While Filipino migration within the Spanish Empire was recorded as early as the 16th century, the first Filipino migrants to metropolitan Spain only began arriving in the late 19th century, forming the country's first and oldest Asian immigrant community, although mass migration would not begin until after Philippine independence.

[10] By the end of the Spanish Civil War, the Filipino community in Spain was estimated to only number at least 200 people.

The first wave of Filipino migration to Spain consisted primarily of Spanish Filipinos and Spaniards in the Philippines who would leave the country after World War II and in the first years after Philippine independence, beginning with some 300 survivors of the Battle of Manila who left the country onboard two ships, the "Plus Ultra" and the "Halekala".

[14] The agreement, which would allow for up to 200,000 Filipino workers to enter Spain,[14] also paved the way for other highly skilled professionals like engineers and doctors to migrate to the country.

[2] While Filipinos in Spain come from various parts of the Philippines, most originate from Luzon, with Tagalogs, Ilocanos and Bicolanos being the most numerous.

[24] For historical reasons, most Filipino migrants to Spain were working-age women,[25] which is still reflected in the contemporary makeup of the community.

[31] Beyond the service sector, Filipinos are also employed as teachers,[37] farm workers in rural Spain,[40] nurses,[41] language assistants,[42] and military personnel.

[30] In recent years, Filipinos in Spain have also begun setting up their own businesses,[44] with a number of Filipino restaurants, bars, bakeries, grocery stores and call shops, among other businesses, setting up shop in Tetuán,[45] El Raval,[46] and Las Palmas,[37] as well as in other parts of the country.

[49] Filipinos who want to exercise their profession in Spain are deterred by the high cost of homologation and the need to return to school despite already being certified in the Philippines, leaving them unable to find employment and forcing them to take lower-skilled jobs.

While they become native Spanish speakers, unlike their parents, it often comes at the expense of learning Filipino and other Philippine languages.