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China → Spain

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
China
To
Spain
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
20,471
Change since 2018
+71.4%
Share of all arrivals in Spain, 2023
1.97%
Inflow 202320,471OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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CN3<ES2<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<0

Migration from China to Spain

Inflows of nationals of China recorded by Spain; stock of nationals of China living there; and acquisitions of Spain's nationality (OECD).

Inflows by year

10k20k200020032006200920122015201820212023
10k20k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20004,822
20015,231
20025,692
20037,518
200420,296
200518,406
200616,882
200720,394
200820,080
200911,881
201010,473
201110,706
20129,184
20139,127
20149,410
201510,134
201610,215
201711,424
201811,945
201912,097
20205,064
202118,249
202214,320
202320,471
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—226,718—
202320,471219,929324
202214,320217,122450
202118,249218,068288
20205,064197,189282
201912,097190,599230
201811,945183,490195
201711,424177,518260
201610,214172,232415
201510,134167,539318
20149,409165,978626
20139,126—482
20129,183170,839416
201110,706167,570413
201010,473160,409466
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

People born in China who live in Spain: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA).

Migrant population by year

99k199k19901995200020052010201520202024
99k199k19902000201020202024
Data table
19909,110
199515,263
200025,152
200590,542
2010158,368
2015162,210
2020190,373
2024198,909
Estimate, 2024
198,909
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
2.2%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
14
Counted by
country of birth, refugees added
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

Spain's consulates in China

Short-stay Schengen (C) visa applications at Spain's consulates located in China.

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
2024254,571240,9769,5933.8%
2023148,533139,1506,5234.4%
20228,2016,5641,05812.9%
20212,3701,9021988.4%
202027,93426,5866622.4%
2019291,627283,7075,6001.9%
2018241,825235,6503,6431.5%
2017211,247206,6713,4681.6%
2016187,351180,7444,5832.4%
2015142,890138,3882,8532.0%
201494,61691,7861,6971.8%
201382,67379,0971,7872.2%
201263,75360,6211,3032.0%
201151,82146,6392,4564.7%
201034,23530,6201,2313.6%
200926,70324,1091,3315.0%

Applications by year

146k292k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
146k292k200920122015201820212024
Data table
200926,703
201034,235
201151,821
201263,753
201382,673
201494,616
2015142,890
2016187,351
2017211,247
2018241,825
2019291,627
202027,934
20212,370
20228,201
2023148,533
2024254,571
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Spain

First residence permits issued by Spain to citizens of China (Eurostat).

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Other reasons6,647
  2. Family4,962
  3. Education4,320
  4. Work2,174
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
202518,1033000
202419,008465854,088
202315,09033243,625
20229,93414503,589
202110,96402883,222
20209,55112823,289
201913,50902302,982
201813,67511952,436
201714,18502602,211
201613,21024151,685
201512,58103180
201412,13506260
201312,414394821,240
201212,210532480
201114,86604120
201013,26104760
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities1,304
  2. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)695
  3. Researchers164
  4. EU Blue Card11
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
271,997
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
7,398
Changed status into work, 2025
782
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
150
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Embassy and consulates

Missions of Spain in China, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyChaoyang Districtexteriores.gob.es
Consulate-generalBeijing—
Consulate-generalGuangzhouexteriores.gob.es
Consulate-generalHong Kongexteriores.gob.es
Consulate-generalShanghaiexteriores.gob.es
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Spain, 2023; China ranks 13.

Inflows to Spain, 2023
  1. Colombia170,722
  2. Morocco123,468
  3. Venezuela88,361
  4. Peru66,933
  5. Italy48,089
  6. Romania45,663
  7. Argentina35,041
  8. Ukraine34,385
  9. Honduras32,357
  10. Paraguay24,324
  11. Ecuador21,762
  12. Russia21,617
Other destinations for people from China, 2023
  1. South Korea132,855
  2. Japan106,717
  3. United States57,240
  4. Canada39,350
  5. Australia36,349
  6. New Zealand26,214
  7. Germany20,866
  8. Italy8,062
  9. Netherlands7,991
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more