The Oficina de Asilo y Refugio – Asylum and Refuge Office (OAR) has published cumulative data up to 31 October 2025, offering a detailed picture of the pace of applications and decisions currently being processed in Spain’s international protection system. The figures confirm that the system continues to face significant pressure, driven by persistent regional crises and consolidated mobility patterns that have shaped recent years.
⏺️ A sustained increase: more than 121,000 applications so far this year
Between January and October, Spain received 121,990 applications for international protection, reflecting a consistently high and stable migratory flow.
The data reveal a familiar scenario, but with greater intensity:
- Venezuela remains the main country of origin, with 71,241 applications, highlighting the magnitude of the Venezuelan diaspora in Spain.
- Mali (13,121) and Colombia (12,829) follow, with Peru (3,169) and Senegal (3,116) also among the top countries of origin.
This pattern confirms the coexistence of two major migratory dynamics:
- Latin America, which continues to be the dominant region among applicants.
- The Sahel and West Africa, where conflict, insecurity, and political instability continue to push people towards Europe.
⏺️ Where are the applications submitted?
Most applications are lodged within Spanish territory (114,423). The rest are presented at:
- Border crossing points: 5,001
- Detention centres (CIE): 708
- Spanish embassies (family extensions): 1,858
⏺️ Madrid continues to lead: territorial distribution of applications
The territorial distribution reflects a clear concentration of demand in regions with high reception capacity and major urban areas that serve as entry points, residential hubs, or labour destinations for newly arrived applicants:
- Madrid: 36,208 applications
- Andalucía: 17,118
- Cataluña: 14,176
- Canary Islands: 6,589
- Basque Country: 6,141
Madrid not only leads in the number of applications but also absorbs a particularly high administrative and social workload.
⏺️ Decisions: the protection rate remains above 46%
During this period, the OAR issued a significant number of decisions. The balance between favourable outcomes, rejections, and archivals provides a clear picture of the system’s current functioning:
- Refugee status: 6,316 grants
- Subsidiary protection: 7,710
- Humanitarian reasons: 47,196
- Rejections: 57,337
- Archivals: 12,163
The data show that Spain continues to provide protection mainly through authorisations based on humanitarian grounds. This form of protection, widely applied to Venezuelan nationals and, to a lesser extent, Colombians, explains why the overall protection rate reaches 46.65%, while the strict recognition rate for asylum and subsidiary protection stands at 10.59%.
This distribution—low recognition of asylum, high reliance on humanitarian protection—has become the established structure of the Spanish protection system.
⏺️ Temporary protection: more than 3,300 decisions in October alone
Alongside the asylum system, Spain continues to issue a substantial number of decisions under the temporary protection regime, primarily linked to the war in Ukraine and exceptional circumstances affecting third-country nationals.
In October, 3,338 temporary protection decisions were issued, with the highest numbers recorded in:
- Comunidad Valenciana: 787
- Andalucia: 784
- Madrid: 701
- Cataluña: 407
These territories have highly consolidated community networks and administrative structures that facilitate processing and support.
⏺️ A key country in Europe’s protection architecture
With over 121,000 asylum applications and more than 3,300 temporary protection decisions in October alone, Spain reaffirms its role as one of the leading European countries in international and humanitarian protection. The high volume of applications and the diversity of profiles highlight the need for a reception system that is robust, stable, and capable of adapting to increasingly unpredictable spikes in demand.
Developments in the coming months will depend on the international context, regional mobility trends, and Spain’s institutional capacity to manage one of the EU’s most significant and complex protection systems.
⏺️ Need legal guidance?
At ARC Legal, we assist applicants for asylum, international protection, and temporary protection in Spain, providing specialised legal advice from the submission of the application to the final decision. Our commitment is to safeguard your rights and accompany you through every stage of the process. Contact our team for assistance.
Related publications
- Asylum applications in the European Union: trends and developments in August 2025
- Temporary Protection for Ukrainians in the EU: September 2025 Statistics
- Spain registers over 108,000 asylum applications in the first nine months of 2025
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The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and currency, immigration regulations are subject to change and interpretation by the competent authorities. For personalised and up-to-date legal guidance, we recommend consulting an immigration lawyer.