Spain’s Permanent Observatory for Immigration (OPI) reports that 7,426,481 foreign nationals held valid Spanish residence documents as of 30 September 2025—an annual rise of 4.5 %. Of these, 54 % are EU, EEA or UK citizens registered as residents, while 46 % (3.4 million) come from other countries under Spain’s general immigration regime.
Romanian, Italian and British nationals together account for just over half of all EU-category residents. By contrast, the fastest growth is occurring among non-European cohorts covered by Spain’s updated Immigration Regulations, which introduced more flexible “arraigo” (roots) pathways and reduced the continuous-stay requirement from three years to two. Since 2020, non-EU resident numbers have risen 47 %.
For anyone preparing an application in this fast-moving environment, VisaHQ can remove much of the legwork. The company’s online platform centralises the latest requirements for Spanish study, work, digital-nomad and arraigo visas, offers live support in multiple languages and arranges secure document couriering nationwide. Full details and fee schedules are available at https://www.visahq.com/spain/.
![Foreign Residents in Spain Top 7.4 Million as Study Permits Surge 8.6 %]()
Student mobility is also rebounding strongly. Active stay permits for study purposes reached 56,327 in September, up 8.6 % year-on-year, led by applicants from Colombia, Peru, Morocco and China. Madrid (31 %) and Barcelona (20 %) remain the dominant academic hubs, followed by Valencia (11 %). For global universities running spring-semester programmes, the figures confirm continued demand and underscore the need to secure accommodation and appointments early.
For employers, the data signal a deeper talent pool but also possible bottlenecks at Foreigners’ Offices as volumes rise. HR teams should monitor local appointment availability—especially in Madrid, where 30 % of all study-permit holders reside—and consider leveraging Spain’s digital-nomad visa or new “arraigo socio-formativo” route when standard work visas hit quota limits.
OPI also notes a sharp slowdown in residence growth among Ukrainians, reflecting stabilising inflows under the EU Temporary Protection Directive. That easing may free administrative capacity for other categories, but officials caution that seasonal peaks (March highs, September lows) will persist, requiring careful timing of corporate transferee arrivals.
Romanian, Italian and British nationals together account for just over half of all EU-category residents. By contrast, the fastest growth is occurring among non-European cohorts covered by Spain’s updated Immigration Regulations, which introduced more flexible “arraigo” (roots) pathways and reduced the continuous-stay requirement from three years to two. Since 2020, non-EU resident numbers have risen 47 %.
For anyone preparing an application in this fast-moving environment, VisaHQ can remove much of the legwork. The company’s online platform centralises the latest requirements for Spanish study, work, digital-nomad and arraigo visas, offers live support in multiple languages and arranges secure document couriering nationwide. Full details and fee schedules are available at https://www.visahq.com/spain/.
Student mobility is also rebounding strongly. Active stay permits for study purposes reached 56,327 in September, up 8.6 % year-on-year, led by applicants from Colombia, Peru, Morocco and China. Madrid (31 %) and Barcelona (20 %) remain the dominant academic hubs, followed by Valencia (11 %). For global universities running spring-semester programmes, the figures confirm continued demand and underscore the need to secure accommodation and appointments early.
For employers, the data signal a deeper talent pool but also possible bottlenecks at Foreigners’ Offices as volumes rise. HR teams should monitor local appointment availability—especially in Madrid, where 30 % of all study-permit holders reside—and consider leveraging Spain’s digital-nomad visa or new “arraigo socio-formativo” route when standard work visas hit quota limits.
OPI also notes a sharp slowdown in residence growth among Ukrainians, reflecting stabilising inflows under the EU Temporary Protection Directive. That easing may free administrative capacity for other categories, but officials caution that seasonal peaks (March highs, September lows) will persist, requiring careful timing of corporate transferee arrivals.
