Spain
Nationality · visas, permits and migration
- Moved to OECD countries, 2023
- 86,770
- Top destination, 2023
- Germany
- U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
- 50,116
- UK visas issued, 2025
- 6,799
- Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
- 10.4%
NA<ESSPAIN<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< ES2<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<4
Visa requirements for a short visit
Whether citizens of Spain need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.
| Destination | Short visit | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Schengen area | Free movement (EU/EFTA citizens) | Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025) |
| United Kingdom | No visa; electronic travel authorisation (ETA) required | Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List |
| Canada | No visa; electronic travel authorization (eTA) needed to fly | IRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1 |
| Hong Kong | No visa for visits of up to 90 days | Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025 |
Where people from Spain move
Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).
- Germany21,916
- Netherlands10,447
- France9,628
- Switzerland8,964
- United States6,460
- Belgium6,420
- Portugal4,283
- Italy2,537
- Denmark2,288
- Austria2,010
- Japan1,661
- Norway1,460
- Sweden1,446
- Mexico1,112
- Chile1,043
Inflows to all OECD countries by year
Data table
| 2000 | 19,013 |
| 2001 | 19,046 |
| 2002 | 19,670 |
| 2003 | 18,051 |
| 2004 | 18,395 |
| 2005 | 18,978 |
| 2006 | 21,010 |
| 2007 | 24,327 |
| 2008 | 26,031 |
| 2009 | 29,410 |
| 2010 | 33,742 |
| 2011 | 43,451 |
| 2012 | 75,683 |
| 2013 | 108,703 |
| 2014 | 103,889 |
| 2015 | 97,296 |
| 2016 | 90,663 |
| 2017 | 87,561 |
| 2018 | 86,557 |
| 2019 | 91,006 |
| 2020 | 62,305 |
| 2021 | 79,173 |
| 2022 | 85,248 |
| 2023 | 86,770 |
- Share going to the top destination
- 25.3%
- Destinations recording arrivals
- 15
Living abroad
People born in Spain who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.
- France254,830
- United Kingdom211,894
- United States168,755
- Germany166,899
- Romania85,101
- Switzerland71,167
- Venezuela67,085
- Belgium58,242
- Argentina54,371
- Netherlands43,909
- Italy37,029
- Brazil33,197
Living abroad by year
Data table
| 1990 | 1,374,696 |
| 1995 | 1,238,438 |
| 2000 | 1,177,275 |
| 2005 | 1,126,330 |
| 2010 | 1,138,608 |
| 2015 | 1,307,006 |
| 2020 | 1,471,585 |
| 2024 | 1,623,550 |
- Living abroad, 2024
- 1,623,550
- Change since 2000
- +37.9%
- Share living in the largest destination, 2024
- 15.7%
United States
Visas issued to citizens of Spain by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.
- B1/B220,221
- J112,896
- F14,582
- C1/D2,920
- L11,368
- E21,298
- L2958
- H1B878
- J2749
- P1545
Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year
Data table
| 2017 | 23,674 |
| 2018 | 33,551 |
| 2019 | 32,758 |
| 2020 | 11,888 |
| 2021 | 20,039 |
| 2022 | 32,612 |
| 2023 | 36,053 |
| 2024 | 48,372 |
| 2025 | 50,116 |
- IR1108
- E174
- IR268
- CR167
- E254
- DV30
- IR527
- FX26
- Immigrant visas, FY2025
- 592
- Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
- 320
Green cards and U.S. citizenship
People born in Spain who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Spain with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).
Green cards by fiscal year
Data table
| 2015 | 3,300 |
| 2016 | 3,520 |
| 2017 | 3,050 |
| 2018 | 2,840 |
| 2019 | 3,120 |
| 2020 | 2,620 |
| 2021 | 2,640 |
| 2022 | 2,870 |
| 2023 | 3,350 |
| 2024 | 2,820 |
- Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens1,430
- Employment-based preferences1,020
- Refugees and asylees240
- Family-sponsored preferences100
- Diversity visa lottery30
- Other classes10
- Intracompany transferees (L-1)10,640
- Spouses and children7,020
- Specialty occupations (H-1B)4,910
- Extraordinary ability (O-1, O-2)4,250
- Athletes, artists and entertainers (P)1,830
- Other temporary workers1,200
- Seasonal non-agricultural workers (H-2B)20
- Green cards, FY2024 (born in Spain)
- 2,820
- Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Spain)
- 2,250
- I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
- 1,109,870
United Kingdom
Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Spain (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Spain (HESA).
- 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, 2024/25
- 6,090
Canada
Permits and invitations for citizens of Spain, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).
| Year | TFWP work | IMP work | Study | Permanent residents | Express Entry invitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 260 | 1,980 | 2,045 | 455 | 75 |
| 2024 | 295 | 2,605 | 2,010 | 570 | 110 |
| 2023 | 405 | 2,910 | 2,245 | 660 | 140 |
| 2022 | 295 | 2,270 | 2,780 | 585 | 65 |
| 2021 | 165 | 1,565 | 2,680 | 920 | 200 |
| 2020 | 135 | 1,320 | 615 | 385 | 190 |
| 2019 | 215 | 2,345 | 1,930 | 655 | 170 |
| 2018 | 235 | 2,235 | 1,815 | 715 | 200 |
| 2017 | 275 | 2,175 | 1,625 | 675 | 195 |
| 2016 | 390 | 2,135 | 1,440 | 645 | 150 |
| 2015 | 260 | 1,900 | 1,110 | 730 | 145 |
Australia
Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Spain, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).
Primary visas granted by financial year
Data table
| 2005–06 | 134 |
| 2006–07 | 189 |
| 2007–08 | 231 |
| 2008–09 | 320 |
| 2009–10 | 209 |
| 2010–11 | 329 |
| 2011–12 | 471 |
| 2012–13 | 483 |
| 2013–14 | 408 |
| 2014–15 | 475 |
| 2015–16 | 450 |
| 2016–17 | 520 |
| 2017–18 | 362 |
| 2018–19 | 452 |
| 2019–20 | 297 |
| 2020–21 | 241 |
| 2021–22 | 276 |
| 2022–23 | 385 |
| 2023–24 | 444 |
| 2024–25 | 490 |
| 2025–26 | 461 |
- Core Skills267
- Specialist Skills165
- Labour Agreement13
- Short-term13
- Medium-term3
- Granted, 2025–26
- 461
- Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
- 0.7%
Japan
Citizens of Spain living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.
Foreign residents in Japan
Data table
| 2012 | 1,822 |
| 2013 | 2,057 |
| 2014 | 2,309 |
| 2015 | 2,495 |
| 2016 | 2,750 |
| 2017 | 3,037 |
| 2018 | 3,368 |
| 2019 | 3,620 |
| 2022 | 3,708 |
| 2023 | 3,902 |
| 2024 | 4,146 |
| 2025 | 4,424 |
- Permanent Resident1,058
- Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services750
- Spouse or Child of Japanese National713
- Student615
- Designated Activities466
- Dependent213
- Professor83
- Long-Term Resident78
- Skilled Labor53
- Highly Skilled Professional49
- Residents, December 2025
- 4,424
- In work-related statuses
- 1,185
- Share in work-related statuses
- 26.8%
- Students
- 615
Schengen visas in Spain
Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in Spain, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.
| Schengen state | Applications | Issued | Not issued | Refusal rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | 229 | 196 | 26 | 11.4% |
| Sweden | 50 | 44 | 7 | 14.0% |
| Italy | 22 | 21 | 1 | 4.5% |
| Switzerland | 17 | 17 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Bulgaria | 17 | 13 | 1 | 5.9% |
| Greece | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Germany | 8 | 0 | 2 | 25.0% |
| Portugal | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Luxembourg | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Norway | 3 | 2 | 1 | 33.3% |
| Poland | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Belgium | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Netherlands | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Applications by year
Data table
| 2009 | 912 |
| 2010 | 216 |
| 2011 | 211 |
| 2012 | 200 |
| 2013 | 241 |
| 2014 | 140 |
| 2015 | 256 |
| 2016 | 305 |
| 2017 | 307 |
| 2018 | 360 |
| 2019 | 411 |
| 2020 | 90 |
| 2021 | 151 |
| 2022 | 182 |
| 2023 | 268 |
| 2024 | 367 |
- Refusal rate, 2024
- 10.4%
- Refusal rate, 2019
- 2.2%
National statistics in Europe
Citizens of Spain in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.
Foreign embassies and consulates in Spain
Countries with an embassy or consulate in Spain, as recorded in Wikidata.
| Country | Embassies | Consulates-general | Consulates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 1 | — | — |
| Albania | 1 | — | — |
| Algeria | 1 | 1 | — |
| Andorra | 1 | — | — |
| Angola | 1 | — | — |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 1 | — | — |
| Argentina | 1 | 1 | — |
| Armenia | 1 | — | — |
| Australia | 1 | — | — |
| Austria | 1 | — | — |
| Azerbaijan | 1 | — | — |
| Bangladesh | 1 | — | — |
| Belarus | 1 | — | — |
| Belgium | 1 | — | — |
| Bolivia | 1 | — | — |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1 | — | — |
| Brazil | 1 | — | — |
| Bulgaria | 1 | 2 | — |
| Cameroon | 1 | — | — |
| Canada | 1 | — | — |
| Cape Verde | 1 | — | — |
| Chile | 1 | 1 | — |
| China | 1 | 2 | — |
| Colombia | 1 | — | — |
| Costa Rica | 1 | — | — |
| Croatia | 1 | — | — |
| Cuba | 1 | — | — |
| Cyprus | 1 | — | — |
| Czechia | 1 | — | — |
| Côte d’Ivoire | 1 | — | — |
| DR Congo | 1 | — | — |
| Dominican Republic | 1 | — | — |
| Ecuador | 1 | — | — |
| Egypt | 1 | — | — |
| El Salvador | 1 | — | — |
| Equatorial Guinea | 1 | — | — |
| Estonia | 1 | — | — |
| Finland | 1 | — | — |
| France | 1 | 4 | — |
| Gabon | 1 | — | — |
| Gambia | 1 | — | — |
| Georgia | 1 | 1 | — |
| Germany | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Ghana | 1 | — | — |
| Greece | 1 | — | — |
| Guatemala | 1 | — | — |
| Guinea | 1 | — | — |
| Guinea-Bissau | 1 | — | — |
| Haiti | 1 | — | — |
| Honduras | 1 | — | — |
| Hungary | 1 | 1 | — |
| India | 1 | — | — |
| Indonesia | 1 | — | — |
| Iran | 1 | — | — |
| Iraq | 1 | — | — |
| Ireland | 1 | — | — |
| Israel | 1 | — | — |
| Italy | 1 | 1 | — |
| Japan | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Jordan | 1 | — | — |
| Kazakhstan | 1 | — | — |
| Kenya | 1 | — | — |
| Kuwait | 1 | — | — |
| Latvia | 1 | — | — |
| Lebanon | 1 | — | — |
| Libya | 1 | — | — |
| Lithuania | 1 | — | — |
| Luxembourg | 1 | — | — |
| Malaysia | 1 | — | — |
| Mali | 1 | — | — |
| Malta | 1 | — | — |
| Mauritania | 1 | — | — |
| Mexico | 1 | — | 1 |
| Moldova | 1 | — | — |
| Monaco | 1 | — | — |
| Montenegro | 1 | — | — |
| Morocco | 1 | 12 | — |
| Mozambique | 1 | — | — |
| Nepal | 1 | — | — |
| Netherlands | 1 | — | — |
| New Zealand | 1 | — | — |
| Nicaragua | 1 | — | — |
| Nigeria | 1 | — | — |
| North Macedonia | 1 | — | — |
| Norway | 1 | — | — |
| Oman | 1 | — | — |
| Pakistan | 1 | — | — |
| Panama | 1 | 1 | — |
| Paraguay | 1 | 1 | — |
| Peru | 1 | 1 | — |
| Philippines | 1 | — | — |
| Poland | 1 | 1 | — |
| Portugal | 1 | — | — |
| Qatar | 1 | 1 | — |
| Romania | 1 | 1 | — |
| Russia | 1 | 1 | — |
| San Marino | 1 | — | — |
| Saudi Arabia | 1 | — | — |
| Senegal | 1 | — | — |
| Serbia | 1 | — | — |
| Slovakia | 1 | — | — |
| Slovenia | 1 | 1 | — |
| South Africa | 1 | — | — |
| South Korea | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Sudan | 1 | — | — |
| Sweden | 1 | — | — |
| Switzerland | 1 | — | — |
| Syria | 1 | — | — |
| Thailand | 1 | — | — |
| Tunisia | 1 | — | — |
| Türkiye | 1 | 1 | — |
| Ukraine | 1 | 2 | — |
| United Arab Emirates | 1 | — | 1 |
| United Kingdom | 1 | — | 7 |
| United States | — | 1 | — |
| Uruguay | 1 | — | — |
| Uzbekistan | 1 | — | — |
| Venezuela | 1 | — | — |
| Vietnam | 1 | — | — |
| Yemen | 1 | — | — |
- Countries
- 120
- Missions
- 174
Remittances
Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Spain, in current US dollars (World Bank).
Remittances received by year, US$ million
Data table
| 2000 | 649 |
| 2001 | 700 |
| 2002 | 745 |
| 2003 | 900 |
| 2004 | 1,011 |
| 2005 | 1,135 |
| 2006 | 1,282 |
| 2007 | 1,676 |
| 2008 | 1,840 |
| 2009 | 1,525 |
| 2010 | 1,596 |
| 2011 | 1,714 |
| 2012 | 2,094 |
| 2013 | 3,036 |
| 2014 | 3,130 |
| 2015 | 2,673 |
| 2016 | 2,632 |
| 2017 | 3,005 |
| 2018 | 3,332 |
| 2019 | 3,207 |
| 2020 | 3,063 |
| 2021 | 3,950 |
| 2022 | 4,239 |
| 2023 | 5,491 |
| 2024 | 6,329 |
| 2025 | 7,297 |
- Remittances received, 2025
- US$7,297 million
- Share of GDP, 2025
- 0.4%
All corridors from Spain
Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.
- Spain → Germany
- Spain → Netherlands
- Spain → United States
- Spain → France
- Spain → Switzerland
- Spain → Belgium
- Spain → Portugal
- Spain → Italy
- Spain → Denmark
- Spain → Austria
- Spain → Japan
- Spain → Norway
- Spain → Sweden
- Spain → Mexico
- Spain → Chile
- Spain → Luxembourg
- Spain → Canada
- Spain → Australia
- Spain → United Kingdom
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