Spain Citizenship: 220,000+ Granted via Residency (2023)
In 2024, Spain granted Spanish citizenship to over 220,000 foreigners through residency, marking a notable trend in immigration. While this number reflects a slight decrease from the previous year, it highlights the ongoing demand for spanish nationality. Venezuelans,Moroccans,and Colombians were the primary beneficiaries,benefiting from streamlined processes that have accelerated application reviews. Key factors include two-year residency for many applicants, especially those from Latin American countries who benefit from dual nationality agreements. The data indicates that a significant portion of these citizenships were granted after applicants met legal requirements, with women representing a majority. Notably, the country saw a rise in rejected applications. get the full picture and stay ahead with vital insights from News Directory 3. discover what’s next for those seeking Spanish citizenship, and other immigration pathways.
Spain Grants Citizenship to Thousands of Foreigners Seeking Residency in 2024
Spain conferred nationality through residency on 221,805 foreigners in 2024. While this figure represents an 8.9% decrease from the 243,481 granted in 2023, it remains the third-highest annual total in the historical series since 2009. The majority of successful applicants for Spanish citizenship hailed from Ibero-American countries.
The Immigration Observatory in Spain confirms an increasing trend in successful Spanish citizenship applications. Streamlined processes, including automation in submission reviews, have helped reduce backlogs.
Venezuelans topped the list with 33,021 citizenships granted, followed by Moroccans (29,033) and Colombians (27,946). Hondurans (13,915), Peruvians (10,799), Ecuadorians (9,925), and Argentinians (9,165) also featured prominently.
The average age of those granted Spanish nationality based on residency was 34,with women comprising 57% of the recipients.Approximately 70% of successful applicants were between 18 and 49 years old.
A important 61% of individuals obtained citizenship after two years of legal residence in Spain, especially those from Latin American countries, who can retain their original passports due to dual nationality agreements.
Besides residency,Spanish citizenship can be acquired by origin and naturalization. About 24% gained citizenship after one year due to being born in Spain (32,572), marrying a Spaniard (20,185), or being children or grandchildren of Spanish nationals (637).
Another 13% obtained citizenship after ten years of legal residency,with Moroccans representing 99% of this group. Only 17 individuals were granted residency through asylum, which requires five years.
Applicants for Spanish citizenship through residency must demonstrate good civic conduct, sufficient integration into Spanish society, and a continuous legal residency period immediately before applying.
Residency requirements vary: one year for those born in Spain or married to a Spaniard; two years for those from Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial guinea, Portugal, and Sephardic Jews; five years for refugees; and ten years for all others.
Notably, Spain rejected a record 20,099 citizenship applications in 2024, more then double the 7,399 rejections in 2023. Experts attribute this to processing long-pending applications, increased application numbers, and quicker processing due to technological advancements.
The extension of the “Grandchildren’s Law” application deadline until the end of 2025 also plays a role.
What’s next
As application processes continue to evolve, prospective citizens should ensure they meet all requirements and prepare for possibly longer processing times due to increased application volumes.