Moving to Spain from South Korea: Complete Residency Guide

What Korean citizens need to know about establishing residence in Spain. From visa options to practical steps.

Visa Options for South Korean Nationals

South Korean citizens enjoy 90-day visa-free access to Spain for tourism. For longer stays or work purposes, you need a residence visa. Here are the main pathways:

Digital Nomad Visa

If you work remotely for non-Spanish companies or have international freelance clients, this visa allows you to live in Spain while maintaining your existing work arrangements.

• Minimum income requirement of approximately €2,760/month
• Must work for companies outside Spain or have non-Spanish clients
• Professional qualifications or 3 years experience required
• Private health insurance covering Spain
• Clean criminal record from Korea

Non-Lucrative Visa

For those who can support themselves without working in Spain. Popular with early retirees and those with passive income.

• Proof of sufficient funds (approximately €2,400/month or €28,800/year)
• No employment permitted in Spain
• Investment income, savings, or pensions qualify
• Private health insurance required
• Initial 1-year visa, renewable

Work Visa

Requires a Spanish employer sponsor. The company must demonstrate they could not fill the position with EU candidates.

Student Visa

For enrollment in Spanish educational institutions. Allows limited part-time work and can be converted to work permit after graduation in some circumstances.

Tax Considerations

after 183 days of presence. Korea has its own residency rules. The transition year requires careful documentation to establish clear residency status in each country.

Double Taxation Treaty

The Korea-Spain treaty prevents double taxation. Korean pension income (국민연금), rental income from Korean property, dividends, and capital gains all have specific treaty provisions.

National Pension (국민연금)

Korean national pension continues accumulating regardless of residence. Benefits are payable abroad. Treaty provisions determine taxation treatment in Spain.

Cultural Adjustment

The cultural gap between Korea and Spain is substantial. Korean society emphasizes hierarchy, indirect communication, and group harmony. Spanish culture operates with more directness, physical expressiveness, and individual assertion.

Time perception differs dramatically. Korean punctuality and efficiency contrast with Spanish flexibility around schedules. Social gatherings extend longer. Business moves at different rhythms.

Language requires significant investment. Spanish grammar and pronunciation differ fundamentally from Korean, requiring sustained study for functional fluency.

We Handle Everything

Korean citizens expect efficient administration. Spanish bureaucracy operates differently. The contrast challenges those accustomed to Koreas digital-first government services. In Spain, appointments book weeks out, everything requires physical presence, and processes that seem straightforward develop complications.

At Legal Fournier, we manage your move from Korea to Spain completely. Visa documentation prepared correctly from the first submission. NIE registration, empadronamiento, Social Security enrollment. Coordinated tax planning across Korean and Spanish systems. We handle the bureaucracy while you focus on your new life.

Spanish administration moves slowly and inconsistently. Our Korean clients arrive with everything arranged. Ready to enjoy their Spanish life, not fight with paperwork.

This guide provides general information. Immigration and tax rules change regularly. For personalized planning, contact our team.