Spain is the European Union’s fourth-largest economy and one of the European countries with the largest Chinese communities. A sunny climate, an easier pace of life, a broad public health system and lower living costs than in northern Western Europe have put moving to Spain on the shortlist of a growing number of Chinese families. As of June 2025, about 256,000 Chinese citizens held a valid residence permit, the third-largest group of foreign residents under the “general regime” after Moroccans and Ukrainians.
Spain is not an “easy residency” country, though. The real-estate golden visa was abolished in April 2025, rents in the big cities keep rising, unemployment is still clearly above the EU average, and language and paperwork are unavoidable hurdles. This guide looks at Spain from the point of view of a PRC citizen: culture, economy, healthcare, the Chinese community and the legal residence routes, compared with life back home, so you can judge whether moving to Spain is right for you.
Why Spain
According to Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE), Spain had about 49.8 million residents on 1 July 2026, including some 7.44 million foreign nationals, and population growth comes almost entirely from immigration. Spanish society is used to newcomers, and the big cities are full of new residents from Latin America, North Africa and Asia.
For Chinese movers the main attractions are free movement within the Schengen area and the EU, long hours of sunshine, a diet built on fresh produce, wide public healthcare coverage and an established Chinese community. The drawbacks are modest salaries, slow bureaucracy and the fact that most long-term routes require either money or professional qualifications.
Culture and etiquette
Daily rhythms are very different from China. Lunch is usually eaten between 2 pm and 4 pm, dinner often starts after 9 pm, many small shops close at midday and most shops are closed on Sundays. For many newcomers the hardest adjustment is not the language but living “two hours later”.
- Greetings: friends greet each other with a kiss on each cheek; in business a handshake is standard.
- Forms of address: Spaniards quickly switch to first names and the informal “tú”, but use the polite “usted” with older people and officials.
- Language: the official language is Spanish (Castilian); Catalonia, the Basque Country and Galicia have co-official languages. In Barcelona, Catalan dominates in schools and public administration.
- Social life: long meals and loud conversations are normal; when invited to someone’s home, bring a bottle of wine or dessert.
Compared with China, personal connections matter less, but almost everything depends on appointments (cita previa). Residence cards, tax matters and doctor’s visits nearly always start with an online booking, so be prepared for that before you leave.
Economy and jobs
Spain’s economy is dominated by services: tourism, hospitality, retail, logistics and construction employ large numbers of people. INE’s labour force survey counted about 22.78 million people in work in Q2 2026 and an unemployment rate of 9.87%. That is low by recent Spanish standards but still higher than in most EU countries, and youth unemployment is higher still.
Common paths for new Chinese arrivals include:
- working in Chinese-owned businesses such as wholesale, import-export, restaurants, variety stores and beauty salons;
- Chinese companies’ Spanish subsidiaries and jobs linked to China trade, cross-border e-commerce and logistics;
- graduates moving into tech, engineering, research or international education, usually with good English or Spanish;
- starting a business such as a shop or restaurant, which means learning the local rules on licences, self-employed social security (autónomo) and tax.
Salaries in Spain are clearly lower than in Germany or France. Numbeo’s user data put the average net monthly salary in Madrid at about €2,190 (October 2026), and many commenters think even that is too high. People on non-work permits, such as the non-lucrative residence visa, may not work in Spain, so check exactly what your status allows.
Cost of living
Overall prices are lower than in France, Germany or the UK, but rents in Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga and the Balearic Islands have risen fast and are usually the largest expense. The chart shows crowd-sourced estimates of a single person’s main monthly costs in Madrid:
On these figures, living alone in a one-bedroom flat in Madrid costs at least about €1,900–2,200 a month. Flat-sharing or living in second-tier cities such as Valencia, Zaragoza or Seville brings this down considerably. City-by-city figures are in Cost of Living in Spain.
If you are used to paying by phone in China, open a Spanish bank account as soon as possible: rent, utilities and phone contracts usually require direct debit from a local account. You normally need your passport and foreigner identification number (NIE).
Healthcare
Spain has a tax-funded National Health System (SNS) run by the regions. Legal residents registered with social security, such as employees paying contributions and their dependants, can register at their local health centre (centro de salud) and get a health card (tarjeta sanitaria). GP visits and hospital care are generally free at the point of use, while prescriptions usually involve a co-payment.
Unlike in China, where patients often go straight to a specialist at a big hospital, in Spain you first see your assigned family doctor, who refers you to a specialist. Waiting times for non-urgent specialist care and surgery can be long, so many Chinese residents also buy private health insurance.
Applications for visas such as non-lucrative residence or study usually require private health insurance valid in Spain; for non-lucrative residence it must cover all medical, hospital and outpatient costs with no deductible, no co-payment and no waiting period. See Healthcare in Spain for how to choose.
The Chinese community
According to Spain’s Permanent Immigration Observatory (OPI), 256,242 Chinese citizens held a valid residence authorisation on 30 June 2025, the third-largest nationality under the general regime. That figure excludes ethnic Chinese who have become Spanish citizens and naturalised second-generation children.
Most Chinese in Spain come from Zhejiang province, especially the Qingtian and Wenzhou area, and they are concentrated in Madrid, Barcelona and its surrounding towns, and Valencia. The Usera district in southern Madrid is seen as the city’s Chinatown, with Chinese restaurants, supermarkets, travel agencies, lawyers and accountants, so newcomers can solve many everyday problems in Chinese.
The community offers mature support networks and many leads for jobs and housing. Be wary, however, of “guaranteed residency” or “status arrangement” services offered through acquaintances, and check credentials. Associations, Chinese schools and media are covered in The Chinese Community in Spain.
Visa and residence routes at a glance
PRC ordinary passport holders need a visa for Spain. Short trips for tourism, business or family visits require a Schengen visa; stays over 90 days require the relevant national long-stay visa from China, followed by a foreigner identity card (TIE) after arrival. The main routes:
| Route | For whom | Key requirements (summary) |
|---|---|---|
| Schengen short-stay visa (type C) | Tourism, business, family visits, scouting trips | Up to 90 days in any 180; no work |
| Non-lucrative residence | People with stable passive income or savings who will not work in Spain | Funds of at least 400% of IPREM (€28,800 a year in 2026, plus €7,200 per dependant), private health insurance without co-payments, clean criminal record |
| Employee work visa | People with a job offer from a Spanish employer | The employer first obtains a work authorisation |
| Highly qualified professional / EU Blue Card | Managers, engineers, researchers | Degree or professional experience, salary threshold |
| Remote work (digital nomad) | People working remotely for companies outside Spain | Monthly income of at least 200% of the minimum wage (SMI), about €2,849 gross in 2026 |
| Student visa | Degree and language-course students | Admission letter, proof of funds, health insurance |
| Family reunification | Spouses, children and parents of legal residents | Sponsor meets residence-time, income and housing rules |
| Investor residence (golden visa) | — | Abolished on 3 April 2025; no new applications |
Documents, fees and where to apply in China are covered in the Spain Visa Guide; renewals and long-term residence are in the Spain Residency Guide.
Many agencies still advertise “Spanish residency through property”. Under Organic Law 1/2025, investment-based residence visas, including those for buying property, were abolished from 3 April 2025, and buying a home no longer gives you residence status. Check any such offer carefully.
Safety
Spain is generally safe and violent crime is low by European standards, but pickpocketing, bag snatching and distraction thefts are common in tourist cities such as Madrid and Barcelona, especially on the metro, at railway stations, at major sights and on restaurant terraces. Chinese tourists and newcomers are often assumed to carry cash and valuables, so take extra care.
- Emergency number: 112 (English available);
- for lost documents or serious trouble, contact the Chinese Embassy in Spain or the Chinese Consulate General in Barcelona;
- leave your original passport and residence card at home where possible and carry copies or photos.
Gambling in Spain is legal and state-regulated, and lotteries, sports betting and casinos are widespread. Whether gambling is legal locally and what it means for Chinese citizens is explained in Spain Gambling Laws.
Pros and challenges
Pros
- Mild, sunny climate and a healthy diet
- Broad public healthcare and good education
- Easy travel across Schengen and the EU
- Lower living costs than most of Western and Northern Europe
- Established Chinese community with many Chinese-language services
Challenges
- High unemployment and low salaries
- Fast-rising rents and fierce competition for good flats in big cities
- Appointment-driven, slow bureaucracy
- Golden visa abolished; long-term routes now harder
- Naturalisation usually takes 10 years of residence and means giving up Chinese nationality
If you are torn between Spain and Portugal, compare with the Portugal Moving and Living Guide, or see other countries in the Europe guide.
FAQ
Is moving to Spain a good idea?
It depends on where your income comes from. People living on assets in China, remote-work income or a pension can enjoy a high quality of life in Spain; people who need a local job face high unemployment and low wages. Visit first on a Schengen visa before choosing a route.
What are the requirements to move to Spain?
There is no single set of requirements; each permit has its own rules. Non-lucrative residence looks at funds and health insurance, work visas at the employer and work authorisation, the digital nomad route at foreign income, and student visas at admission and funds. Long-stay visas usually require a criminal record certificate, legalised or apostilled as instructed.
Can I keep Chinese nationality if I become Spanish?
No. The PRC Nationality Law does not recognise dual nationality for Chinese citizens: a Chinese citizen who settles abroad and voluntarily acquires a foreign nationality automatically loses Chinese nationality. Spain also generally requires Chinese applicants to declare that they renounce their previous nationality. See Dual Nationality and Chinese Nationality Law.
How much does it cost to live in Spain?
In Madrid, a single person’s monthly living costs excluding rent are about €820, plus roughly €1,000–1,300 for a one-bedroom flat (Numbeo, October 2026). Second-tier cities are noticeably cheaper. For official price data, see the consumer price index from Spain’s statistics institute (INE).
Sources
- INE – Estadística Continua de Población, 1 de julio de 2026 (datos provisionales) (accessed October 2026)
- Observatorio Permanente de la Inmigración – Extranjeros con documentación de residencia en vigor a 30 de junio de 2025 (accessed October 2026)
- INE – Encuesta de Población Activa (EPA), segundo trimestre de 2026 (accessed October 2026)
- Numbeo – Cost of Living in Madrid (updated 7 Oct 2026) (accessed October 2026)
- BOE – Ley Orgánica 1/2025, de 2 de enero (supresión de los visados por inversión en vigor desde el 3 de abril de 2025) (accessed October 2026)
- European Commission – Applying for a Schengen visa (accessed October 2026)
- European Commission – Entry/Exit System (EES) (accessed October 2026)
- Consulado General de España en Pekín – Lista completa de tasas consulares (septiembre de 2026) (accessed October 2026)
- Consulado General de España en Los Ángeles – Visado de residencia no lucrativa (400% IPREM, seguro sin copagos, plazo de resolución 3 meses, TIE en 1 mes) (accessed October 2026)
- BLS International (Consulado de España en Washington) – Visado de residencia no lucrativa: 28.800 €/año en 2026 (IPREM 600 €/mes) (accessed October 2026)
- Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos (Ministerio de Inclusión) – Información y documentación: teletrabajo de carácter internacional (200% SMI) (accessed October 2026)
- INAP – Real Decreto 126/2026, de 18 de febrero, por el que se fija el salario mínimo interprofesional para 2026 (1.221 €/mes) (accessed October 2026)
- 中华人民共和国驻西班牙王国大使馆 (accessed October 2026)