Top Nationalities Applying for Spanish Visas (2025 Update)
Expat Tips
Published: 30 October 2023 11:36 CET
Updated: 24 April 2025 00:34 CET
As of early 2025, Spain continues to be one of the most sought-after destinations for both short-term Schengen visas and long-term residency permits. Global mobility patterns have shifted dramatically in recent years—driven by COVID-19, Brexit, and wider geopolitical tensions—but certain nationalities continue to dominate Spain’s visa landscape.
Based on the latest data from Schengen News and updated 2024 consular reporting, here is the breakdown of which nationalities apply for visas for Spain the most.
2017–2022: Russian Nationals Lead Overall Applications
Between 2017 and 2022, Russian citizens submitted more than 1.8 million Spain visa applications—over double the volume from the next largest group, Moroccan applicants (approximately 972,000). Russian applications peaked in 2019 with 568,681 filings before plunging to just 58,817 in 2020 due to the pandemic—a dramatic 70.6% collapse in demand.
Top 10 Visa Applicant Nationalities (2017–2022)
- Russia
- Morocco
- China
- Algeria
- India
- Ecuador
- Saudi Arabia
- Turkiye
- United Kingdom
- Dominican Republic
Half of these nationalities originate from Asia, underscoring the strength of long-term demand from Russian, Chinese, Indian, Saudi and Turkish applicants.
Post-Pandemic Shifts (2022–2024)
Visa demand rebounded in highly uneven ways:
- China saw one of the sharpest collapses—applications fell from 291,637 in 2019 to just 8,201 in 2022 (–97.1%).
- UK visa applications for Spain rose substantially post-Brexit as British citizens adjusted to new Schengen entry requirements. Applications grew from 29,466 (2019) to 61,005 (2022), continuing upward through 2023.
South American Growth Continues
Demand from Ecuador, Colombia and the Dominican Republic remains stable and continues to rise gradually. Spain’s cultural ties and favourable visa reciprocity agreements help sustain strong interest in Spain visas across Latin America.
Key Trends as of 2025
Russian Applicants
Still statistically dominant, but facing heightened scrutiny due to the war in Ukraine and corresponding EU sanctions.
UK Nationals
Now one of the fastest-growing groups for Spain Schengen visa filings and long-stay residency applications.
Chinese Applicants
After record lows, early recovery signs are emerging as China reopens and travel resumes.
Latin American Applicants
Remain consistent across student visas, family reunification and long-stay residency pathways.
Why These Trends Matter
Understanding which nationalities lead visa applications can help identify patterns in Spain’s residency demand, consular workloads and future immigration policy direction. It also helps prospective applicants gauge processing times, entry restrictions and competitive pressure.
If you’re researching long-term residency options, see our guide to work visas in Spain for pathway-specific requirements.
How Spain Uses Visa Demand Data (New Section)
Spain’s consulates and immigration offices use visa statistics to:
- Adjust staffing levels in high-demand countries
- Plan Schengen appointment allocation by season
- Monitor irregular migration risks by nationality
- Assess future demand for student, work and family visas
- Coordinate with EU partners on sanctions or travel restrictions
This data helps inform how Spain handles processing capacity, digital visa systems and bilateral mobility agreements in 2025.
Conclusion
Whether applying for a short-stay Schengen visa or long-term residency, it’s clear that Spain’s visa landscape continues to shift across different regions of the world. Russia remains historically dominant, the UK has grown sharply since Brexit, and Latin America continues to show stable demand. Understanding these patterns helps applicants better prepare for processing timelines and Spain’s evolving immigration environment in 2025.
Expect further changes as global travel continues to stabilise and Spain refines its consular and immigration processes.
Get Health Insurance for Your Move to Spain
If you’re planning to relocate to Spain, most long-stay visas require full private health cover with no co-payments. Compare policies and get cover that meets Spanish consulate requirements here:
Sanitas health insurance in Spain
Source: Schengen News – Visa Statistics for Spain
