Spanish Nationality by residence: Official figures for 2025

The Spanish Ministry of Justice has published the official statistics on Spanish nationality by residence as of 31 December 2025. These figures reflect the full closure of the year and provide an accurate snapshot of the current state of the procedure.

The data confirms two realities that we at ARC Legal observe daily in practice: a steadily growing demand for Spanish nationality and, at the same time, significant structural challenges for the Administration in handling the volume of applications within reasonable timeframes.

💡 If you would like a detailed explanation of how to apply for Spanish nationality by residence, including updated requirements, realistic processing times and the most common mistakes, you can consult our Spanish Nationality Guide 2026, where we explain the procedure step by step with a practical approach.

⏺️ Applications and Decisions in 2025: Record Highs

The year 2025 set a new record for nationality applications by residence. According to official data, a total of 295,107 new applications were submitted, the highest figure recorded to date.

For context:

In 2024, 246,663 applications were filed.
In 2023, 199,703 applications were filed.
In 2022, 171,328 applications were filed.

ARC Legal – Estadisticas Nacionalidad Española 4T2025 Descarga

This evolution confirms a sustained and structural increase in interest in acquiring Spanish nationality, particularly following the consolidation of the online application system and the growing number of long-term residents in Spain.

In terms of decisions issued during 2025, the Administration adopted 256,219 resolutions, broken down as follows:

221,284 grants of nationality.
24,910 refusals.
10,025 formal closures of proceedings.

In addition, positive outcomes were recorded through other legal channels:

477 grants following administrative appeals.
357 grants resulting from court judgments.
108 grants through the revocation of a previous refusal.

Although the number of resolutions is significant, new applications continue to exceed annual decision capacity, which explains the persistence of a substantial backlog of pending cases.

⏺️ More than 256,000 applications still pending

As of 31 December 2025, the system had 256,393 nationality by residence applications pending resolution.

The breakdown by year of submission is particularly relevant:

218,659 applications from 2025.
19,230 applications from 2024.
9,616 applications from 2023.
5,729 applications from 2022.
2,579 applications from 2021.
A residual number of applications submitted before 2020, some pending for more than a decade.

This distribution is key to understanding current waiting times. Most delays are not due to “old” files, but rather to the cumulative effect of recent applications entering an already overstretched system.

💡At ARC Legal, we always explain to our clients that processing times depend largely on the correct preparation of the application, the completeness of the documentation, and the specific complexity of each individual case.

⏺️ Nationalities with the highest number of grants in 2025

Once again, the data confirms the strong presence of applicants from Latin America, although with increasing diversity in nationalities.

The nationalities with the highest number of grants in 2025 were:

Mexico: 23,875 grants.
Colombia: 18,593 grants.
Venezuela: 9,239 grants.
Argentina: 5,224 grants.
Israel: 3,954 grants.
United States: 2,365 grants.
Panama: 2,074 grants.
Ecuador: 1,441 grants.
Brazil: 1,115 grants.
Turkey: 1,034 grants.

These figures show that Spain remains a priority destination not only for citizens of Ibero-American countries, but also for nationals of other states with family, economic or professional ties to Spain.

⏺️ Nationality by Royal Decree (Carta de Naturaleza)

Nationality by Royal Decree, regulated under Article 21 of the Spanish Civil Code, continues to be an exceptional and highly restrictive route.

In 2025:

1,493 applications for nationality by Royal Decree were submitted.
Only 35 nationalities were granted through this channel.

Since 2020, a total of 4,561 applications have been submitted, with only 248 grants, clearly illustrating the extraordinary nature of this procedure.

⏺️ Spanish Nationality for Sephardic under Law 12/2015: consolidated figures

Regarding Spanish nationality for Sephardic Jews of Spanish origin, the consolidated data as of 31 December 2025 shows:

153,774 applications received by the General Council of Notaries.
80,425 applications processed.
73,018 grants.
7,340 refusals.
1,314 grants following administrative appeals.
114 grants resulting from court rulings.
8,622 applications still pending before the Directorate-General for Legal Security and Public Faith.

This procedure is largely in its final phase, although some cases remain under administrative processing or judicial review.

⏺️ Thinking of applying for Spanish Nationality? Key points to consider

At ARC Legal, we work daily with individuals at different stages of the Spanish nationality process. We understand that this is not a simple administrative formality, but a decisive step in a person’s personal and professional life.

Before starting the procedure, some essential considerations include:

Preparing a complete and well-structured application from the outset.
Carefully reviewing criminal records, registration history, absences from Spain and continuity of residence.
Submitting all required documentation correctly, including the necessary legalisations and translations.
Assessing the strategic use of administrative or judicial remedies in cases of refusal or prolonged administrative silence.

Specialised legal advice can make a decisive difference, not only in processing times but also in avoiding errors that may lead to entirely avoidable refusals.

If you are considering applying for Spanish nationality by residence, or if you already have an application in progress, ARC Legal can help you assess your situation and support you throughout the entire process.

Spanish Nationality | Form

⏺️ Legal assistance in Spanish Nationality and immigration matters

If you need advice on Spanish nationality or immigration matters, whether to start a new application or to follow up on a pending case, ARC Legal offers comprehensive and personalised legal support.

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¿Prefieres leer este artículo en español 🇪🇸? Aquí te dejamos el enlace: Nacionalidad española 2025: récord de solicitudes y más de 256.000 expedientes pendientes

The content of this article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Spanish nationality and immigration regulations are subject to ongoing interpretative and administrative changes. While ARC Legal makes every effort to ensure that the information is accurate and up to date, we always recommend seeking advice from a qualified professional before initiating any procedure or making legal decisions. If you require personalised advice, please contact our law firm.