Minorities and attitudes to foreigners
You will know what everyday acceptance and prejudice look like in Spain for your background.
Many people ask whether they will be accepted in Spain before they ask about their rights. This topic answers that. It covers how Spaniards treat foreigners day to day, how your experience changes with where you come from, what visible minorities and the Roma community face, and how anti-migrant…
Pick the article that fits your situation
How Spaniards treat foreigners and immigrants in practice
Spain is generally a welcoming place for newcomers, but concern about immigration and prejudice by origin are real and have grown in some measures. This page helps you set realistic expectations before you move, whatever your background.
How your origin changes how you are treated in Spain
How people are treated in Spain depends heavily on perceived origin, appearance, religion and class, not just nationality. This page compares typical experiences of Latin American, North African, Black African, Asian and Northern European residents, for anyone planning a move.
Daily life for Black and other visible minority residents in Spain
What daily life in Spain can look like if you are Black or another visible minority: where discrimination shows up, how serious violence compares, how cities differ, and where to turn. For newcomers who want a realistic picture before choosing where to live.
The Roma (gitano) community in Spain and antigypsyism
Roma (gitanos) are Spain's largest long-standing minority and still face prejudice. This page explains who they are, how common discrimination is, what national plan exists and which organisations help, including Romani migrants from other EU countries.
Anti-migrant politics and local tension and what it means for you
Anti-migrant rhetoric and some local unrest in Spain are real, but they are concentrated in a few places. This page helps newcomers judge daily safety by looking at their own town, not at national headlines.
About this topic
It is for anyone considering, planning or carrying out a move to Spain. You will come away knowing what everyday acceptance and prejudice look like for your background, so you can set realistic expectations.
Start with "How Spaniards treat foreigners and immigrants in practice". It gives the general picture and a sense of what to expect. From there, read the pages closest to your situation: how your origin changes your treatment, daily life for Black and other visible minority residents, the Roma community, and anti-migrant politics and local tension.
Documents you may need
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Padrón registration — The Roma (gitano) community in Spain and antigypsyism
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Proof of resources — The Roma (gitano) community in Spain and antigypsyism
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Proof of health cover — The Roma (gitano) community in Spain and antigypsyism
Minorities and attitudes to foreigners: questions that cross several articles
Do most Spaniards welcome immigrants, and does that match what minority residents live through?
Most Spaniards hold accepting or neutral views of immigrants, but daily experience varies a lot by origin. A growing minority says there are too many immigrants. Read "How Spaniards treat foreigners and immigrants in practice" first, then "How your origin changes how you are treated in Spain".
Will my origin affect both police checks and renting a home?
It can affect both, especially if you are Black, North African or Latin American. Identity checks must not be discriminatory, yet people of these backgrounds report being stopped more often. Landlords also reply less often to foreign-sounding names, so read "Daily life for Black and other visible minority residents in Spain" and "How your origin changes how you are treated in Spain".
Is violence or everyday discrimination the bigger risk in Spain?
Everyday discrimination is far more common than violent attacks. Recorded racist incidents number in the hundreds a year, while surveys show over a third of minority respondents faced discrimination in the last year. Many cases go unreported. See "Daily life for Black and other visible minority residents in Spain" and "Anti-migrant politics and local tension and what it means for you".
Is it safer for a visible minority to live in a big city than in a small town?
Big cities usually offer more support services and established communities, while small towns offer less support. Local politics and the neighbourhood matter more than city size, and some small towns have seen unrest.
Explore places
Where you live changes the details. See how Spanish regions and cities compare on rent, jobs, weather, safety and healthcare.
What to read next
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Need certainty before you act?
For important relocation decisions, speak with a qualified human specialist.
Always verify important information with the relevant official authority or a qualified adviser before acting. This website uses large language models together with various public data sources, official government documents and other established sources. Due to the amount of data on this website, some information might be wrong. Information may also be incomplete or outdated.