Germany vs Spain
Germany · 6 routesvs Spain · 6 routes
Quick answerUpdated 2026-05-03
Germany has the clearer permanent-residency pathway; Spain has more routes that need no job offer (5). Which is right depends on your nationality, profession, savings, and whether you have a job offer. The free quiz scores your profile against every route in both countries.
Section 01
At a glance
Germany
Spain
Visa routes
6
6
Fastest route
§18d · 1–3 months
Ley de Startups (Art. 74-78) · 1–2 months
Cheapest route
§20 AufenthG · $100
Ley de Startups (Art. 74-78) · $80
Path to PR
5 routes · ~2 yrs
6 routes · ~5 yrs
No job offer needed
3 of 6
5 of 6
Points-based option
Yes
No
Aggregated from every Germany and Spain visa Transita tracks. Fees are official government amounts in USD and exclude legal, translation, and relocation costs.
Section 02
Common questions
- Is it easier to get a visa for Germany or Spain?
- Spain is generally easier to start on your own profile: 5 of its 6 routes need no job offer, versus 3 of 6 for Germany. "Easier" still depends on your nationality, profession, and points. It is not automatically easier for everyone.
- Which country gives a faster visa, Germany or Spain?
- They are closely matched: the quickest Germany route is the §18d (1–3 months) and the quickest Spain route is the Ley de Startups (Art. 74-78) (1–2 months). Neither has a decisive speed edge. File completeness matters more.
- Which has easier permanent residency, Germany or Spain?
- Germany's quickest PR route takes about 2 years (5 PR routes), while Spain's quickest PR route takes about 5 years (6 PR routes). On paper Germany offers the clearer route to permanent residency, but eligibility for the underlying visa decides your real odds. Not every applicant qualifies for the fastest path.
- Is it cheaper to immigrate to Germany or Spain?
- Spain has the cheaper entry point: its Ley de Startups (Art. 74-78) costs about $80 in official fees, versus $100 for Germany's cheapest route (the §20 AufenthG). Both are government fees only. Legal, translation, and relocation costs usually dwarf them.
- Which country is better to settle in, Germany or Spain?
- For long-term settlement, permanent residency is the deciding factor: Germany's quickest PR route takes about 2 years (5 PR routes), and Spain's quickest PR route takes about 5 years (6 PR routes). Germany has the clearer permanent-residency pathway on paper, but the "better" country to settle in depends on your job prospects, family, language, and where you'd actually want to live. The free quiz scores your specific profile against every route in both.
Section 03
Explore each country
Germany or Spain, which fits you?
Take the free quiz. We'll score your specific profile against every Germany and Spain route (and 60+ others) and tell you which is the best fit, with the why.
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