Market guide · Europe
Selling in Spain
Spanish shoppers mostly pay by debit card, with PayPal and the bank app Bizum growing online. The Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla sit outside the EU VAT area and need separate handling.
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Languages | Spanish, Catalan |
| Region | Europe |
| Local acquiring | Available |
| Settlement | T+1 |
| Payout rail | SEPA Instant · Seconds, 24/7 |
| Import consumption tax | VAT (IVA) · 21% |
Popular payment methods
Share of online payments by method. Illustrative figures.
| Visa, Mastercard, Amex | 60% (60% of online payments) |
|---|---|
| PayPal | 16% (16% of online payments) |
| Apple Pay | 7% (7% of online payments) |
| Klarna | 3% (3% of online payments) |
How to launch in Spain
- 1Open a sandbox accountTest every flow for Spain with test cards and methods before you sign anything.
- 2Turn on local methodsStart with PayPal, Apple Pay, Klarna.
- 3Process domesticallyDomestic processing in Spain avoids cross-border fees and lifts approval rates.
- 4Settle in EURHold EUR and convert when you choose, or pay out locally.
- 5Show duty-inclusive pricesQuote VAT (IVA) and duties at checkout so nothing is due on delivery.
- 6Go liveVerify your business, switch your keys and watch the first orders arrive.
Duties and import tax
VAT (IVA) at 21% applies to most imported goods.
Thresholds: VAT due from the first euro; IOSS for goods up to EUR 150; Canary Islands outside the EU VAT area
Regulatory notes
- Strong customer authentication under the EU's revised Payment Services Directive applies to card payments.
- Shipments to the Canary Islands are treated as exports for VAT and pass through local customs.
Placeholder notes for the prototype, not legal advice.
Customer story nearby
Northwind Outfitters
Retail & Ecommerce
+3.4 pts
card acceptance in Germany · Illustrative
We stopped guessing which fees would land on an order. Duty-inclusive prices took returns down with them.
Mara Lindqvist, Head of Ecommerce Read the story: Northwind Outfitters
Launch in Spain
Try the Spain flow in the sandbox, or talk to us about your rollout.