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United Kingdom → Spain

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
United Kingdom
To
Spain
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
18,269
Change since 2018
-23.8%
Share of all arrivals in Spain, 2023
1.76%
Inflow 202318,269OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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Migration from the United Kingdom to Spain

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

Inflows by year

24k48k200020032006200920122015201820212023
24k48k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
200010,891
200116,019
200225,298
200331,803
200448,446
200544,700
200642,535
200738,242
200823,758
200917,938
201016,173
201115,731
201216,375
201314,145
201414,230
201514,991
201618,549
201721,247
201823,962
201929,363
202029,518
202133,941
202218,986
202318,269
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
202318,269284,037561
202218,986315,824676
202133,941313,975343
202029,518300,641394
201929,363286,753235
201823,962284,98656
201721,247293,47454
201618,549296,40844
201514,991301,81028
201414,229310,05167
201314,144316,36150
201216,375312,95940
201115,731312,15549
201016,173314,20056
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

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

Migrant population by year

159k318k19901995200020052010201520202024
159k318k19902000201020202024
Data table
199063,615
199580,794
2000101,178
2005234,133
2010318,319
2015292,177
2020285,911
2024294,986
Estimate, 2024
294,986
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
3.3%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
8
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 the United Kingdom

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

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
2024123,058115,8604,7553.9%
202388,29583,7781,8272.1%
202261,00557,3341,1171.8%
202118,89616,7539334.9%
20209,4948,0608228.7%
201929,46626,4681,8616.3%
201825,57724,3543701.4%
201725,80724,8012310.9%
201626,97025,8055191.9%
201526,90826,0784681.7%
201426,06224,4495262.0%
201320,48618,4443701.8%
201220,45517,9305852.9%
201118,83016,2711,8739.9%
201015,17013,7092221.5%
200913,48611,9339897.3%

Applications by year

62k123k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
62k123k200920122015201820212024
Data table
200913,486
201015,170
201118,830
201220,455
201320,486
201426,062
201526,908
201626,970
201725,807
201825,577
201929,466
20209,494
202118,896
202261,005
202388,295
2024123,058
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 the United Kingdom (Eurostat).

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Other reasons4,396
  2. Family4,355
  3. Work1,700
  4. Education1,498
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
202511,94912300
202412,6531207931,254
202310,166105611,141
202210,24906761,144
202117,66203431,165
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities1,035
  2. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)555
  3. EU Blue Card73
  4. Researchers37
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
408,939
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
3,659
Changed status into work, 2025
162
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
21
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 the United Kingdom, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyLondon—
Consulate-generalEdinburghexteriores.gob.es
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Spain, 2023; the United Kingdom ranks 16.

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 the United Kingdom, 2023
  1. United States10,850
  2. Australia10,185
  3. Portugal7,365
  4. Japan6,190
  5. Germany6,055
  6. New Zealand5,847
  7. Canada4,990
  8. Ireland4,800
  9. France3,645
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