrative Visa
For people who can support themselves without working in Spain. It does not authorise employment or remote work.
ahorros · savingspensión · pension
International Teleworker
For eligible non-EU nationals working remotely through digital systems for organisations mainly outside Spain. Detailed professional, employment and social-security conditions apply.
teletrabajo · remote work
Another route
Withdrawal Agreement rights, EU nationality, family links, employment, study or other circumstances may lead to a different process.
asesoramiento · advice
Quick check · Which statement is safest?
Emma continues actively managing Fabulingo online from Mijas. Which starting assumption is responsible?
Prepare early — but do not let documents expire
Plan six to eight months ahead, but obtain time-sensitive certificates according to the current consular validity rules. Applicants use the centre serving their consular district; they do not simply choose London, Manchester or Edinburgh at convenience.
Core NLV preparation checklist
Emma's “three-folder” system
Emma creates a cloud folder and a paper binder with three colours:
BLUE · originals GOLD · apostilles GREEN · translations
Every filename begins with the family member, document, issue date and expiry/valid-until date.
MOVE TO MIJAS · FAMILY RELOCATION CHECKLIST
Name: ____________________ Target moving date: ____________________
Where would your family actually live?
Mijas is not one single lifestyle. Compare daily journeys, school runs, services, gradients, parking and summer demand — not only the postcard view.
Mijas Pueblo
The historic white village in the hills: beautiful views, traditional character and steep streets. Test the school and work journey before committing.
el casco histórico · calles empinadas
Las Lagunas
A large, practical urban area next to Fuengirola, with services, shops and everyday local life. Compare specific neighbourhoods street by street.
servicios cercanos · vida cotidiana
La Cala de Mijas
A very popular coastal centre with beach life, restaurants and a strong international community. Long-term supply and summer pressure deserve close attention.
alquiler de larga duración · zona costera
Do not sign the wrong kind of rental
For a permanent family home, ask explicitly for an arrendamiento de vivienda habitual. A contrato de temporada serves a temporary need and is not automatically the same legal arrangement. Have the written terms checked before paying.
📞 Call with a rental agent
Click “Play dialogue” to hear the Spanish conversation. Use “Stop” at any time.
Before sending money
Rental trap detector
“El contrato termina en mayo porque en verano alquilamos por semanas.” What does this tell Emma?
Which Spanish sentence asks the most useful first question?
Build the family landing plan
Emma and Liam need three connected plans: school places, healthcare entitlement/cover and language integration. None should be left until the van reaches Mijas.
Schools
Compare public, state-funded private and international options. The ordinary Andalusian admission period and an extraordinary-admission route are different processes. Families arriving later should contact the education authority rather than assume enrolment is impossible.
plaza escolar · matriculación
Healthcare
Check what your residence route requires and whether anyone has an exportable healthcare entitlement such as an S1. Do not assume an EHIC/GHIC or travel policy covers becoming resident.
seguro médico · centro de salud
Spanish
An English-speaking network can be comforting, but total dependence on it limits independence. Fabulingo's family challenge: five useful Spanish phrases at breakfast, then use one in real life.
¿Puede repetirlo? · Necesito una cita
Do not live in the translation bubble.
Follow Neuro-Spanish for You! and turn grammar into language you can retrieve when the estate agent, doctor, teacher or town-hall clerk is in front of you.
✨ Visit and follow the blogThe five things families forget
The removal van is only one moving part. Customs, tax, driving, pets and proof of residence can create expensive surprises.
Customs
Personal goods transferred from a non-EU country may qualify for customs-duty relief and tax exemption when the statutory conditions are met. Typical conditions concern prior residence, ownership/use, import deadlines and restrictions on later transfer. Ask the removal company which evidence and inventory it needs; do not rely on a supposed universal “British consular deregistration certificate”.
Tax
Take cross-border tax advice before the move, especially as a company owner. Days of presence are important, but Spanish tax residence is not safely reduced to one slogan. Income, family/economic interests and reporting duties may matter.
Driving
Check the current rule for using or exchanging a UK licence after becoming resident. Price the full import, registration, inspection, insurance and adaptation of a right-hand-drive car before bringing it.
Pets
From Great Britain to the EU, dogs, cats and ferrets need compliant identification, rabies protection and the correct travel document. Use an approved route/entry point and check the current timing with an official vet.
Evidence pack
Carry the key residence, customs, housing, school and health documents separately from the removal load. Keep secure digital copies and an emergency contact sheet.
Arrival bag
Pack two weeks of essentials, medicines and prescriptions, chargers, school basics and one familiar object per child. The sofa can be late; epilepsy medication or a child's comfort toy cannot.
Your first 30 days in Mijas
The exact order can vary with appointments and personal circumstances, but these are the core actions Emma and Liam place on their landing dashboard.
Check passports, visas/authorisations, address evidence, medicines, school and customs files.
Empadronamiento records residence in the municipality. Ask the town hall for the current document list and appointment method.
For an NLV holder, the official guidance requires a personal TIE application within one month of entry. Book the appropriate police appointment and check current forms, fee and photographs.
Complete enrolment, register entitlements/cover and locate your nearest appropriate health service.
Use one Spanish phrase every day, introduce the family to neighbours and let the children build routines.
🏛️ Mijas Foreigners Department
Tenencia de Alcaldía
Bulevar de La Cala, 45
29649 Mijas Costa
Official information indicates assistance by email, phone or in person with a prior appointment. Confirm current arrangements before travelling.
Open official Mijas pagePut the arrival actions in a sensible order
Choose 1–4. Each number can be used once.
16 words that unlock your move
Read the Spanish, say the English meaning, then press the speaker. Retrieval before replay makes the memory stronger.
Queremos mudarnos a Mijas.
Necesitamos empadronarnos.
¿Necesito cita previa?
Vengo para poner las huellas.
Este es mi certificado.
¿Hace falta una traducción jurada?
Buscamos una vivienda habitual.
No queremos un alquiler de temporada.
¿Cuánto es la fianza?
¿Piden nóminas?
Buscamos plaza para tres niños.
¿Dónde está el centro de salud?
Tenemos seguro médico.
La mudanza pasa por la aduana.
Necesitamos un inventario detallado.
El coche tiene el volante a la derecha.
Can you move smarter than Liam?
No penalties. Every mistake is a rehearsal. Earn XP, read the feedback and finish the mission.
1. What is empadronamiento?
2. What should Emma ask before signing a year-round family rental?
3. Which statement is correct?
4. “¿Cuánto es la fianza?” means…
5. Why should some certificates not be obtained eight months early?
6. Which action is safest before sending a rental reservation?
7. A family arrives outside the ordinary school admission period. What should it do?
8. Which phrase is most useful at an office?
MISSION XP
Your Mijas mission is underway.
Complete the decisions, checklists and challenges above. Your progress is stored on this device.
Verify before you act
These authoritative starting points were checked on 1 September 2026. Bookmark the relevant pages and recheck them before each application.
- Spanish Consulate in London · Non-working residence visa
- Spanish Ministry · International teleworkers
- UK Government · Living in Spain
- Spanish Tax Agency · Transfer-of-residence customs relief
- BOE · Current Urban Leases Act
- Junta de Andalucía · School admission forms
- UK Government · Taking a pet abroad
- Mijas Council · Foreigners Department
Emma, Liam and Fabulingo are ready for Mijas. Are you?
Save the guide, share it with another family and follow the next real-life Spanish mission.
🧠 Follow Neuro-Spanish for You!Continue exploring
#LearnSpanish · #MovingToSpain · #Mijas
