An internship in Spain is quite manageable for students from Germany. Spain is part of the EU, and as an EU citizen you do not need a visa. Organisationally, however, it remains demanding, especially when it comes to health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung), pay and funding. Here is what you should clarify before you accept an offer.
Short answer: For an internship in Spain you do not need a visa as an EU citizen. If you stay longer than three months, Spanish authorities expect you to register in the Central Register for Foreigners (Zentralregister für Ausländer) within three months of arrival. The certificate contains your NIE. Erasmus+ lists 690 euros per month for Spain (country group 2) in project year 2026. Stand: October 2026.
The key points at a glance
- As a German citizen you do not need a visa for Spain. If you stay longer than three months, you must register with the authorities. The certificate contains your NIE, a foreigner identification number.
- The EHIC covers medically necessary treatment, but not the repatriation to Germany.
- Erasmus+ pays 690 euros per month for Spain (country group 2): a base rate of 540 euros plus a 150 euro surcharge for internships (HAWK, project year 2026, and University of Marburg, 2026/27).
- A compulsory internship required by your study regulations is exempt from the statutory minimum wage. A voluntary internship is not.
- Your health insurance provider should confirm in writing what protection you have in Spain.
Do I need a visa for an internship in Spain?
No, usually not. Citizens of an EU member state have the right to live and work in Spain. Only people without EU citizenship need a visa. For an internship lasting several months, however, there are administrative steps to take.
For stays longer than three months, the Spanish police (Policía Nacional) provide for a personal registration. Citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland register within three months of entering the country at the foreigners’ office (Oficina de Extranjería) or the competent police station in your province, in the Central Register for Foreigners. You will need form EX18, proof of payment of the fee (Tasa Modelo 790, Código 012), your valid passport or identity card, and evidence that you meet the requirements of Article 7 of Royal Decree 240/2007. The fee amount is not stated on the page, so check it and the other details before your appointment.
The registration certificate contains the Foreigner Identification Number (NIE), which employers and banks often ask for. Registering with the local council (empadronamiento) is separate and is often useful for landlords or bank accounts. Ask your host organisation and the Consulate General of Spain in Germany which further steps your contract requires.
| Point | What you should know | Responsible body |
|---|---|---|
| Visa | Usually not required for EU citizens | Federal Foreign Office, travel advice |
| Registration | For stays over three months, within three months of arrival, form EX18, fee model 790/012 | Foreigners’ office or police on site |
| NIE | Printed on the registration certificate, often required for contracts and bank accounts | Spanish authorities |
| Contract | Internship agreement (convenio de prácticas) | University and host organisation |
Which health insurance applies in Spain?
With the EHIC you receive in Spain the benefits provided for medically necessary treatment. Under section 13(4) of the Social Code Book V (SGB V), statutory health insured persons may also use providers in EU and EEA countries and Switzerland through cost reimbursement. The card does not replace repatriation insurance, however, and it does not cover treatment in a private clinic. For how to close these gaps, see our article Private Health Insurance Abroad During Your Studies: 5 Tips You Should Know!.
If your internship is compulsory and unpaid, you remain compulsorily insured as an intern under section 5(1) no. 10 SGB V. Membership ends when the activity ends or when you turn 30 (section 190(10) SGB V). If the internship is paid, EU rules generally point to the Spanish system because the place of work matters (Article 11 of Regulation 883/2004). A posting certificate (Entsendebescheinigung) can create an exception here, so get the answer from your health insurer in writing.
How much funding is there for an internship in Spain?
Erasmus+ calculates the funding per 30 days, that is, monthly. According to the National Agency at the DAAD, an Erasmus internship lasts at least two and at most twelve months. The HAWK lists Spain in country group 2 for project year 2026 with 690 euros per month. The University of Marburg gives 540 euros base rate plus 150 euros internship surcharge for 2026/27, also for group 2. Each university sets its own rates within the EU framework. An older DAAD overview still mentions “up to 555 euros” for programme countries, but here the university information takes precedence. The funding notice from your university is binding. For more on planning, see our article Planning an Exchange Semester: Erasmus and Funding.
Assumption: internship of more than three months, funding of 690 euros per month, no reduction. Calculation: 3 × 690 euros = 2,070 euros in grants. Your amount may differ, for example because of different accounting or a later payment date.
| Programme | Monthly rate | Status and source |
|---|---|---|
| Erasmus+ traineeship, Spain (country group 2) | 690 euros (540 euros plus 150 euros surcharge) | Project year 2026, HAWK; 2026/27, University of Marburg; retrieved October 2026 |
| PROMOS of the DAAD | Only for internships outside Europe, so not for Spain | University of Marburg page and DAAD page, both undated |
Does an internship in Spain have to be paid?
It depends on the type of internship. A compulsory internship prescribed by your study regulations is exempt from the statutory minimum wage (Mindestlohn) under section 22 of the Minimum Wage Act (MiLoG). For voluntary internships the minimum wage generally applies. Since 1 January 2026 it has been 13.90 euros gross per hour, rising to 14.60 euros on 1 January 2027. Work in Spain is governed by Spanish rules, so the German figure cannot be transferred there.
Which documents do you need?
- Learning agreement, agreed between your university, you and the host organisation
- Internship agreement, in German or English
- Proof of health insurance, meaning the EHIC and the written statement from your health insurer
- Certificate of enrolment from your university
Frequently asked questions
Can I work in Spain without a written contract?
We advise against it. Without an agreement it is unclear whether your university recognises the internship, which insurance cover applies and who is responsible in the event of an accident. A contract answers all three questions.
Is the EHIC enough for a six-month internship?
The EHIC is intended for temporary stays and does not replace permanent insurance. For internships lasting several months, check with your health insurer whether you stay insured in Germany or switch to the Spanish system.
How long may I stay in Spain?
As an EU citizen you are generally free to move about. For a longer stay, however, registration and reporting obligations apply. The Federal Foreign Office provides current information, and the binding answer comes from the Spanish authorities.
Do I need private travel health insurance in addition?
Many students combine both: the EHIC for treatment on site and supplementary cover for repatriation and gaps. Which tariff suits you depends on duration, pre-existing conditions and place of stay. This guide deliberately does not name any tariffs or providers.
What to do now
- Clarify with your university whether your internship counts as a compulsory or an Erasmus internship.
- Ask your health insurer to confirm in writing what protection applies in Spain.
- Clarify registration and NIE before the contract starts.
- Sign the internship agreement and the learning agreement before you book flights and accommodation.
- If you would like to go through your situation personally, you will find the way to a conversation at academycon.de/so-arbeiten-wir/ (in German).
Related guides
- Private Health Insurance for Internships: What You Need to Know
- Health insurance for students in the EU: EHIC and more
- Student Internship: Minimum Wage and Social Insurance
- Funding Study Abroad: BAföG, Erasmus and Scholarships
Sources: Social Code Book V, section 5 (as of October 2026), SGB V, section 13 cost reimbursement (as of October 2026), SGB V, section 190 end of membership (as of October 2026), Minimum Wage Act, section 22 (as of October 2026), HAWK, Erasmus+ internship monthly rates, project year 2026, EU Regulation 883/2004, Article 11, Spanish police, certificate of registration of an EU citizen (retrieved October 2026; the page is not clearly dated, it displays 26 October 2026 with copyright 2021), University of Marburg, Erasmus+ funding rates 2026/27 (undated), National Agency at the DAAD, Erasmus+ internship abroad (retrieved October 2026; the older DAAD overview with “up to 555 euros” carries no date).
Stand: October 2026. This guide is information, not individual advice.
