Understanding Spain's Minimum Debt Collection Threshold

There's No Legal Minimum — But There Is an Economic One

One of the most common questions from overseas creditors: what's the minimum amount you can collect through legal proceedings in Spain? The legal answer is zero — Spanish law sets no statutory minimum for debt collection claims. The practical answer is more nuanced, and it's where most creditors should focus their attention.

The Economic Viability Threshold

While you can technically file a claim for any amount, the economics of collection create natural thresholds. For amicable recovery through a licensed agency, debts above €1,000 are generally viable — the agency's commission (5% to 15%) leaves enough recovered value to justify the effort. For legal proceedings, the practical threshold rises to approximately €2,000 to €5,000, depending on whether the debtor contests the claim.

Below €2,000, court fees, translation costs, and legal representation often consume a disproportionate share of the recovered amount. This doesn't mean small debts are uncollectable — it means the collection method needs to be proportionate to the claim size.

Court Procedures by Claim Value

Spain's legal system segments procedures by amount in ways that directly affect your costs and timelines. The monitorio procedure handles claims up to €250,000 and is the most cost-effective judicial option — minimal court fees, no hearing required if the debtor doesn't contest, and an enforceable order issued quickly.

The juicio verbal covers contested claims up to €6,000 through a simplified procedure with lower legal costs. The juicio ordinario handles everything above €6,000 that's contested, with correspondingly higher legal costs and longer timelines.

For EU-based creditors, the European Small Claims Procedure covers cross-border claims up to €5,000 with minimal formality — no lawyer required, conducted in writing, and enforceable across all member states.

Strategies for Smaller Claims

If your claim falls below the economic viability threshold for individual collection, consider: bundling multiple small claims against the same debtor into a single proceeding, using the amicable phase exclusively (lower costs, no court fees), or partnering with an agency that aggregates small claims from multiple creditors to share legal costs.

The worst strategy is doing nothing. An unpaid €3,000 invoice isn't just a €3,000 loss — it's a signal to the debtor that your invoices are optional. Professional collection of even modest amounts establishes that you enforce your payment terms.