Spain Grants Record Citizenship to Nearly 300,000 Foreigners

Spain granted citizenship to nearly 300,000 foreign residents in 2025, marking the highest annual figure recorded since official statistics began more than a decade ago.

According to Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE), a total of 299,732 people acquired Spanish nationality last year, representing an increase of almost 19 percent compared to 2024.

The largest number of new Spanish citizens came from Morocco, followed by Colombia, Venezuela, and Honduras. Most of the top nationalities were from Latin America, reflecting Spain’s longstanding immigration policies that provide faster access to citizenship for people from former Spanish colonies.

Under Spanish law, citizens from many Latin American countries can apply for nationality after only two years of legal residence, while most other foreigners must wait 10 years before becoming eligible.

Spain approves mass amnesty giving 500,000 undocumented migrants legal status

Unlike several European nations tightening migration rules, Spain has maintained a relatively welcoming stance toward immigration, arguing that foreign workers are essential to address labour shortages and support an ageing population.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez unveiled plans to regularise around 500,000 undocumented migrants by granting residency and work permits.

The policy applies to foreigners who entered Spain before December 31, 2025, have lived in the country for at least five months, and do not possess a criminal record.

Spain’s population now stands at nearly 50 million people, including approximately 7.3 million foreign residents, according to official figures released by the INE.