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Contents
In brief
The country
- 3
49.6 million people, growing through arrivals
- 4
Fewer births than deaths, many more arrivals
Where the market is now
- 5
Up a fifth in 2025, after two falls
- 6
Spain issues fewer permits per resident than the EU average
- 7
Colombia leads, Morocco and Peru follow
- 8
Latin America and Morocco lead; the centres received 3.1%
- 9
Shortage lists decide, and the number aged 20 to 64 holds
The outlook
- 10
About 119,000 permits in 2026, range 73,500 to 180,000
- 11
Origins held at their 2025 shares, and the drivers
- 11
What could change this
Method and sources
- 12
How to read this report
- 12
Sources, photographs and flags
Cover: Madrid at night, the Gran Vía at the Metropolis building. Photograph by Alex Hoces, Pexels.
Spain issued the third most first residence permits for work in the EU in 2025, after Poland and Portugal: 115,040, 20.2 percent more than in 2024, after two years of decline from the 140,034 of 2022. That is 3.8 for every 1,000 residents aged 20 to 64, against 4.9 across the EU and 1.7 in Italy. Colombia was the largest origin; the seven Werklist sourcing centres received 3.1 percent. Eurostat projects 0.2 percent more people aged 20 to 64 by 2041, only because arrivals continue (with lower migration the number falls by 2.1 million). Our estimate is about 119,000 permits in 2026; for 2027 the range is too wide for a yearly number, and the direction is flat. In 2031 the central line, a stated assumption, gives 123,000 a year and the count held flat 115,000.
First residence permits for work issued in 2025, up 20.2 percent on 2024
Permits in 2026, our estimate, between 73,500 and 180,000
Permits a year in 2031, the central line; held flat 115,000
More people aged 20 to 64 in 2041 than in 2026, on Eurostat's 2025 projection
49.6 million people, growing through arrivals
Spain has 49.6 million people, 3,164,377 more than in 2015. Deaths have outnumbered births every year since 2019, so the growth comes from migration: 582,896 more people arrived than left in 2025. The economy grew 2.8 percent in 2025, twice the EU rate, and output per head is 82 percent of the EU average. Eurostat projects 0.2 percent more people aged 20 to 64 in 2041 than in 2026, on continued arrivals.
People living in Spain on 1 January 2026
6.8 percent more than in 2015, and 11.0 percent of the EU's 452.0 million. People aged 65 and over were 20.7 percent of the population in 2025.
GDP in 2025, billion euro at current prices
8.9 percent of the EU economy.
GDP per head in 2025
82 percent of the EU average of 41,700 euro in 2025. Counting lower prices at home, 92 percent, up from 91 percent in 2015.
Real growth in 2025
Against 1.4 percent across the EU. Over 2021 to 2025 the economy grew 23.8 percent in all, the EU grew 13.7 percent (our estimate from the yearly rates).
People aged 20 to 64 in work, 2025
Against 76.1 percent across the EU.
Two new rules on foreigners
Sources: Eurostat, demo_gind (population, updated 21 July 2026), nama_10_gdp and nama_10_pc (GDP, updated 21 September 2026), tec00114 (price adjusted GDP per head), tec00115 (growth), lfsi_emp_a (employment), demo_pjanbroad (age). All retrieved 27 September 2026. Figures for 2025 GDP, GDP per head and growth are provisional. Royal Decree 1155/2024, BOE 280 of 20 November 2024; Royal Decree 316/2026, BOE 92 of 15 April 2026; retrieved 27 September 2026.
Spain
Portugal
Italy
Cyprus
Malta
Colombia
Morocco
Peru
Honduras
Russia
Paraguay
Nicaragua
India
The Philippines
Bangladesh
Senegal
Indonesia
Vietnam
Uzbekistan
NepalWhat this report answers
How many first residence permits for work has Spain issued each year since 2019?
115,040 in 2025, 20.2% more than the 95,735 of 2024, after two years of decline from the 140,034 of 2022; 63,267 in 2019. Spain issued the third most in the EU in 2025, after Poland and Portugal.
Which countries do the new hires come from, and which are growing?
Colombia leads with 23,464 permits in 2025, 73 percent more than in 2024, ahead of Morocco with 14,621 and Peru with 12,807; five of the eight largest origins are in Latin America. The seven sourcing centres of Werklist received 3.1%.
How does Spain compare with its neighbours per resident?
3.8 first residence permits for work for every 1,000 residents aged 20 to 64 in 2025, against 4.9 across the EU, 2.0 in Greece and 1.7 in Italy.
Which rules apply to employers who hire from abroad?
Since 20 May 2025 a first authorisation for residence and work as an employee lasts up to a year, tied to one region and occupation. Off the quarterly regional list of hard to fill occupations, the employer must show it cannot fill the post locally; the office decides within three months.
How is the working age population changing?
Eurostat projects 30,135,528 people aged 20 to 64 in 2026 and 30,208,490 in 2041, about 73,000 more, only because arrivals continue: with lower migration the number falls by 2,145,630.
How many first residence permits for work do we expect Spain to issue in 2026, and what comes after?
About 119,000 in 2026, between 73,500 and 180,000. For 2027 the range is too wide for a yearly number; the direction is flat. In 2031 the central line, a stated assumption, gives 123,000 a year and the count held flat 115,000.
The full report answers each question with its figures, charts and sources. Request the full report