Moving from Thailand to Spain: Your Complete 2026 Guide
Key Facts for Thai Citizens
- Visa Required: No (90 days visa-free), then national visa for residency
- Most Common Visas: Non-Lucrative, Digital Nomad, Work, Student, Entrepreneur
- Processing Time: 4-6 weeks, up to 3 months peak
- Spanish Consulates: Embassy (Bangkok) + honorary consulates (Chiang Mai, Phuket)
- Citizenship Timeline: 10 years
- Tax Treaty: Yes (1998)
- Dual Citizenship: Thailand ALLOWS dual. Can keep both passports
Why Thai Residents Choose Spain
For Thai nationals, Spain represents access to the European market, career opportunities, and a quality of life that’s hard to match.
Visa-Free Entry: Use It for Scouting
Thai passport holders can enter Spain and the entire Schengen Area without a visa for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This is tourism only. You cannot work and cannot extend it easily from within Spain.
Use this 90-day window wisely. Visit in winter to see if you can handle temperatures below 10°C in Barcelona. Thailand hasn’t prepared you for European cold. Explore potential neighborhoods, open a Spanish bank account, and get a feel for the country.
Critical: You cannot convert tourist status to residency from within Spain. You must apply for your long-term visa from Thailand at the Spanish Embassy in Bangkok.
Thailand Spain Visa Options for Long-Term Stays
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 Thailand
Bangkok – Embassy of Spain
Lake Rajada Office Complex, 23rd Floor
193/98-99 Ratchadaphisek Road, Klongtoey
10110 Bangkok
Tel: +66 2 661 8285 / 8286 / 8287
Email: [email protected]
Transport: BTS Asok, MRT Sukhumvit, MRT Queen Sirikit Center
Honorary Consulates: Chiang Mai and Phuket (limited services)
Tax Considerations for Thai Residents Moving to Spain
Tax Treaty: Thailand-Spain
Thailand and Spain have a Double Taxation Agreement signed in 1997, effective since 1998. This prevents double taxation on income and provides clear rules for tax residency.
Key Points:
- Beckham Law: Flat 24% tax for 6 years on Spanish income. Available if you haven’t been Spanish tax resident in the previous 5 years and you’re moving for work.
- Thai Income: Rental income, pensions, investments from Thailand must be declared. Treaty prevents double taxation.
- Spanish Rates: Progressive rates up to 47% at highest brackets. Treaty credits Thai taxes paid.
Required Documents for Thai Applicants
Required Documents:
- Passport valid for at least 1 year with blank pages
- Criminal Record from Royal Thai Police (2-3 weeks processing), apostilled by Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Criminal records from other countries if lived there 5+ years (US FBI check takes 12-16 weeks)
- Medical Certificate from authorized doctor
- Proof of Income (12 months bank statements)
- Health Insurance from Spanish-authorized provider, no copays, no coverage limits
- Application Form completed and signed
- Photos passport size, white background
All documents need apostilles from the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and sworn translations into Spanish. Budget ฿5,000-10,000 for translations. Need help with document legalization? We handle the entire process.
Cost of Living: Thailand vs Spain
Let’s be honest. Spain is more expensive than Thailand. A comfortable retirement budget in Chiang Mai might be ฿40,000-60,000 monthly. In Barcelona, you’re looking at €2,000-3,000 minimum for a similar lifestyle. That’s roughly triple.
However, you get what you pay for:
- Spanish public healthcare is excellent and available to residents
- Infrastructure is European standard
- Consumer protections are strong
- No visa runs or yearly extensions
- Access to all of EU for travel and business
Path to Spanish Citizenship: Good News on Dual Citizenship
Thai citizens need 10 years of legal, continuous residence to apply for Spanish citizenship.
Here’s the good news: Thailand allows dual citizenship. Since the 1992 Nationality Act amendment, Thailand does not require citizens to renounce Thai nationality when acquiring another citizenship.
Spain requires you to make a renunciation declaration during naturalization. But Thailand doesn’t recognize or enforce this. In practice, you keep both passports.
Travel advice after naturalizing: Use your Thai passport when entering Thailand, your Spanish passport elsewhere. Exclusively using your original passport for 3+ years can result in losing Spanish citizenship.
Requirements for citizenship:
- 10 years continuous legal residence
- DELE A2 Spanish language exam
- CCSE exam (Spanish constitutional and cultural knowledge)
- Clean criminal record
- Max 10 months absence total in the 5 years before application
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I visit Spain without a visa from Thailand?
Yes. Thai passport holders can visit Spain and the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within any 180-day period without a visa. For longer stays or residency, you need a national visa applied for in Bangkok before departure.
Can I keep my Thai citizenship if I become Spanish?
Yes. Thailand allows dual citizenship since 1992. Spain requires a renunciation declaration, but Thailand doesn’t recognize it. In practice, you keep both passports. Use your Thai passport for Thailand, Spanish passport elsewhere.
We Handle Everything
Spanish bureaucracy is relentless. Visa applications, tax residency, NIE appointments, ongoing compliance. Getting any of it wrong costs time and money. We handle the paperwork and planning so you can focus on actually building your life here.
This guide provides general information about moving from Thailand to Spain. Requirements can change. Contact us for personalized advice on your situation. Information accurate as of January 2026.