Moving day leave in Spain: how many days you are entitled to
If you work as an employee in Spain, you are entitled to one paid day off for moving house. It is written into article 37.3.c of the Estatuto de los Trabajadores (Spain’s Workers’ Statute): employees may, «previo aviso y justificación» — with prior notice and proof — be absent from work with pay for «un día por traslado del domicilio habitual», one day for moving their usual home. That is the legal minimum: your collective agreement (convenio colectivo) may give two or three days, especially if you move to another town. Civil servants also get one day under the Estatuto Básico del Empleado Público (art. 48.b) when they move within the same town.
Below: how many days apply in your case, how to request the leave in writing, which documents prove the move and how to organise it so one day is enough. Legal texts checked against the consolidated BOE version of October 2026.
How many days of moving leave you get
| Your situation | Days for moving | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Employee | 1 paid day | Estatuto de los Trabajadores, art. 37.3.c |
| Employee whose agreement improves on the law | 2–3 days (per agreement) | Your collective agreement |
| Civil servant, move within the same town | 1 day | EBEP, art. 48.b |
| Self-employed (autónomo) | No leave — you plan your own time | — |
When the agreement is more favourable, the agreement applies. Search for it by your sector (for example, «convenio comercio Valencia») in the provincial bulletin or ask HR: many agreements give two days when you move to another town.
Conditions: when you can use the day
- It must be your usual home. The leave does not cover helping a relative or moving things to a second home.
- Give notice in advance. The law sets no exact number of days: reasonable notice with the date is enough. One or two weeks is sensible.
- Prove the move, before or after the day, as your employer asks.
- It is for a working day. If you move on a Saturday you do not work, there is no leave to request.
How to request moving day leave
Do it in writing, even by email, so the date of notice is recorded. A simple template in Spanish:
Asunto: Solicitud de permiso retribuido por traslado de domicilio
Por la presente comunico que el día [fecha] me trasladaré a mi nuevo domicilio habitual en [localidad], por lo que haré uso del permiso retribuido previsto en el artículo 37.3.c del Estatuto de los Trabajadores [y en el artículo X de nuestro convenio colectivo, si lo mejora]. Aportaré la justificación del cambio de domicilio en cuanto disponga de ella.
How to prove the move
Any document that shows you changed your usual home works:
- Padrón certificate (volante de empadronamiento) at the new address — the most common. Step by step in our guide to empadronamiento in Valencia.
- Rental contract or purchase deed (escritura) with the move-in date.
- Moving invoice with the date and addresses. It is issued by the partner carrier that does the job.
After the move there are other deadlines, such as the DGT within 15 days: they are listed in change of address in Spain after moving.
Can I choose the day?
The leave is for the day of the move. If your agreement lets you take it on another nearby date (for example, the next day to unpack), it will say so explicitly. If it does not, ask your employer to confirm the change in writing.
How to do the move in one day
With one day of leave, the move needs a plan. What saves the most time:
- Book the move for early morning. Starting at 8 or 9 leaves the afternoon to set up beds and the basics.
- Pack the evening before. Boxes closed and labelled; large furniture emptied. Our box guide by home size helps you count.
- Set aside what you carry yourself. Documents, laptop, medicines, chargers and clothes for the next day.
- Sort out parking outside the building at both addresses. In central Valencia it is worth reserving the space in advance.
- Leave the paperwork for later. Padrón, utilities and the rest can wait a few weeks — see the moving checklist.
Does it fit in one day? Within Valencia and its metropolitan area, a studio or one-bedroom flat usually takes 2–3 hours with one mover, and a two- or three-bedroom flat half a day or a full day with two movers. As an approximate guide: van with driver at 55 €/h (2-hour minimum, 110 €) and 20 €/h per mover, so 130 € for 2 hours with one mover (the driver) or 255 € for 3 hours with two movers (one is the driver). We confirm the final price in the quote, based on volume, floors and access.
If your employer relocates you to another city
If you are moving because your employer transfers you to another town, it is not just about one day of leave: geographic mobility (movilidad geográfica) under article 40 of the Statute applies, and the company must compensate the relocation costs. It is a different case — read the transfer letter carefully before booking the move.
If you already have a date, send us both addresses, the floors and what needs moving: we give you an approximate price straight away and we confirm the final one before the day.
