Spain → United Kingdom
Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows
- From
- Spain
- To
- United Kingdom
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Migration from Spain to the United Kingdom
Inflows of nationals of Spain recorded by the United Kingdom; stock of nationals of Spain living there; and acquisitions of the United Kingdom's nationality (OECD).
Inflows by year
Data table
| 2012 | 17,000 |
| 2013 | 21,000 |
| 2014 | 21,000 |
| 2015 | 20,000 |
| 2016 | 18,000 |
| 2017 | 18,000 |
| 2018 | 14,494 |
| 2019 | 18,000 |
| Year | Inflow | Stock | Acquired nationality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | — | 3,622 |
| 2022 | — | — | 3,481 |
| 2021 | — | 206,000 | 3,708 |
| 2020 | — | — | 2,529 |
| 2019 | 18,000 | — | 2,604 |
| 2018 | 14,494 | 156,000 | 2,401 |
| 2017 | 18,000 | 191,000 | 1,624 |
| 2016 | 18,000 | 162,000 | 614 |
| 2015 | 20,000 | 167,000 | 402 |
| 2014 | 21,000 | 130,000 | 260 |
| 2013 | 21,000 | 75,000 | 328 |
| 2012 | 17,000 | 82,000 | 260 |
| 2011 | — | 55,000 | 158 |
| 2010 | — | 61,000 | 165 |
Migrant population
People born in Spain who live in the United Kingdom: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA).
Migrant population by year
Data table
| 1990 | 37,601 |
| 1995 | 44,692 |
| 2000 | 52,956 |
| 2005 | 65,657 |
| 2010 | 81,989 |
| 2015 | 117,365 |
| 2020 | 172,026 |
| 2024 | 211,894 |
- Estimate, 2024
- 211,894
- Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
- 1.8%
- Rank among countries of birth, 2024
- 13
- Counted by
- country of birth, refugees added
UK visas
Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Spain, and students from Spain at UK universities.
- Study3,336
- Work2,696
- Visitor312
- Family273
- Other182
Visas issued by year
Data table
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 19 |
| 2020 | 89 |
| 2021 | 6,371 |
| 2022 | 7,383 |
| 2023 | 6,903 |
| 2024 | 6,722 |
| 2025 | 6,799 |
Students at UK universities (academic year ending)
Data table
| 2015 | 7,225 |
| 2016 | 8,045 |
| 2017 | 9,115 |
| 2018 | 9,980 |
| 2019 | 10,730 |
| 2020 | 11,430 |
| 2021 | 12,440 |
| 2022 | 10,425 |
| 2023 | 8,825 |
| 2024 | 7,125 |
| 2025 | 6,090 |
Embassy and consulates
Missions of the United Kingdom in Spain, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.
Compared with other corridors
Where else people from Spain move (OECD, 2023).
- Germany21,916
- Netherlands10,447
- France9,628
- Switzerland8,964
- United States6,460
- Belgium6,420
- Portugal4,283
- Italy2,537
- Denmark2,288
- Austria2,010
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