Moving to Fuerteventura

We gave a lot of thought to what we were bringing with us when we moved, and charity shops and friends and family certainly did very well out of us! We got rid of pretty much everything except what the essentials and ended up with 6 x 1 cubic metre boxes.

We decided to use a local UK brokerage firm which I’d used through work in the past, to handle the shipping of our precious possessions, and it was extremely cost effective. We had it all scheduled so that our belongings would arrive a few days after we landed. This was after a multitude of phone calls and emails to our brokers in England, and the local Canaries shipping firm they were using, to ensure that we had provided all the paperwork needed. We were consistently told that everything was in order. However, it was AFTER WE ARRIVED that the shippers then told us we had to organise our NIE & NIF numbers BEFORE they could even despatch the boxes from England! It took us just a couple of days to organise the numbers (that was the fast part) but then almost two months to get our things through customs here (don’t forget the 8% duty due at this point – which is based on the list and values you provide). What a nightmare!

As well as having to live out of our suitcases for quite a while, we were separated from most our computer equipment. Not the best situation when you’re in the line of business we are in…

The moral of the story – plan it well in advance and know exactly what is needed at that time, the Spanish like their paperwork and if it’s not in order it’s an uphill struggle from there. Not many English based freight companies know the correct procedures, so we’d suggest you have a look at the one or two local firms who specialize in shipping to Fuerteventura before you make your final decision.

Good luck!