The latest official figures on Spanish nationality, published as of June 30, 2026, confirm a trend we at ARC Legal have been observing for years: interest in acquiring Spanish nationality continues to grow steadily, while the Spanish Administration is maintaining a remarkably high pace in processing applications, despite still facing a substantial backlog of pending cases.
During the first half of 2026 alone, more than 144,000 new nationality applications were submitted and nearly 151,000 cases were resolved. These figures reflect the significant effort made by the Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with Parliament to reduce the accumulated workload. Nevertheless, the continuous influx of new applications keeps considerable pressure on the system.
💡 If you would like to learn more about how to apply for Spanish nationality by residence, the current legal requirements, realistic processing times, and the most common mistakes applicants make, you can read our Spanish Nationality Guide, where we explain the entire procedure step by step with a practical approach.
Spanish Nationality Guide 2026
⏺️ Applications and decisions: processing activity remains at historic levels
The official statistics confirm that Spanish nationality by residence continues to be one of the busiest administrative procedures within Spain’s immigration and nationality system.
Between 2021 and June 30, 2026, a total of 1,205,642 applications were submitted, comfortably surpassing the one-million mark. During the first six months of 2026 alone, 144,026 new applications were filed.
The annual trend continues to show sustained growth:
- 2021: 146,986 applications
- 2022: 171,330 applications
- 2023: 199,710 applications
- 2024: 246,667 applications
- 2025: 296,923 applications
- 2026 (through June 30): 144,026 applications
If the current pace continues, 2026 is likely to become another record-breaking year for Spanish nationality applications.
At the same time, the Administration continues to process an impressive number of cases. Between 2021 and June 2026, 1,249,024 decisions were issued, including:
- 1,128,612 approvals
- 81,321 refusals
- 39,091 archived cases
In addition:
- 6,533 applications were approved following administrative appeals.
- 399 applications were granted following court judgments.
- 111 approvals resulted from the revocation of previous refusals.
These figures demonstrate that the Administration continues resolving applications at an exceptionally high rate, even faster than during the first quarter of the year.
⏺️ Pending applications fall to 251,223
One of the most significant developments compared to the March statistics is the reduction in the number of pending applications.
As of June 30, 2026, 251,223 nationality applications remained pending—approximately 30,000 fewer than at the end of the first quarter.
The breakdown by year of submission clearly shows where the current workload is concentrated:
- 143,655 applications submitted in 2026.
- 90,120 applications submitted in 2025.
- 8,970 applications submitted in 2024.
- 4,745 applications submitted in 2023.
- 1,909 applications submitted in 2022.
- 1,570 applications submitted in 2021.
Applications submitted before 2021 now represent only a very small proportion of the backlog.
Although this reduction is encouraging, most outstanding cases continue to relate to applications submitted during 2025 and 2026.
💡 At ARC Legal, we always explain to our clients that actual processing times depend on several factors, including the quality of the initial application, the complexity of the individual case, and the Administration’s workload at any given time.
⏺️ Latin America continues to account for the largest number of successful applications
The latest statistics by country of origin show very little change compared to the previous quarter and once again confirm the strong presence of applicants from Latin America among those obtaining Spanish nationality.
The countries with the highest number of approved applications are:
- Mexico: 23,875 approvals
- Colombia: 18,594 approvals
- Venezuela: 9,239 approvals
- Argentina: 5,224 approvals
- Israel: 3,954 approvals
- United States: 2,366 approvals
- Panama: 2,074 approvals
- Ecuador: 1,441 approvals
- Brazil: 1,115 approvals
- Türkiye: 1,034 approvals
These figures continue to reflect Spain’s longstanding historical, cultural, and legal ties with Latin American countries, while also highlighting growing interest from nationals of many other countries with family, economic, or professional connections to Spain.
⏺️ Nationality by Royal Decree remains an Exceptional Route
Spanish nationality by Carta de Naturaleza, regulated under Article 21 of the Spanish Civil Code, continues to be an exceptional and highly restrictive route.
By June 30, 2026:
- 5,323 applications had been submitted.
- Only 236 applications had been approved.
Breaking the figures down:
- 2025 recorded the highest number of applications, with 1,746 cases.
- During the first half of 2026, 724 new applications had already been submitted.
Regarding approvals:
- 35 approvals were granted during 2025.
- Only 2 approvals had been granted during the first half of 2026.
The report also notes that an additional 171 nationality grants were issued during 2025 under Article 33 of Spain’s Democratic Memory Act (Law 20/2022).
In practice, this remains an extraordinary legal route reserved for highly exceptional circumstances and subject to the Government’s discretionary decision.
⏺️ Sephardic Nationality applications under Law 12/2015 near completion
The figures relating to Spanish nationality for Sephardic descendants continue to show that this procedure is approaching its final stages.
The cumulative official figures show:
- 153,774 applications received by the General Council of Notaries.
- 89,094 applications received by the Directorate-General for Legal Security and Public Faith.
- 81,225 resolved cases.
- 73,019 approvals.
- 7,345 refusals.
- 861 archived cases.
Additionally:
- 1,314 approvals resulted from administrative appeals.
- 164 approvals followed court judgments.
- 3 approvals resulted from the revocation of previous refusals.
Currently, 7,869 applications remain pending.
These figures indicate that this procedure is now in its final phase, although a limited number of applications and judicial proceedings are still ongoing.
⏺️ What do these figures mean for future applicants?
The statistics for the first half of 2026 send a cautiously optimistic message. Although applications continue to increase, the Administration has significantly improved its processing capacity, allowing the overall backlog to fall compared to the previous quarter.
However, submitting a complete and well-prepared application from the outset remains essential. Avoiding requests for additional documentation and procedural delays can make a significant difference to overall processing times.
At ARC Legal, we carefully assess every case before submission, thoroughly review all supporting documentation, and assist our clients throughout the entire process until Spanish nationality is successfully granted.
⏺️ Thinking about applying for Spanish Nationality? Key considerations
Every day, ARC Legal assists individuals at different stages of the Spanish nationality process. We understand that obtaining Spanish nationality is far more than an administrative procedure—it is often a life-changing milestone with important personal and professional consequences.
Before submitting your application, we recommend:
- Preparing a complete and well-structured application from the very beginning.
- Carefully reviewing criminal record certificates, municipal registration history, absences from Spain, and continuity of legal residence.
- Ensuring that all required documentation is properly legalized and translated where necessary.
- Assessing the viability of administrative or judicial appeals in cases of refusal or excessive delays.
Specialized legal advice can make a substantial difference—not only by reducing delays but also by preventing avoidable mistakes that may ultimately result in a refusal.
If you are considering applying for Spanish nationality by residence or already have a pending application, ARC Legal can assess your individual circumstances and guide you throughout every stage of the process.
⏺️ How ARC Legal can help
If you require legal advice regarding Spanish nationality or immigration matters—whether you are starting a new application or need assistance with an ongoing case—ARC Legal provides comprehensive, tailored legal support throughout the entire process.
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¿Prefieres leer este artículo en español 🇪🇸? Aquí tienes el enlace: Nacionalidad española por residencia: radiografía oficial del procedimiento a junio de 2026
The information contained in this article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Spanish immigration and nationality regulations are subject to continuous legislative and administrative developments. While ARC Legal makes every effort to ensure that the information published is accurate and up to date, we strongly recommend obtaining professional legal advice before making decisions or commencing any immigration or nationality procedure. If you require personalized advice, please do not hesitate to contact our team.