Pre-Move Home Country Checklist for Expats Moving to Mallorca

Why Start 3-6 Months Out

Moving to another country is not just about packing boxes and booking a removal van. Months before you land on Mallorca, there is a long list of home-country admin that needs your attention. Some tasks take weeks to process (apostilles, pension notices, deregistration letters). Others, like closing certain bank accounts, can catch you off guard if you leave them too late.

This checklist is designed for English-speaking expats from the US, UK, Ireland, Canada and Australia. Where the rules differ by nationality, we flag it clearly. Where the topic is universal, we just speak to you directly.

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Tax Authority Notifications

One of the most consequential things you need to decide before you move is when, and whether, to formally notify your home-country tax authority that you are leaving. Getting this wrong can mean paying tax in two countries at once, or triggering exit-tax events you were not prepared for.

United Kingdom

File a P85 form with HMRC to notify them you are leaving the UK permanently or indefinitely. You can do this online at gov.uk. HMRC will then assess whether you are non-resident for tax purposes under the Statutory Residence Test (SRT). If you spend fewer than 183 days in the UK in a tax year and meet certain tie-break tests, you will typically be classed as non-resident from the date of departure.

Key points:

• UK-sourced income (rental income, dividends from UK companies, UK pension) may still be taxable in the UK even once you are non-resident.
• The UK-Spain Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) prevents you being taxed twice on most types of income.
• Notify your employer, pension provider and any UK investment platforms of your new address.
• If you are self-employed, tell HMRC and close your self-assessment obligations where appropriate.

United States

US persons (citizens and Green Card holders) are taxed on worldwide income regardless of where they live. Moving to Spain does not end your US tax filing obligation. You must:

• Continue to file an annual US federal tax return (Form 1040).
• File the FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) annually if you hold foreign accounts exceeding $10,000 in aggregate at any point during the year. This includes Spanish bank accounts.
• File FATCA Form 8938 (attached to your 1040) if your foreign financial assets exceed the relevant threshold ($200,000 for single filers living abroad at year-end, or $300,000 at any point during the year).
• Notify the IRS of your foreign address using Form 8822.
• If you plan to renounce citizenship eventually, be aware of the exit tax rules under IRC Section 877A. See also our related article on exit taxes before moving.

The US-Spain tax treaty provides relief in many situations but is complex. Use a US expat tax specialist (often called an "expat CPA") - do not rely on standard US tax software that is not designed for foreign residents.

Ireland

Notify Revenue Commissioners that you are leaving Ireland for tax purposes. Your tax residence in Ireland ends when you are no longer "ordinarily resident" (this takes three years to phase out fully, so you may still owe Irish tax on certain income streams for up to three years after departure). The Citizens Information website has practical guidance.

Key actions:

• Submit a FORM 12 or online equivalent for your final Irish tax year.
• Notify Revenue of your Spanish address.
• Check your PRSI (social insurance) record before you leave if you are approaching Irish State Pension entitlement.

Canada

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) considers you a non-resident for tax purposes when you sever residential ties - primarily your home, spouse/common-law partner living in Canada, and dependants. File a final T1 return covering the departure year and include Form T1161 (List of Properties) if you held certain property at the time of departure.

Canada has a "deemed disposition" rule: you are treated as having sold most capital property at fair market value on the day you leave. This can trigger capital gains tax. Get advice from a Canadian tax professional before your move.

• Notify the CRA of your change of address.
• Check your CPP (Canada Pension Plan) entitlement and how it can be paid abroad.
• Canada and Spain have a tax treaty that covers most income types.

Australia

The Australian Tax Office (ATO) uses a "domicile test" and a "183-day test" to determine tax residency. Once you genuinely cease to be an Australian resident, you are taxed only on Australian-sourced income. Your final Australian tax return should include a "period of residency" notation.

Key points:

• Superannuation (super) funds are generally locked in Australia until you reach preservation age (currently 60). You cannot bring your super to Spain simply because you move.
• Once you are non-resident, your Australian investment income may be subject to withholding tax rather than marginal rate tax.
• Notify the ATO of your departure and overseas address.
• Check whether your private health insurance cover in Australia lapses on departure.

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Banking and Credit Cards

Which accounts to keep

Do not close everything before you leave. You will need home-country accounts for:

• Receiving your pension, state benefits, or salary/freelance income denominated in your home currency.
• Paying home-country tax bills or receiving refunds.
• Property rental income if you keep a home abroad.
• Legacy direct debits (magazine subscriptions, local utilities if you own property at home).

Which to close or downgrade

• Savings accounts you are no longer actively using.
• Current accounts with high monthly fees that offer no value to a non-resident.
• Store credit cards with high interest rates and no international benefit.

Notifying your bank

Inform your bank of your move before you go. Some banks (particularly US ones) close accounts when they discover a customer has a foreign address, due to compliance and FATCA reporting costs. If you use a US bank:

• Ask explicitly whether they serve non-resident US citizens abroad.
• If not, open an account with a bank that does (many online-first banks and credit unions are more flexible).

UK, Irish, Canadian and Australian banks are generally more accommodating of non-resident customers, but they still need a valid correspondence address.

Multi-currency accounts

Consider a multi-currency account (Wise, Revolut, or a similar service) before you leave. These are useful for:

• Moving money between your home-country account and a Spanish account without punishing exchange rates.
• Holding euros and spending in Spain before your Spanish bank account is set up.

Credit cards to keep or acquire before you leave

Before moving:

• Apply for a no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card if you do not already have one. Useful for spending in Spain before you are fully set up with a Spanish bank.
• Make sure your credit limit is sufficient for large early expenses (deposits, flights, shipping costs).
• Inform your card issuer of your travel plans so purchases are not blocked.

Once in Spain you can eventually get a Spanish credit card, but you will typically need to have been banking in Spain for some months first.

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Healthcare and Prescriptions

Get a full health check before you leave

Book a general health check, dental check, eye test, and any overdue screenings in the months before your move. Spanish public healthcare is excellent, but navigating a new system while dealing with a new diagnosis is harder than dealing with it at home.

Request your medical records

Ask your GP and any specialists you see for a summary of your medical history, including:

• Current diagnoses and conditions.
• Medication list with generic names (not just brand names, which may differ in Spain).
• Vaccination records (particularly relevant if you have children).
• Recent test results (blood work, imaging).

Keep originals and digital copies. Your new Spanish doctor will need these.

Prescriptions and medication supply

If you take regular medication, plan your supply bridge:

• Ask your doctor for a longer prescription to cover the first 1-3 months in Spain.
• Research whether your medication is available in Spain under a different brand name (look up the active ingredient/INN name).
• Some medications available over the counter at home require a prescription in Spain (and vice versa).
• Controlled substances (opioids, certain benzodiazepines) require special documentation for import - check the Spanish AEMPS (Agencia Espanola de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios) rules if relevant.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC/GHIC)

If you are a UK citizen, your UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) entitles you to medically necessary treatment in Spain at the same cost as a Spanish resident - useful if you are not yet registered in the Spanish public system. Apply or renew before you leave at nhs.uk.

EU citizens (Irish, etc.) should carry a valid EHIC from their home country until they are registered with the Spanish Seguridad Social (social security) and have a Tarjeta Sanitaria (health card) in Spain.

US, Canadian and Australian citizens have no equivalent treaty-based card. Comprehensive international health insurance is strongly recommended until you can access Spanish public healthcare (which generally requires registering with the Seguridad Social and completing the empadronamiento process).

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Driving Licences and IDPs

Your existing licence in Spain

Whether and how long you can drive in Spain on your home-country licence depends on your nationality and residency status:

• EU/EEA licences (Irish, etc.): Valid in Spain indefinitely as long as you renew them in Spain when they expire. No exchange required, but once you are resident you should update the address on the licence.
• UK licences: Valid for driving in Spain for up to two years after becoming resident, after which you must exchange it for a Spanish licence. Spain and the UK have a driving licence exchange agreement. See our separate article on driving licence exchange for the full process.
• US, Canadian, Australian licences: Valid for driving in Spain for up to 6 months from the date of your Spanish residency registration (not your date of arrival). After that, you must pass the full Spanish driving test or use the Canjeo (exchange) route if a bilateral agreement exists. The US has no nationwide driving licence exchange agreement with Spain (a handful of US states have individual agreements - check the DGT website). Canada and Australia also lack an exchange agreement in most cases.

International Driving Permit (IDP)

An IDP is a multi-language translation of your home-country licence. It is not a replacement for your licence - you carry both together.

• US: Get an IDP from AAA or AATA before you leave (valid 1 year; no test required).
• UK: Get an IDP from the Post Office (1-year or 3-year depending on type).
• Ireland: Get an IDP from the AA Ireland.
• Canada: Get from CAA.
• Australia: Get from NRMA/RACV/RAA or your state motoring club.

An IDP is useful for:

• Renting a car on arrival before your residency paperwork is sorted.
• Any situation where a Spanish official asks for a document in Spanish.

It does not extend your right to use a foreign licence beyond the legal limits described above.

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Pensions and Social Security

Notify your pension provider

Before you leave, write to or call every pension scheme you hold (occupational, personal, SIPP, 401(k), IRA, superannuation, etc.) and give them:

• Your new overseas address.
• Your bank account details if payments will go directly to you (confirm they can pay to a Spanish IBAN or to your home-country account, and check what the FX fees are).
• Any power of attorney or nominated beneficiary updates.

State Pension notifications

• UK: Your UK State Pension can be paid into a UK or foreign bank account. If you have not yet claimed it, you can do so from abroad via the Pension Service International Pension Centre. Your pension will continue to rise with the triple lock each April - Spain is a country where uprating applies (unlike Australia, Canada or South Africa, where UK State Pensions are frozen).
• Ireland: Irish State Pension can be paid abroad. Notify the Department of Social Protection of your move.
• US Social Security: Social Security benefits can be paid to a foreign bank account or sent to the US Embassy for forwarding. Use the SSA's "International Direct Deposit" service if available. The US-Spain social security totalisation agreement means periods of Spanish social security contributions may count towards your US entitlement, and vice versa.
• Canada: CPP and OAS can be paid to a foreign account. Notify Service Canada.
• Australia: The Age Pension can be paid abroad if you have been an Australian resident for at least 10 years. Notify Services Australia (Centrelink) well in advance.

Social security export forms (EU citizens)

If you are an Irish or other EU citizen moving to Spain, you may be eligible to transfer social security contribution records between countries under EU coordination rules. Ask your home-country social security authority for a U1 form (formerly E301), which records your contribution history and can be used to top up Spanish Seguridad Social entitlements.

Non-EU citizens (US, UK, CA, AU) rely on bilateral totalisation agreements where they exist rather than EU coordination rules.

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Voter Registration as an Overseas Citizen

Many countries allow their citizens living abroad to vote in national elections. Register as an overseas voter before you leave - it is much easier while you are still at home.

• UK: Register as an Overseas Elector at gov.uk/register-to-vote. You can vote in UK Parliamentary elections. You must re-register every three years or after any change in circumstances. Note: you lose the right to vote in UK local elections once you move abroad.
• US: Register under UOCAVA (Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act) via your last state of residence. Use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) at vote.gov or fvap.gov. Re-submit the FPCA every election cycle.
• Ireland: Irish citizens abroad can vote in referendums and, from 2025, in Dail elections from abroad in limited constituencies. Register at checktheregister.ie.
• Canada: Canadians living abroad can vote in federal elections from abroad if they intend to return to Canada. Register with Elections Canada as an international elector.
• Australia: Australians moving overseas must register as an "overseas elector" with the AEC (Australian Electoral Commission) if they intend to return within six years. If you do not intend to return, you are removed from the electoral roll but may re-enrol later.

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Deregistration and Residency Admin

Deregistering at home

Depending on your country, formally deregistering from your home municipality or address may be required or advisable:

• Germany: Not applicable here, but if any of your readers hold German residency alongside another passport, the Abmeldung process is mandatory when leaving. Note this article does not cover the German-specific deregistration - see the separate German guide for that.
• UK: The UK has no formal deregistration process. Simply update your address. Notify the council, electoral roll, DVLA, NHS, and HMRC.
• US: No federal deregistration required. Notify your state and local tax authorities if relevant.
• Ireland: Notify the relevant departments (Revenue, Dept of Social Protection) and update your address on the electoral register.
• Canada: Notify the CRA, Service Canada and any provincial authorities.
• Australia: Notify the ATO and Services Australia.

Address transition

You need a valid address in Spain before you can complete many Spanish admin steps (empadronamiento - municipal registration - requires a Spanish address). Plan your accommodation accordingly: either sign a lease before arriving, or arrange a short-term rental that will accept empadronamiento. Hotels and holiday apartments typically will not accept empadronamiento.

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Apostille and Document Certification

An apostille is a standardised international certification that authenticates the signature of a public official on a document, making it legally valid in other Hague Convention countries (Spain is a member). You will need apostilles on certain documents when dealing with Spanish authorities.

Documents to consider getting apostilled before you leave

• Birth certificate (almost certainly needed for NIE applications, and for children's school enrolment).
• Marriage certificate (if applicable, for joint residency or name-change procedures).
• Divorce decree (if applicable).
• Criminal record certificate (some visa applications and employment situations require a certified criminal record from your home country).
• University degree or professional qualifications (if you plan to work in a regulated profession in Spain).
• Power of attorney (if you want to authorise a Spanish lawyer or Gestor to act on your behalf while you are still abroad - this is very useful for property purchases or NIE applications done remotely).

Where to get apostilles

• UK: The FCDO Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes handles apostilles. Submit originals by post or use an authorised agent. Current processing time is typically 2-4 weeks. Start early.
• US: Your state's Secretary of State office issues apostilles for state-level documents (birth certificates, state criminal records). The US State Department issues apostilles for federal documents. Costs and timescales vary by state.
• Ireland: The FCDO equivalent is the Department of Foreign Affairs Authentication Section in Dublin. Allow 2-3 weeks.
• Canada: Global Affairs Canada handles federal documents; provincial governments handle provincial documents (birth certificates are provincial). Timescales vary.
• Australia: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) processes apostilles. Allow 10-15 business days.

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Sworn Translations Once on Island

Once you arrive in Spain with your apostilled documents, you will often need them translated by a sworn translator (traductor jurado) for use with Spanish authorities. A sworn translation carries the translator's official stamp and signature, which Spanish institutions accept as legally valid.

• Keep the original apostilled document and the sworn translation together - they are submitted as a pair.
• Find a sworn translator registered with the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Your Gestoría can usually recommend one.
• Common documents needing sworn translations: birth certificates, marriage certificates, criminal record certificates, university diplomas, and occasionally driving licences.
• Costs run roughly €40-€120 per document depending on length and complexity.

You do not necessarily need sworn translations of everything before you arrive. Do the apostilles at home, bring the originals, and arrange translations as you need them in Mallorca.

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Postal Forwarding and Address Changes

Set up postal forwarding

Contact your national postal service and pay for mail forwarding before you leave. In the UK, Royal Mail's Redirection service costs around £35-70 for 3-12 months. In the US, USPS offers Mail Forwarding from £1.10 per week. Equivalent services exist in Ireland (An Post), Canada (Canada Post) and Australia (Australia Post).

Forwarding does not last forever - use it as a safety net while you systematically update your address with every institution.

Institutions to notify

Work through this list systematically, updating your address and, where relevant, your bank details:

Financial

• Bank accounts and credit cards
• Investment platforms and brokers
• Pension providers (all of them)
• Insurance policies (life, income protection, any property you are keeping)
• HMRC / IRS / Revenue / CRA / ATO

Government and official

• DVLA / DMV / NDLS (driving licence authority)
• Passport agency (no update needed on the document itself, but contact-address records)
• Electoral register (to register as overseas voter)
• Benefits and social security agencies
• NHS / Medicare / HSE (health system registration)

Personal and subscription

• Mobile phone provider (if keeping a UK/home-country SIM for a period)
• Broadband and utilities at your departing address
• Subscriptions (streaming services, magazines, professional memberships)
• Online shopping accounts (Amazon, etc.)
• Loyalty programmes with a saved card

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Country Quick-Reference Table

Topic	UK	US	Ireland	Canada	Australia
Tax authority	HMRC (P85 online)	IRS (Form 8822)	Revenue Commissioners	CRA	ATO
Exit tax	No exit tax per se; capital gains may crystallise on certain assets	IRC 877A exit tax for "covered expatriates" (renunciation route)	No exit tax; "deemed disposal" on certain funds	Deemed disposition on departure	No CGT on departure; super remains locked
State pension uprating in Spain	Yes (triple lock applies)	N/A - Social Security paid monthly	Yes - uprated	Yes - uprated	No - UK pension frozen if you first claimed while in AU
Driving licence exchange	Yes (bilateral agreement)	No nationwide agreement (some states only)	Yes (EU licence valid)	No	No
IDP issuer	AA / Post Office	AAA / AATA	AA Ireland	CAA	RACV / NRMA / RAA
Apostille authority	FCDO Legalisation Office	State Sec of State / US State Dept	Dept of Foreign Affairs	Global Affairs Canada / Province	DFAT
Overseas voter	Overseas Elector (gov.uk)	UOCAVA / FPCA	Limited (2025 reform)	International Elector (Elections Canada)	Overseas Elector (AEC)
Expat registration system	LOTUS	STEP	ROCA	Registration of Canadians Abroad	smartraveller.gov.au
FATCA reporting	No (but UK-US IGA applies to banks)	Yes (FATCA + FBAR)	No	No	No
Health card for Spain	GHIC	None	EHIC	None	None
Social security export form	No (non-EU)	US-Spain totalisation agreement	U1 form (EU coordination)	Canada-Spain totalisation agreement	No bilateral agreement

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The 3-Month Timeline

To make this feel manageable, here is a rough sequencing:

6 months out

• Get full health and dental checks.
• Collect all official documents (birth certs, marriage certs, qualifications).
• Order apostilles on key documents - this takes the longest.

4-5 months out

• Notify your tax authority (HMRC P85 / IRS Form 8822 / Revenue etc.).
• Consult a tax professional in both countries.
• Notify pension providers.
• Register as overseas voter.
• Apply for IDP.
• Request medical records from GP and specialists.

2-3 months out

• Set up postal forwarding.
• Work through the full address-change list above.
• Stock up on prescription medication.
• Open a multi-currency account.
• Research Spanish bank account options (some can be opened from abroad).

1 month out

• Confirm your Spanish accommodation is apostille-ready (i.e., you have a lease you can use for empadronamiento).
• Double-check you have originals and copies of all key documents in your "Spain Move" folder.
• Renew passport if less than 6 months validity remaining.

After you arrive, the next steps (NIE number, empadronamiento, TIE card, Seguridad Social, Certificado Digital) are covered in the first 30 days checklist.