Spain approves just 11% of asylum requests, among EU's lowest acceptance rates

Spain received 144,396 asylum applications in 2025, ranking third in the EU after Germany and France, but granted protection to only 1 of every 9 seekers (11%). The acceptance rate is lower than Croatia and Cyprus. Venezuelans accounted for 59% of the applications, while requests from Colombia, Peru and Senegal fell sharply.

A new immigration regulation that took effect in May 2025 stopped counting the time migrants spend awaiting a decision toward their residency qualification. The change, challenged before the Supreme Court, triggered a surge in withdrawals and mass archiving of files – 16,991 cases were closed in 2025, a 179.8% increase, described by CEAR as “desistimientos, archivos masivos e irregularidad sobrevenida”.

Irregular arrivals fell 46%, especially in the Canary Islands, as control measures in third‑country ports intensified. Meanwhile, the Balearic route saw more migrants from Somalia, Mali and Guinea‑Conakry, facing severe sea journeys and health problems. The CEAR report highlighted persistent barriers for refugees in accessing housing and social benefits.