Moving from Germany to Spain
From Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg or Cologne to Mallorca, the Costa Blanca, Málaga, Madrid or Barcelona — door to door.
Popular areas we cover
From Germany
- Berlin
- Munich
- Frankfurt
- Hamburg
- Cologne and Düsseldorf
- Stuttgart
To Spain
- Mallorca
- Costa Blanca
- Costa del Sol
- Madrid
- Barcelona
- Valencia
- the Canary Islands
How the Germany → Spain route works
Your belongings travel by road through France to Spain, with no border formalities.
Mallorca and the other Balearic Islands are reached by ferry from Barcelona or Valencia.
The Canary Islands are outside the EU customs territory: a move there involves customs formalities even from Germany.
Paperwork from Germany to Spain
Germany and Spain are both in the EU: your household goods travel freely, with no customs declaration and no import duty.
What you do need are the administrative steps on each side: deregistering in Germany and registering in Spain.
Checklist for clearance
- Abmeldung at your German registration office (from 7 days before to 2 weeks after moving out)
- Cancellation of the Rundfunkbeitrag with your Abmeldung confirmation
- NIE (foreigner identification number) in Spain
- Registration at your Spanish town hall (empadronamiento)
- EU registration certificate for stays over three months
Transport options and transit times
Door-to-door transit times are indicative and depend on the season, the exact addresses and, where required, customs clearance.
| Mode | Typical door-to-door time |
|---|---|
| Dedicated truck | 3 to 7 days |
| Shared load (groupage) | 1 to 4 weeks |
| Dedicated truck to Mallorca | 4 to 8 days, including the ferry |
How a move to Spain works
- Free quote. Tell us your origin, destination in Spain and approximate volume. You receive an online estimate and a detailed quote within 24 hours.
- Survey and planning. We validate the volume with you, pick the transport mode and go through the customs rules that apply on this route to Spain.
- Packing and collection. We bring the packing materials to your home, inventory each piece and load everything on moving day.
- Transport. Your belongings travel by the mode that fits your route to Spain: dedicated truck or shared load within Europe, sea container or air freight otherwise.
- Customs clearance (where required). Customs paperwork for Spain is prepared and filed on your behalf (Customs paperwork for moves from outside the EU).
- Delivery and set-up. Final-mile delivery to your door; unpacking and reassembly are added when your quote includes them.
The same coordinator sees your move to Spain through, from your first email to the keys being handed over.
How the price of your move to Spain is calculated
Your price to Spain is built from a handful of concrete variables, the same for every international mover:
- Volume — measured in cubic metres (m³) — the main cost driver. Our online volume calculator helps you estimate it room by room.
- Distance and route — the actual door-to-door distance to Spain, not a bird-flight shortcut.
- Transport mode — shared load, dedicated truck, sea container (shared or exclusive) or air freight.
- Services — packing, furniture dismantling and reassembly, fragile item crating, storage, delivery to an island.
- Access — top-floor flats with no lift, narrow lanes, long carries, external hoists when the stairs will not do.
- Customs — brokerage, declaration and port handling charges on routes to Spain that cross a customs border.
- Insurance — priced as a percentage of what you tell us your belongings are worth.
Typical volumes, as a guide:
| Home | Typical volume |
|---|---|
| Studio | 10 to 15 m³ |
| 1-bedroom flat | 15 to 25 m³ |
| 2-bedroom home | 25 to 40 m³ |
| 3-bedroom home | 40 to 60 m³ |
| 4-bedroom house or larger | 60 m³ and more |
European road moves get a starting price straight from the estimator; everything else — sea, air, customs — is quoted in writing within 24 hours.
Other routes to Spain
Other routes from Germany
Read before you move
- How to choose the best international moving companyWhat separates the best international movers from the rest: quotes, customs, insurance, red flags and the questions to ask before you book.
- Cross-border moving in Europe: how a European move worksHow cross-border moves work in Europe: transport options, transit times, when customs applies and how to choose a European moving company.
- Moving to Spain: NIE, padrón, residency and shipping your homeMoving to Spain from the UK, USA or Europe: NIE and TIE, the padrón, residency routes, your driving licence and shipping your belongings.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need customs paperwork to move from Germany to Spain?
- No. Both countries are in the EU, so your household goods travel freely. Only the Canary Islands require customs formalities.
- Can you move me to Mallorca?
- Yes. Your belongings travel by road to Barcelona or Valencia, then by ferry to the island.
- Can I bring my German car to Spain?
- Yes. Once resident, you re-register it in Spain within the legal deadline, with a technical inspection and the applicable registration tax.
- What should I do before leaving Germany?
- Do your Abmeldung, cancel the broadcasting fee, and give notice on contracts early — German notice periods are often three months.
- How long does a move from Germany to Spain take?
- 3 to 7 days by dedicated truck, or 1 to 4 weeks by shared load.
Explore more
Ready to plan your move to Spain?
Online estimate in two minutes; a detailed written quote within a day.
Get my quote →