Moving to Spain from Germany: Your Complete Residency Guide

Everything German citizens need to know about relocating to Spain. From EU free movement rights to tax optimization strategies.

Why Germans Choose Spain

Spain has become the second most popular destination for German emigrants, trailing only Austria. The reasons are straightforward: better weather, lower living costs, and a pace of life that Germans increasingly find appealing after years in the structured northern European environment.

German retirees have settled along the Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol for decades. But a newer wave of German professionals. Remote workers, freelancers, and entrepreneurs. Are discovering cities like Barcelona, Valencia, and Málaga. These younger Germans want the sunshine without giving up their careers.

The math works out favorably. A Berlin apartment that costs €1,800 monthly might run €1,100 in Valencia for comparable space. Add in lower grocery prices, cheaper restaurants, and no heating bills for six months of the year, and many Germans find they can save €500-800 monthly while improving their quality of life.

EU Free Movement: Your Rights as a German Citizen

Germans benefit from EU free movement provisions that make relocating to Spain remarkably simple compared to non-EU nationals. You can enter Spain without any visa, stay indefinitely, work legally, and access public services. All guaranteed by EU law.

But “no visa required” doesn’t mean “no paperwork.” Spain requires all EU citizens planning to stay longer than 90 days to register formally. This involves obtaining your NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) and registering on the municipal census (empadronamiento).

1. Apply for your NIE. This is your tax identification number, required for everything from opening a bank account to signing a rental contract
2. Register at your local town hall (Ayuntamiento). The empadronamiento proves your address and unlocks access to public healthcare and other services
3. Apply for the EU Citizen Certificate (Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la UE). A green card-sized document confirming your right to reside

The process sounds bureaucratic because it is. Spanish administration moves slowly, and you’ll likely need appointments booked weeks in advance. Many Germans hire a gestor (administrative assistant) or immigration lawyer to handle the paperwork, especially when language barriers exist.

Tax Considerations for Germans Moving to Spain

Taxation is where German relocations to Spain get complicated. Both countries tax worldwide income for tax residents, and determining which country can tax you. And when. Requires careful planning.

• You spend more than 183 days per year in Spain
• Your center of economic interests is in Spain (primary source of income)
• Your spouse and dependent children live in Spain

Once you qualify as a Spanish tax resident, Spain taxes your worldwide income. Including any German rental properties, investment dividends, or pension payments you receive.

• Employment income: Taxed where the work is performed
• German rental income: Germany retains taxing rights, but Spain can include it when calculating your tax rate
• German government pensions: Taxed only in Germany
• Private pensions: Taxed in Spain as your country of residence
• Investment dividends: Shared taxing rights with credits for taxes paid

Germans often qualify for the Beckham Law if they:

• Haven’t been Spanish tax residents in the previous 5 years
• Move to Spain due to an employment contract with a Spanish company, OR
• Become directors of Spanish companies (with some restrictions), OR
• Qualify as entrepreneurs or remote workers under the 2023 Startup Law provisions

The Beckham Law also exempts foreign-source income from Spanish taxation entirely. For Germans with German rental properties or investment portfolios, this creates significant planning opportunities.

You’ll also need to formally de-register (Abmeldung) from your German address. Without this step, German authorities may continue considering you resident and potentially claim taxing rights. The Abmeldung can be done at any Bürgeramt before or within two weeks after departure.

Healthcare Options for Germans in Spain

German health insurance is often considered among the best globally, which makes navigating Spain’s system feel like a downgrade at first. But Spain’s public healthcare ranks highly in international comparisons, and most Germans adapt quickly.

Once you’re registered and working in Spain (contributing to social security), you receive a Spanish health card (Tarjeta Sanitaria). This entitles you to the same care as Spanish citizens: general practitioners, specialists, hospital treatment, and prescriptions with co-pays.

Spanish private health insurance costs considerably less than German equivalents. A comprehensive policy for a healthy 40-year-old runs €80-150 monthly, compared to €400-600 in Germany. Sanitas, DKV, and Adeslas are popular choices with extensive networks.

German Consulates in Spain

Germany maintains one of the largest consular networks in Spain, reflecting the substantial German community. While you won’t need consular services for residency (that’s handled by Spanish authorities), the consulates provide essential services for German citizens abroad:

• Madrid Embassy: Calle de Fortuny 8, 28010 Madrid
• Barcelona Consulate General: Passeig de Gràcia 111, 08008 Barcelona
• Palma de Mallorca: Calle Porto Pi 8, 07015 Palma
• Las Palmas (Gran Canaria): Calle Albareda 3, 35007 Las Palmas
• Málaga: Edificio Eurocom, Calle Mauricio Moro Pareto 2, 29006 Málaga
• Santa Cruz de Tenerife: Honorary consulate serving Canary Islands
• Bilbao: Honorary consulate for Basque Country region

Services include passport renewals, notarizations, and emergency assistance. Register with the German foreign ministry’s crisis notification system (Krisenvorsorgeliste) for updates during emergencies.

Documents Germans Need for Spanish Registration

German bureaucratic culture means you probably already keep your documents organized. Here’s what Spanish authorities will request:

Banking and Financial Setup

Opening a Spanish bank account has become straightforward for EU citizens. Major banks like Santander, BBVA, CaixaBank, and Sabadell offer accounts to non-residents with just a passport and proof of address (even a German address initially works).

Several German digital banks operate throughout the EU. N26 (Berlin-based) functions identically in Spain, and you can keep your existing account. Wise (formerly TransferWise) accounts with Spanish IBANs offer another option for those wanting Euro-denominated accounts without traditional bank fees.

For those keeping German accounts, SEPA ensures free Euro transfers between German and Spanish accounts. Direct debits for Spanish utilities can be set up with German accounts, though some service providers prefer Spanish IBANs.

Driving License Exchange

German driving licenses remain valid indefinitely in Spain. There’s no requirement to exchange them. EU license harmonization means your Führerschein works exactly as a Spanish license would.

That said, registering your license with Spanish traffic authorities (DGT) has advantages. It creates a Spanish driving record and simplifies interactions with police or rental companies. The voluntary registration requires presenting your German license at a DGT office with your NIE and residence certificate.

If you bring a German-registered car to Spain, different rules apply. After establishing residency, you have six months to either re-register the vehicle in Spain or export it. The re-registration (matriculación) involves vehicle inspection (ITV), import taxes, and license plate changes. A process many expats find frustrating enough to sell their German car and buy locally.

Spanish Citizenship Through Residency

Germans can apply for Spanish citizenship after 10 years of legal residence. Since June 2024, Germany allows dual citizenship without restrictions. Germans can acquire Spanish nationality while keeping their German passport. This is a significant change from the previous rules.

The citizenship process requires:

• 10 years of continuous legal residence
• Clean criminal record in Spain
• Proof of social integration
• DELE A2 Spanish language certificate (or equivalent)
• CCSE civics exam (cultural and constitutional knowledge)

Most Germans find the language requirement achievable, given Spanish shares Latin roots with English and has straightforward pronunciation. The civics exam covers Spanish history, culture, and government structure. Study materials are freely available online.

Frequently Asked Questions: Germans Moving to Spain

We Handle Everything

EU citizenship simplifies entry, but German relocations to Spain carry hidden complexity. Exit tax rules (Wegzugsbesteuerung) can trigger unexpected obligations. The interaction between German and Spanish tax systems creates planning opportunities. And traps for the unprepared. Spanish bureaucracy adds frustration that even German efficiency can’t always overcome.

At Legal Fournier, we don’t just advise. We handle everything. Complete registration assistance coordinated with German tax implications. NIE appointments, empadronamiento, social security enrollment, Beckham Law applications, and practical settlement support. You focus on building your new life. We manage the administration.

Many German professionals assume their organizational skills will carry them through. Then they encounter Spanish appointment systems that book weeks ahead, municipal offices with inconsistent requirements, and tax interactions that demand expertise in both systems. Our German clients arrive ready to live in Spain. Not ready to learn a new bureaucratic culture through trial and error.

This guide provides general information about moving from Germany to Spain. Tax regulations and administrative requirements change regularly. For planning tailored to your specific situation, contact our team for a comprehensive consultation.