Key Facts for Chinese Citizens
- Visa Required: Yes (Schengen visa for all visits)
- Most Common Visas: Digital Nomad, Non-Lucrative, Entrepreneur, Student, Investor
- Processing Time: 15-45 days (Schengen), 1-3 months (residence)
- Spanish Consulates: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou (Hong Kong separate)
- Citizenship Timeline: 10 years of legal residence
- Tax Treaty: Yes (updated 2018)
- Dual Citizenship: China does NOT allow it – you will lose Chinese citizenship
Chinese Immigration to Spain
China is one of the largest sources of immigration to Spain. This guide covers what you need to know – visa options, the application process, tax planning, and the important citizenship decision you’ll eventually face.
Why Chinese Citizens Choose Spain
Lifestyle is the common thread. Spanish culture emphasizes family meals, outdoor living, work-life balance.
Strategic location matters for business. Spain connects Europe with Latin America and North Africa. Chinese companies wanting European headquarters find this positioning valuable.
Education draws substantial interest. Spanish universities attract Chinese students, especially for business and engineering. Many arrive to study, then transition to work permits.
Air quality drives some families to relocate. Barcelona and coastal cities offer clean air that major Chinese cities can’t match.
The Chinese community in Spain provides support. Chinese supermarkets, restaurants, cultural associations, and WeChat groups exist in every major city.
Visa Options for Chinese Citizens
Updated 12 May 2026. Digital Nomad Visa income references reflect the 2026 Spanish SMI.
Important: Spain’s Golden Visa program ended on April 3, 2025. Neither real estate nor financial investments qualify for residency anymore. Chinese investors now use the Entrepreneur Visa or standard work/business routes instead.
Not sure which visa fits your situation? Each path has different requirements, timelines, and tax implications. Book a consultation and we’ll map out the optimal visa and tax strategy for your move.
Spanish Consulates in China
Spain maintains diplomatic missions in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong.
Beijing – Embassy
No. 9, Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100600
Tel: +86 10 6532 3629
Shanghai – Consulate General
88 Century Avenue, 12th Floor, Room 1201, Jinmao Tower, Pudong, 200121
Tel: +86 21 6321 3543
Guangzhou – Consulate General
Room 501, 5/F, R&F Center, No. 10 Huaxia Road, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe, 510623
Tel: +86 20 3892 7185
We coordinate the visa application process from Spain, ensuring documentation is complete before consulate submission.
Tax Considerations
Tax Treaty: China-Spain (2018)
Spain and China have a double taxation agreement updated in 2018. This prevents paying taxes twice on the same income.
Key Points:
- Beckham Law: Qualifying individuals pay flat 24% on Spanish income for 6 years, foreign income exempt
- Dividends: Treaty provides reduced withholding rates for qualified holdings
- Pensions: Generally taxed only in country of residence
Business owners and investors need professional tax planning. How you structure investments significantly affects tax burden. We work with specialized tax advisors for cross-border situations.
Required Documents
Required Documents:
- Passport valid for at least 1 year
- Criminal Record from Public Security Bureau, apostilled
- Medical Certificate from authorized doctor
- Proof of Income/Funds (varies by visa type)
- Health Insurance private policy, full coverage, no copays
- Application Form completed and signed
- Photos passport size, white background
- Visa Fee varies by category
Good news on apostilles: China joined the Hague Apostille Convention in March 2023. Chinese authorities now issue apostilles that Spanish authorities accept directly. This simplified document legalization significantly.
Path to Spanish Citizenship
Chinese nationals need 10 years of legal residence for citizenship. No shortcuts – China isn’t in any preferential category. Maintain legal status without gaps.
The dual citizenship reality – this is critical: Chinese law does not recognize dual citizenship under any circumstances. When you naturalize as Spanish, China considers you to have automatically lost your Chinese citizenship. This is not a declaration you can ignore – China actively enforces this. You cannot hold both passports.
This creates a real choice. Some clients proceed with Spanish citizenship anyway – EU membership, visa-free travel to 190+ countries, and permanent security in Europe outweigh what they lose. Others choose permanent residency without citizenship, living in Spain indefinitely while keeping Chinese nationality.
We discuss these implications thoroughly before any client proceeds with citizenship. You need to understand what you’re choosing.
Citizenship requirements:
- Clean criminal background (Spain and China)
- Good civic conduct
- Spanish language proficiency (DELE A2 exam)
- Cultural knowledge (CCSE exam)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep my Chinese citizenship if I become Spanish?
No. China does not recognize dual citizenship and actively enforces this. When you naturalize as Spanish, China considers your Chinese citizenship automatically lost. You cannot hold both passports. This is different from countries like Algeria or Bulgaria where dual citizenship effectively continues despite Spain’s renunciation requirement.
How long does visa processing take?
Student visas: 4-8 weeks. Work visas: 1-3 months (requires labor approval in Spain first). Investor visas: often 20 working days. We ensure documentation is complete to avoid delays.
Is the Golden Visa still available?
No. Spain’s Golden Visa program ended on April 3, 2025. Neither real estate purchases nor financial investments qualify for residency anymore. Chinese investors now use the Entrepreneur Visa or standard immigration routes.
Do I need apostilles for Chinese documents?
Yes, and this is now easier. China joined the Hague Apostille Convention in March 2023. Chinese authorities issue apostilles that Spanish authorities accept directly.
Can my family join me?
Yes. Spouses and dependent children can apply for family reunification. You need sufficient income (about 150% of requirement for one person) and adequate housing. Family members get residence permits matching your duration.
We Handle Everything
Moving from China involves significant paperwork, strategic decisions, and the eventual choice about citizenship. We handle the complete process – visa applications, document authentication, renewals, and long-term planning.
Every situation is different. The entrepreneur from Shenzhen has different needs than the student from Beijing or the retiree from Shanghai. Contact us for a personalized consultation.
This guide provides general information about moving from China to Spain. Requirements can change. Contact us for personalized advice on your situation. Information accurate as of January 2026.
Planning a move from China to Spain
This page helps confirm the right route before preparing documents, booking an appointment or filing an application. The first review should cover nationality planning for your situation.
What changes by country
- Nationality, current residence country and place of filing.
- Visa or residence route based on work, study, family or private funds.
- Civil documents, criminal record certificates, translations and apostilles where needed.
- Timing for appointments, travel, entry into Spain and renewal.
What to send us
Send nationality, current country, planned move date, included family members, work or income situation and any appointment, correction request or document already received. That lets us review the route without guessing facts.