Where in Spain Do The Irish Expats live? (2024)

In Spain, you will find approximately 15,000 Irish nationals or more. That’s a fairly big number. Where are most Irish people based, and what associations can Irish people join in Spain? We will cover these topics in this article.

According to the latest 2020 ‘padrón’ figures (the official administrative register), there are approximately 15,178 people in Spain’s Irish community. This is the third largest English-speaking group in Spain, besides the 300,000 Brits in Spain and the 37,000 Americans in Spain.

Incredibly, since 2020, the number of folks from the Republic of Ireland registered in Spain has risen by 983.

There’s an even distribution for Irish women and men in Spain. The majority of those people are aged between 40 and 60.

Where do most of these Irish people live?

You will find the Irish community of Spain in mainly the coastal locations. However, they can also be found in Madrid and Barcelona.

You’ll find many of the Irish people in Spain living along the eastern Valencia region. In addition, over 2,000 are located in the Alicante province, and over 6,000 are in the Valencia province. You will also find Irish fold in what’s known as the Canary Islands, with over 5,900 settled in the four islands that are in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, and Tenerife) as well as approximately 1,393 in the Las Palmas province ( Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria.)

In Madrid, Spain’s capital, Irish nationals are approximately 1,684. In Barcelona, there are over 1,800 folks who come from EIRE.

There are other places in Spain where Irish nationals number less than 500. As the map above shows, many Irish citizens make northern Spain home. It is a part of the world that looks much like the Emerald Isle concerning scenery, weather, and heritage, mainly Galicia.

What are the associations that Irish folks in Spain can join?

As reported by the website of the Irish embassy in Spain, Irish people can join many groups and organizations to meet fellow countrywomen and men.

The organizations include the Irish Club, located in Marbella; the official Irish/Basque Association CARA; Valencia Irish Cultural Association, Irish in Barcelona; the Irish Community in Balearics, and Asociación Española de Estudios Irlandeses.

Many GAA clubs (Gaelic Athletic Association) are also located in mainland Spain. These include: Gaelic Games Andalucia GAA, Madrid Harps, Eire Og Sevilla GAA,Costa Gaels GAA,Sant Vincent GAA Valencia, Galician Gaelic Games Association,Barcelona Gaels GAA Club, Gaélicos do Gran Sol GAA, Celta Malaga GAA,and Zaragoza GAA.

But what about the Irish tourists in Spain?

Spain’s Tourism Ministry reported that in 2017, the number of visas from Irish tourists was approximately 43 per cent of Ireland’s 4.9 million population. This includes repeat visits that occurred during the year. The Liberian nation is the most popular place for Irish tourists, with France and the UK behind.

Ninety-one per cent visited Spain’s archipelagos and coast of the Mediterranean. The Canary Islands are the most popular destination of them all.

In 2018, the Irish holidaymakers were Spain’s ninth largest tourist market. At least 91 per cent of them had already visited Spain, and 59 per cent had seen Spain at least ten times before. This explains why a growing number of the Irish are making Spain their home.

What are the criteria for living in Spain as an Irish person with a passport?

Ireland is in the EU (European Union.) Therefore, Freedom of Movement applies. To gain Spanish residency is the same as always and reasonably straightforward.

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Where in Spain Do The Irish Expats live? (2)

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Where in Spain Do The Irish Expats live? (2024)

FAQs

Where in Spain Do The Irish Expats live? ›

You will find the Irish community of Spain in mainly the coastal locations. However, they can also be found in Madrid and Barcelona. You'll find many of the Irish people in Spain living along the eastern Valencia region.

Where do most Irish live in Spain? ›

Irish citizens resident in Spain are largely concentrated in Madrid, Cataluña, Andalucía, the Canary Islands, Valencia, the Balearic Islands and the Basque Country. Before leaving Ireland please consult our current travel advice for Spain and check that you have: Valid passport.

Can I live in Spain as an Irish citizen? ›

Visa & Spanish Residency for Irish Citizens. As an Irish citizen, you can enter Spain without a visa and stay for up to 90 days. For longer stays, you'll need to apply for Spanish residency. The main types of residency permits are non-lucrative and residence permits for work.

Can I stay longer than 90 days in Spain with an Irish passport? ›

If the intention is to move to Spain for more than 90 days, Irish citizens, being part of the European Union, will need to apply for a certificate of registration as a European Union citizen. This certificate will grant Irish citizens the same rights and tax obligations as Spanish citizens.

Where do the Irish retire in Spain? ›

The Costas of Spain have long been a favoured retirement destination for the people of Ireland.

Do Irish citizens get free healthcare in Spain? ›

All EU and European Economic Area (EEA) nationals below retirement age who visit Spain for a short holiday are entitled to free or reduced-cost emergency medical healthcare and treatments at all Spanish public medical centres and hospitals on production of a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

What is the cheapest city to live in Spain? ›

Lugo, Spain's cheapest city to live in

It also has a rich food culture based on local products such as cheese, octopus, meat and wine. Living in Lugo has many advantages, including a quiet lifestyle, mild climate, being close to nature and low cost of living.

How much money do you need to retire in Spain? ›

Retiring in Spain

To live a comfortable life, $2,000-$2,200 per month should suffice ($24,000-26,400 a year). However, where you lay down roots has an impact. Away from the bustle of big cities like Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia you can retire on less: $1,700-$1,900 a month ($20,400-$22,800 annually).

Do expats pay taxes in Spain? ›

Both residents and non-residents can be taxed, although non-residents are only taxed on assets located in Spain. Tax rates are progressive and start at 7.65% (0-7,993 EUR), up to 34% (over 797,555 EUR).

Can I buy a house in Spain with an Irish passport? ›

Can foreigners buy a house in the Spanish territory? Yes, any foreigner can purchase a house in Spain. The main thing you will need is a NIE number, which is the identification number given to foreigners in the country.

Can I lose my Irish citizenship if I live abroad? ›

If you are an Irish citizen living abroad and you want to apply for citizenship of another country, you may need to renounce your Irish citizenship. This is required in countries that do not allow dual citizenship.

Can an Irish citizen live in Portugal? ›

Can I live in Portugal as an Irish citizen? Yes, as an Irish citizen, you have the right to live in Portugal for more than 3 months if you are employed or self-employed in Portuguese territory. Consider your employment options in Portugal if you plan to move there.

What is the Irish region of Spain? ›

The area now called Galicia was first inhabited by humans during the Middle Paleolithic period, and takes its name from the Gallaeci, the Celtic people living north of the Douro River during the last millennium BC.

Where do Irish people vacation in Spain? ›

Most Irish people tend to head to Spain's popular Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca areas, with the Canary Islands being popular in the winter due to being warm all year round.

Is Torremolinos full of Irish? ›

There are plenty of places along Spain's Costa del Sol that are magnets for Irish tourists and expats. But the few blocks of pubs, bars, businesses and apartments that make up the Montemar neighbourhood of Torremolinos could confidently stake a claim to be the most Irish spot in southern Europe.

Why do Irish people love Spain? ›

Many Irish people bought property in Spain and like to spend as much time as they possibly can over there. We also love to cook Spanish food in Ireland (well, our best attempt at Spanish food). There's a bit of cultural overlap because of the catholic history, the north of Spain shares a Celtic culture history too.

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