So we are getting closer to 2022, as I write this it is a few days away , so starting on the 1st January the UK government is applying at import to the UK full customs controls 
But what does that mean for me ?
Firstly it does not mean that moving to Spain is impossible or returning to the UK from Spain is impossible 
But what it does mean is: 
Full customs controls means there now is a possibility of any vehicle entering the UK with goods on board been sent to an Inland border facility (IBF) where the vehicle can have enhanced and more detailed customs checks and controls applied 
This means that the inventory must be correct , for example , if your load is Tors approved (Transfer of Residency that the items on the vehicle must be the same as declared when you submitted the Tors application )
This is also true of any import to the UK the inventory of goods declared must be the same as what the vehicle is carrying 

And a quick note if for example your one of our customers and the inventory we load is different to what you have already sent the office ?
Well if your Tors approved to the UK We can only load the approved inventory 

None Tors the van team will update the inventory and advise the office who will adjust it , and submit an updated inventory to the relevant customs brokers (please note thou if this is the case addition charges will apply for the extra items/volume ) (if moving to Spain Tors doesn't apply it is a UK systems thou the inventory needs to be accurate, but if not additional charges will apply if more than the volume quoted was loaded )

There are a few other aspects to the full customs controls and related systems that I could go into but they are not something our customers will need to worry about as they will just be added to the list of the customs process we cover as part of dealing with the customs clearance processes for our customers 
An example of this been the Goods Vehicle movement system (GVMS) ​

Please be advised that the systems from the UK to the EU so for example Spain have not changed as the EU applied Full customs controls during 2021 

So it is as I write this the 20th December and less than 11 full days of 2021 left , where has the year gone ? Well for us here at ERS it has gone by in a busy enough year lets have a look back at 2021 

So 2021 has as you know been the first year of the post Brexit customs controls and systems (yes the final UK ones are coming into place the 1st January 2022) so yes 2021 has been a year different to the last few years that is for sure: 

So customs and doing customs clearances (as in arranging and sorting via our UK and Spanish agents ) has been a big part of the year we have as the year ends done 43 full loads on the Spain - UK - Spain route which equals 86 customs process in total (I would like to take this opportunity to thank both our UK Broker WS Logistics and our Spanish Broker Aduana Del Guadalquivir SL , for all their help this year and all the customs process they have completed for us , enabling us to complete successful all the moves/deliveries ) (and I would like to also thank the depot in Spain we do our customs clearances at )

And we have also of course done 28 crossing of the English channel via DFDS Ferry on the Newhaven- Dieppe route (so a thanks to all the DFDS port staff at Newhaven and Dieppe and the office team and the ferry crews ) 

While in volume we may have been down in 2021 on 2020 and 2019 , the 14 trips we have done have seen us go to place including Fife , Edinburgh , Cornwall , Newport and other places in Wales, As far as Marbella in Spain, so in 2021 the van has sure covered the miles , and of course as you know the van has also in 2021 been sign written (by 101 business success in Hull )(and As I have said the van has also been serviced as need this year with thanks to Tom at Tph Autos ) 

And as well as the 14 full trips on our Spain - UK - Spain we have done 3 runs into France relocating people to France from Spain going to places including Grenoble 

Also in 2021 we celebrated our 9th overall year in business and our first full year as a limited company 

We also got our new uniforms this year with our new company polos and Fleeces 

And I would also like to Thank the team at Purdie worldwide removals who have this year had us write them a guest blog on moving to Spain since Brexit (link below )
Moving to Spain post-Brexit - Purdie Worldwide Removals & Storage Ltd

Our Social media accounts have gone from Strength to Strength, and while I would like to thank each and every person I chat , network and interact with on twitter , facebook , instagram and the likes the list would be to long 

But I will mention Steve Barton of (1) Steve Barton (@KrasnayaDolls) / Twitter as once again he is working with us for the #NelsonandPercyatitagain Christmas adventures 

So 2021 has been an eventful year here at ERS Removal services ltd mainluy for the good thankfully a further example of something that has happened here this year is our Newspaper advert with Euro News Weekly 

But yes at times as with any year and any business there have been issues , been challenges (the first trip in January 2021 for example while successful was like that as it was a trail trip to make sure everything was in place for the Brexit systems at the time , which it was)
But 2021 has overall been a good year a rewarding year and successful (with thanks to all the mentioned people and many more as well ) 
We have made many a persons dream move to Spain come true and as need helped a few people return/relocate back to the UK (thou let me add that it was still more people and loads to Spain this year than to the UK)
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Here are a few general travel tips for when traveling to Europe 

• ensure your passport has at least 6 months left on it 
• Don't forget your/van/Vehicle will need a UK sticker on it (in some countries as I understand even if it has it on the number plate)
• It is worth noting with the expectation of Ireland that Europe drive on the other side of the road to the UK, so be sure when walking and crossing the road to look in the other direction to what you would in the UK first  
• Be sure to make sure that your breakdown cover , covers where your travelling to when outside the UK
• Many European country require you to carry your passport on you when out and about 
• Don't forget speed and distance in Europe is measured in Kilometres 
• It is worth noting that some Spanish toll booths don't like some UK debit cards , so have cash (notes and coins ready) (not all Spanish toll roads now charge at all (but toll roads are the ones that say ap on the signs )
• It is always where possible handy to know a few basic phrases for where your travelling to even if just for example the likes of Hola 
• Be careful with your change as some coins look very similar to the Euro but are not legal tender in the Euro zone (for example the pound coin looks a bit like the euro at a quick glance )
• (hopefully you never need to use this one )Be familiar with where your travelling to in Europe emergency number in many cases it is 112 

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Here are just a few quick tips I will add a few more soon 
And feel free to comment with your suggestions 

If your relocating back to the Uk from overseas then it is important you fill in the Tors application (Transfer of Residency) via the HMRC Website https://www.gov.uk/guidance/application-for-transfer-of-residence-relief-tor1

As without it completed you will no matter what pay vat and duties on your belongings 
With it approved then your goods will be vat and duties free 

*We strongly suggest you do this at least 1 month in advance of your move *
*we also strongly suggest you check with the mover when they expect to reach the Uk with your goods as if they arrive on say the 4th and your tors if for the 9 then the goods would have to pay duties and vat , but don't worry the tors lasts for 1 year from the date you listed , but it is best as said to use the date the mover will arrive unless you will be in the Uk before them * 

When any item/goods/belongings leave one country to go to another they are officially exported from the country they are leaving and imported into the new country 

so while officially that means that goods leaving Spain for say France are exported from Spain and imported to Spain but as both countries are in the same customs territories in this case it matters not (in this case the customs territory been the European union)

So when goods leave one country they are Exported and imported when they reach a new country they are imported 

And if the two countries are in different customs territories (like the Uk is to Spain) then there will be a customs processes and b possible customs charges 

Spain is : Festivals 
It is often said that there is festival of some type nearly every day of the year some where in Spin , while this might be a slight exaggeration 
Spain does have quite a fair few festivals , parades and carnivals 
For example the first parade of the year in Spain is the 3 kings Parade 
It is true that though out the year most towns and regions have a wide variety of festivals for various reasons Like honour religious festivals like Easter to honouring the local patron saint 
To historical reasons like the Moors v Christian festivals many towns have 

The Spanish love a party and love a festival 
Every town also has as a rule a 4 or 5 day carnival each year 

​#JoysofSpain 
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So we are all but 9 months into Brexit, and in that time here at ERS we have carried on making peoples dream moves to Spain come true 

And yes while things have changed since Brexit it has not made that dream move to Spain (or France or other EU countries ) impossible or out of your reach. Yes it has made that same move more expensive than Pre Brexit 

So I thought I would go though in a bit more detail on how things have changed (We have in other blogs on this website covered various aspects of this like the Customs process ) 

Firstly yes you will have likely heard and know that there is now various customs process and rules that are now in place that, firstly yes there is now more paperwork needed for the customs process to export and import your goods to and From Spain (and costs of Customs brokers) here at ERS we have as part of our service this extra customs process and paper work covered , all you need to do is send the requested documents we ask for: 
Yes there might be customs duties and Iva/vat (depending on which country Vat in the UK / Iva in Spain / Vat in France ) at import and to be on the safe side we treat it as there is (which we explain in more detail when in the quote stage of a move )  
And there is Customs broker fees , which we tell you what they are but that is in our case paid as part of your overall moving cost 
So yes it now is a tad more expensive to move to Spain/France since Brexit 

And yes there are also new rules about living there as well (best on that to speak to an expert on relevant immigration law) 

But let me reassure you off the following:
Yes the customs process is more involved but ERS has you covered we handle all the customs processes involved in your move 

and no it has not become impossible to relocate to Spain from Britain since Brexit we have this year successfully completed numerous trips moving people to Spain from the UK
so no Brexit has not made your dream move to Spain impossible 
Moving to Spain is still achievable 

Spain is ; 
Big 
Old 
Varied 
Historical 
Which I listed in part 1 
So I thought I would expand on a few of them points 

Well Spain is big is an easy point to start with it is one of the biggest by area countries in Europe , as well as the 2nd most mountainous country in Europe after Switzerland , 

Old and historical 
Well Explore Spain and you will find roman ruins , Moorish ruins, medieval castles, and cities with history dating back a long long time , Cartagena was for example founded by the Carthage empire (if I recall my history (which means it dates back to something (weather occupied since then to now I don't know) like 200bc or something (willing to be corrected if wrong)but either way it is a very old place 

Tossa De Mar in Catalan has Roman ruins 

Varied circling back briefly to point one Spain is Big it is made up of numerous regions each with it's own culture , and shared aspects of Culture with other areas Spain. 
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