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Chinese nationals

Spain Digital Nomad Visa for Chinese nationals — the complete 2026 guide

China joined the Hague Convention in November 2023, simplifying the apostille process for Chinese applicants. Chinese nationals require a Schengen visa to enter Spain, which means the consulate route (applying at the Spanish Embassy in Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou) is the most straightforward. Spain's growing Chinese community — particularly in Barcelona — makes it a popular destination.

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€2,849
per month income minimum (200% SMI 2026)
~20
working days via UGE route
PSB
Public Security Bureau non-criminal record certificate — apostilled
Schengen visa
required — obtain before using UGE route, or apply via consulate

The Chinese applicant situation

Chinese nationals and Spain's Digital Nomad Visa

China is home to a growing population of tech, finance, and professional workers with international employers. Many Chinese professionals in the UK, USA, Australia, and other countries are also exploring Spain as a base. The primary consideration for Chinese applicants is the Schengen visa requirement — a tourist/visit visa is needed before the UGE route can be used, making the consulate route (2–3 months) the primary path for most Chinese applicants in China.

Schengen visa requirement

Chinese nationals and the Schengen visa

Chinese passport holders require a Schengen tourist or visit visa to enter Spain. For the DNV, this means most Chinese applicants will use the consulate route — apply at the Spanish Embassy in Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou before travelling to Spain. The alternative is to first obtain a Schengen tourist visa, enter Spain, and then apply via the UGE. Given the extra step, the consulate route is typically more practical for applicants in China.

Hague Convention

China's apostille process — simplified since 2023

China acceded to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents in November 2023. This means Chinese official documents — including criminal record certificates from Public Security Bureaux — can now be apostilled by the competent Chinese authority, rather than going through the previous multi-step legalisation chain. The process is still relatively new: confirm current procedures with your case manager.

🇨🇳

Many Chinese applicants apply via UGE from a third country

Chinese nationals who are already living in countries with Schengen visa-free access — the UK, USA, Canada, Australia — can use the UGE route via their country of residence's Schengen visa-free access. If you are in the UK on a British National (Overseas) visa, for example, you do not automatically have Schengen visa-free access on a Chinese passport. Confirm your specific situation with your case manager.

Application routes

Consulate or UGE — the two routes to Spain's DNV

China passport holders require a Schengen tourist/visit visa to enter Spain. This means the UGE route requires an extra step — obtain a Schengen visa first, then enter Spain and apply. Most applicants from China find the consulate route more straightforward. Apply at Spanish Embassy Beijing, Consulate General Shanghai, Consulate General Guangzhou in China before travelling to Spain.

Route 1 — Consulate in China

Spanish Embassy / Consulate in China

Spanish Embassy Beijing, Consulate General Shanghai, Consulate General Guangzhou

2–3
months typical
1 yr
initial entry visa
  • ✓ Apply from China without travelling to Spain first
  • ✓ Spanish Embassy Beijing, Consulate General Shanghai, Consulate General Guangzhou
  • ✓ In-person appointment required at Spanish Embassy/Consulate

Primary route for applicants from China.

Route 2 — UGE (from within Spain)

UGE — requires Schengen visa first

Obtain a Schengen visa, enter Spain, apply via UGE

~20
working days (after entry)
3 yr
initial permit
  • ✓ Faster processing once in Spain (~20 working days)
  • ✓ 3-year permit issued directly
  • – Schengen visa required before entering Spain
  • – Additional step vs consulate route

Requires Schengen tourist visa — adds 4–8 weeks to the process.

Criminal record certificate

Police certificate requirements for Chinese nationals

All DNV applicants must provide a criminal record certificate apostilled or legalised for international use. For Chinese nationals, the required certificate is the Non-Criminal Record Certificate (无犯罪记录证明).

Apply

Local Public Security Bureau (PSB, 公安局)

Apply at your local Public Security Bureau (公安局) in China with your residency (hukou) documentation and passport. Processing typically takes 7–15 business days. If you are outside China, apply through the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence, which will coordinate with authorities in China.

Apostille / Legalisation

Certifying for use in Spain

China joined the Hague Convention in November 2023. Apostilles on Chinese official documents are now issued by the competent Chinese authority (Ministry of Justice or provincial bureaux of justice). Allow 2–4 weeks from receiving your PSB certificate. This is a relatively new process — confirm current procedures with your case manager.

Start early

Allow 4–6 weeks total (PSB certificate + apostille)

The police certificate is frequently the longest lead-time document in a DNV application. Apply for it as early as possible — your case manager will advise on optimal timing to avoid delays to your submission.

Living in Spain

Popular cities and practical tips for Chinese nationals in Spain

Barcelona has a well-established Chinese community and is the most popular Spanish city for Chinese DNV applicants. Madrid is popular for finance and business professionals. Valencia is growing in popularity. Barcelona has a Chinese consulate, and direct flights from major Chinese cities to Madrid and Barcelona are available via several airlines.

Tax planning

Tax implications for Chinese nationals

China taxes its residents on worldwide income at rates up to 45%. When you become Spanish tax resident (183+ days in Spain), you are no longer a Chinese tax resident on overseas income. Chinese-source income may still attract Chinese withholding tax. The Spain-China double taxation agreement prevents double taxation. Spain's Beckham Law at 24% flat is available for qualifying first-time Spanish tax residents.

Practical

Banking and finances

Direct flights operate from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and other major Chinese cities to Madrid via airlines including Air China, Iberia, and others. China time (CST, UTC+8) is 6–7 hours ahead of Spain. For European client-facing roles, the time zone from Spain is significantly better than from China.

Questions & answers

Spain DNV for Chinese nationals — FAQ

Yes. Chinese citizens are eligible for Spain's Digital Nomad Visa. The minimum income requirement is €2,849 per month (200% SMI 2026). The main consideration for Chinese nationals is the Schengen visa requirement — most will apply at the Spanish Embassy in Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou (consulate route, 2–3 months), or obtain a Schengen visa first and then apply via UGE from within Spain (~20 working days).
Chinese passport holders require a Schengen visa to enter Spain. For the DNV, this means the consulate route (applying at the Spanish Embassy in Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou) is the most straightforward for applicants in China. Alternatively, obtain a Schengen tourist visa, enter Spain, and apply via UGE — but the consulate route avoids this extra step for most applicants based in China.
Chinese applicants need a Non-Criminal Record Certificate (无犯罪记录证明) from the local Public Security Bureau (公安局). Apply at your local PSB with hukou documentation and passport. If outside China, apply via the Chinese Embassy/Consulate in your country. Processing takes 7–15 business days. The certificate must then be apostilled — China joined the Hague Convention in November 2023, so apostilles are now available from the competent Chinese authority.
China became a member of the Hague Convention in November 2023. Since then, Chinese official documents — including PSB criminal record certificates — can be apostilled by the competent Chinese authority (Ministry of Justice or provincial bureaux of justice) rather than going through the previous multi-step legalisation chain. The process is still relatively new; procedures are being standardised. Your case manager will advise on current requirements at the time of your application.
Three Spanish posts cover China: the Spanish Embassy in Beijing handles applications from northern China; the Consulate General in Shanghai covers eastern China; the Consulate General in Guangzhou covers southern China. Confirm which post has jurisdiction for your province before booking an appointment. Processing via the consulate route typically takes 2–3 months.
China's income tax reaches 45% at the top rate for residents. Spain's Beckham Law (Régimen de impatriados) allows qualifying first-time Spanish tax residents to pay a flat 24% income tax rate on Spanish-source income for up to 6 years. For Chinese tech, finance, and professional workers earning significant internationally-sourced incomes, the Beckham Law represents a material tax reduction. Apply within 6 months of registering as a Spanish tax resident.
Barcelona has the largest and most established Chinese community in Spain and is the top choice for Chinese DNV applicants. Barcelona's Raval and Eixample districts have Chinese cultural infrastructure, restaurants, and business networks. Madrid is popular for finance professionals. Valencia and Málaga are growing in popularity. Air China, Iberia, and other airlines operate direct or connecting flights from major Chinese cities to Madrid.
It depends on your visa status in that country. Chinese nationals living in the USA on a valid US visa do not automatically get Schengen visa-free access — Schengen visa-free access is based on your passport nationality (Chinese), not your US visa status. However, Chinese nationals with a valid US green card (permanent residency) may have limited Schengen visa-free access for short stays depending on specific bilateral arrangements. Check with your case manager for your specific situation.

Chinese nationals — apostille process simplified since 2023. Start your application today.

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