Moving from Germany to Spain
Moving from Germany to Spain: Germany and Spain share freedom of movement, so no visa is needed to live and work there. Spain is about 15% cheaper than Germany, around $2,050/month for one person. Citizenship takes about 10 years of residence.
Last updated August 2026 · How we calculate this
Visa & entry
You have freedom of movement — no visa needed to live or work in Spain.
- Non-lucrative visa — Prove ~€28.8k/year of passive income; you may not work in Spain.
- Self-employed (cuenta propia) — Present a business plan and proof you can run a viable activity.
- Citizenship by descent — A Spanish parent grants citizenship by origin; grandparent windows have largely closed.
Digital-nomad visa: available, from $3,100/mo income. Digital-nomad visa requires ~200% of Spain's minimum wage, about €2,849/mo for a single applicant after the 2026 SMI rise.
See all visa routes →Documents & apostille
Single apostille each end. Both countries are in the Hague Apostille Convention — one apostille from Germany makes your documents valid in Spain.
Where in Germany: No single authority — federal documents via Bundesamt fuer Auswaertige Angelegenheiten (since 2023); state/regional docs via Landgericht/Oberlandesgericht, Regierungspraesidium, Landratsamt etc. by document type and Land — official source
↳ Spain: The correct apostille office depends on document type; Spain also issues an electronic apostille (eApostilla)
Check each document →Cost, tax & salary
Spain is 15% cheaper than Germany — around $2,050/mo vs $2,400/mo for one person.
Citizenship & residency
10 yrs, but only 2 yrs for Latin Americans/Filipinos/Sephardim who also keep dual; others must renounce; DELE A2 + CCSE required (Spanish-speakers exempt language).
Your path to a passport →Arrival checklist
- Register your address: Empadronamiento (registration on the Padrón municipal)
- Get a tax number: NIE / NIF (Número de Identidad de Extranjero)
- Residence permit: TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero)
- Healthcare: Seguridad Social — register (via employer) then request the tarjeta sanitaria
Classic loop: empadronamiento needs a lease/address, TIE (fingerprints within ~30 days) needs the padrón, and NIE is obtained first at the consulate/visa stage.
Your move, step by step →Driving
All EU/EEA (incl. Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) exchange directly; non-EU only with bilateral convenio (JP, KR, CH, AR, BR, CO, MA, UA, TR, NZ + many LatAm); US/CA/AU no agreement, full retest
Miss the 6-month window (or origin has no convenio) = full theory+practical retest at an autoescuela; medical Informe de Aptitud Psicofisica always required. Exchange going fully online since June 2025.
Exchange your licence →Pets
- Microchip: Required; ISO 11784/11785 15-digit, implanted before rabies vaccination
- Rabies: Required; valid vaccination, min 21 days after primary shot (microchip first)
- Quarantine: None if fully compliant
Spain — quick facts
Start your move from Germany to Spain
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