In 2022, Spain received 324 000 new immigrants on a long-term or permanent basis (including changes of status and free mobility), 27% more than in 2021. This figure comprises 35% immigrants benefitting from free mobility, 11% labour migrants, 22% family members (including accompanying family) and 5% humanitarian migrants. Around 49 000 permits were issued to tertiary-level international students and 35 000 to temporary and seasonal labour migrants (excluding intra-EU migration). In addition, 150 000 intra-EU postings were recorded in 2022, a 70% increase compared to 2021. These posted workers are generally on short-term contracts.
Colombia, Morocco and Ukraine were the top three nationalities of newcomers in 2022. Among the top 15 countries of origin, Colombia registered the strongest increase (108 000) and the United Kingdom the largest decrease (‑15 000) in flows to Spain compared to the previous year.
In 2023, the number of first asylum applicants increased by 38%, to reach around 160 000. The majority of applicants came from Venezuela (60 000), Colombia (53 000) and Peru (14 000). The largest increase since 2022 concerned nationals of Colombia (18 000) and the largest decrease nationals of Morocco (‑800). Of the 90 000 decisions taken in 2023, 59% were positive.
Emigration of Spanish citizens to OECD countries increased by 7% in 2022, to 79 000. Approximately 18% of this group migrated to Germany, 13% to the Netherlands and 13% to France.
In May 2023, Spain transposed the EU Blue Card Directive on the entry and residence of third-country nationals for highly qualified employment. The EU Blue Card is now available to individuals with an employment contract of at least six months, earning between one and 1.6 times the average gross annual salary, and is valid for the duration of the contract plus three months, up to a total of three years. Spain has also expanded eligibility and extended the validity period of its national residence permit for highly qualified professionals to up to three years.
In June 2023, reforms to enhance work and study conditions for international students took effect. These changes grant automatic work permits to highly educated students, increase the permitted working hours, and remove the three‑year residency requirement to convert student permits into work permits. Additionally, students can now stay in Spain for up to 24 months post-graduation to seek employment or start a business. Furthermore, in August 2023, Spain´s bilateral education agreement with the United Kingdom came into effect, exempting students from the United Kingdom from general entrance exams to Spanish universities. Another bilateral agreement with Argentina, which came into force in February 2023, supports youth mobility, allowing young people to volunteer and take up casual employment in both countries.
In July 2023, the Spanish Supreme Court annulled a provision of a Royal Decree that ended the temporary residence status of foreigners who had been absent from Spain for more than six months in a year. This ruling allows those affected to renew their temporary residence status.
Spain stepped up its efforts to reduce irregular migration and promote orderly and safe migration. In the area of international protection, the country established a disciplinary framework to regulate the conditions under which reception rights can be reduced or revoked. Furthermore, in August 2023, the General Directorate for Humanitarian Attention and Social Inclusion of Immigrants announced grants for voluntary assisted return projects. The grants support programmes to facilitate the return and sustainable reintegration of third-country nationals to their countries of origin, including the development of entrepreneurial skills.
In July 2023, Spain adopted a new integration plan, the “Strategic Framework for Citizenship and Inclusion, against Racism and Xenophobia (2023‑27)”. The framework aims to promote the integration and inclusion of migrants and to combat racism, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance.
In April 2024, Spain signed a new social security agreement with the United States to improve social security protection for people who have worked in both countries.
For further information: www.inclusion.gob.es
