For the few expatriates who have decided to return to their home country and are residents in Spain should, before they leave carry out a few simple procedures. Firstly you should visit your local national police station with your documents and advise the officials in the foreigners department that you will be returning to your home country and therefore wish to give up your residency status. Go to your town hall with your padron certificate and your passport and ask for you and your family to be removed from the census. You may be told this is not necessary but it is advisable to do so. Last but not least unregister your Spanish plated car if you do not intend to take this with you and are either selling or scrapping the vehicle. If you do not carry out the latter you will continue to incur annual car tax charges which will be registered as a debt against your name.
