After relocating from Germany to Andalucia in 2017 for a copywriting job in Gibraltar, Lukas has built a life in southern Spain with his wife and two young children. Now based in Jerez de la Frontera and working as a self-employed content strategist, he shares his love of the outdoor lifestyle, tapas and Spanish culture, alongside the challenges of navigating bureaucracy, settling in and making his life abroad feel like home.
Where, when and why did you move abroad?
I moved from Germany to Andalucia in March 2017 for a job. Entain, back then still the GVC Group, had offered me a position as a German and English copywriter in Gibraltar, and like many people who work on the Rock, I decided to live on the Spanish side of the border, in Santa Margarita. What started as a career move turned into a whole new life: my wife Chio and I married in Gibraltar in 2020, and today we live in Jerez de la Frontera with our two small children. After many years as an employee, I went self-employed in 2026 and now work as a content strategist from home.
What challenges did you face during the move?
Paperwork, without a doubt. NIE, padrón, residencia: every step depends on the one before, and nobody hands you the full list at the start. The second big topic was the car. Getting through the Inspección Técnica de VehÃculos (ITV), re-registering and exchanging my German licence took a lot of patience. Funnily enough, these are still among the topics our readers search for most on expatandalucia.com today, so I clearly was not the only one.
What do you enjoy most about life in your new country?
The life outdoors. Our kids grow up playing outside most of the year, and on weekends I get on my bike and ride through the countryside around Jerez. I also love the daily rhythm here. Dinner at ten felt strange at first, now it feels completely normal. And then there is the food and the people: a few tapas at the bar around the corner, a chat with the neighbours, and the evening is sorted.
What is the hardest part of expat life for you / your family?
For me it is still the bureaucracy. Even after nine years, every new form, especially as a self-employed person, comes with surprises. Things are slower than in Germany, and you have to accept that a simple appointment can take weeks.
What is your relationship like with locals and other expats?
It is a good mix. Through my wife, our son’s school and the neighbourhood, our everyday life is very Spanish. At the same time, my years in Gibraltar and the Campo de Gibraltar, later in Marbella and now in Jerez, brought me colleagues and friends from all over Europe. I enjoy having both worlds, and I think that is also why I started a bilingual portal.
What advice would you give to someone thinking of making a similar move?
Sort out the paperwork in the right order before you worry about anything else, and keep copies of everything. Learn Spanish early, even if you start at work in English, because it opens doors at the town hall as much as at the bar. And give yourself time: the first year is the hardest, after that Andalucia starts to feel like home. If you want to prepare, I write about all of this on expatandalucia.com, from the NIE to the ITV.