VISA ATLASWork visas & talent mobility
From→ToFind a corridor EN
☰

South Korea → Spain

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
South Korea
To
Spain
Inflow 2023—OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
CR<ESSOUTH<KOREA<SPAIN<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
KR1<ES2<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<6

Migration from South Korea to Spain

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

Inflows by year

39679220002003200620092012201520182019
396792200020042008201220162019
Data table
2000164
2001166
2002199
2003197
2004322
2005297
2006333
2007426
2008359
2009268
2010356
2011590
2012687
2013662
2014610
2015627
2016612
2017719
2018792
2019741
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2023——7
2022——23
2021——18
2020—4,72523
20197414,56922
20187924,22414
20177194,06017
20166123,85925
20156273,67116
20146103,47339
20136613,45334
20126873,13332
20115902,95629
20103562,95138
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Spain's consulates in South Korea

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

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
20245054215911.7%
2023444379398.8%
2022270229176.3%
2021473748.5%
20205948610.2%
2019331279298.8%
2018332309103.0%
20172692590—
20162802490—
20152692610—
20142282110—
20131741610—
20121191110—
20111039443.9%
201097832222.7%
2009645546.2%

Applications by year

2535052009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
253505200920122015201820212024
Data table
200964
201097
2011103
2012119
2013174
2014228
2015269
2016280
2017269
2018332
2019331
202059
202147
2022270
2023444
2024505
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 South Korea (Eurostat).

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Education312
  2. Work223
  3. Family156
  4. Other reasons57
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
2025748400
2024837111155
202381527139
2022870023153
2021602018135
2020684023129
2019953022128
20181,084014117
20171,11601790
20161,07302595
20151,0030160
20149395390
2013928163481
20129171890
20119540290
20107300380
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)147
  2. Other paid activities60
  3. Researchers13
  4. EU Blue Card3
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
4,443
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
335
Changed status into work, 2025
33
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
5
Seasonal work authorisations, 2024
1
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 South Korea, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassySeoulexteriores.gob.es
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Spain, 2023; South Korea ranks 176.

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 South Korea, 2023
  1. Japan27,566
  2. United States14,240
  3. Germany6,599
  4. Canada5,205
  5. Australia2,740
  6. Hungary2,535
  7. New Zealand2,061
  8. Netherlands1,447
  9. Mexico579
  10. Austria490
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