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This route is for EU citizens making an ordinary move from Germany to Spain. If you are not an EU citizen, a German residence permit does not by itself give you Spanish residence rights; check the Spanish route for your nationality and status.
Your checklist
First steps
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Before leaving Germany
Keep your German move-out date, Abmeldung confirmation, employment and insurance records, and copies of identity and family documents. The Abmeldung rule applies when you move out without taking another dwelling in Germany; if you keep another German home, ask your Meldebehörde which registration duties remain. Tell your employer, insurer, bank and any benefit provider about the move where relevant.
After arrival: Padrón, then residence registration
Padrón is the municipality’s register of residents; it is not a residence permit. The Spanish government says you need to register with your municipal council before applying for residence registration. For EU citizens staying more than three months, the national procedure is an in-person application by appointment, with documents depending on whether you work, study, or are not economically active. Check the province and police or foreigners office serving your address.
Keep health, social security and tax decisions separate
The country responsible for social security depends on your work pattern and residence, not just your passport. Ask the competent insurer or institution whether you need an S1 or, for an eligible temporary posting, a PD A1. EHIC is not a general substitute for cover after a permanent move. Tax residence is a separate question governed by national rules and any Germany–Spain tax treaty; get individual advice for remote work, self-employment, pensions or other cross-border income.
Common questions
Do I have to deregister from Germany when I move to Spain?
If you leave a German dwelling and do not move into another dwelling in Germany, section 17 BMG requires deregistration within two weeks after moving out; it can be filed no earlier than one week before departure. If you retain another German dwelling, confirm your case with the local registration office.
Do I need the Padrón before registering as an EU resident in Spain?
Spain’s national guidance says municipal registration is needed before applying for residence registration. The Padrón procedure itself is run by each municipality, so check the Ayuntamiento where you actually live.
Does the German residence permit of a non-EU family member transfer to Spain?
No. A German permit is not a Spanish residence authorization. Non-EU nationals and family members should check the Spanish entry and residence route that matches their status before moving.
Does the Padrón decide my tax or health-insurance country?
No. It records your address with the municipality. Tax residence and social-security coverage use different rules and must be checked separately.
Official sources
Read this first
- Federal Registration Act (BMG), section 17German national rule: register after moving in; deregister within two weeks when leaving without taking another dwelling in Germany.
- Government of Spain: registering your residenceSpain-wide EU-citizen registration overview; the page says to register with the municipal council first. Local documents and appointment channels vary. Updated 25 March 2026.
- Your Europe: social-security coverage abroadEU rules on which country’s social-security system applies; the answer depends on work and residence facts.
- Your Europe: health cover when living abroadEU overview of health cover for people living in another country; an EHIC is for medically necessary care during a temporary stay, not a general permanent-move solution.
- Your Europe: income taxes abroadEU overview; tax residence and tax due are determined under national law and applicable tax treaties, not one EU-wide rule.
Rules can vary by nationality, work or study status, and city. Confirm your route with the official authority before you act.