Moroccan Migration Surge: Third Largest Recipient of EU Residence Permits

According to the Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat), the European Union issued 3.5 million first residence permits to third-country nationals last year, a decrease of 8.3% (-315,700) compared to 2023, which had recorded the highest level to date. Moroccans received 188,400 of them, placing them in third position in the top 10 of the main nationalities benefiting from first residence permits in the European Union. Morocco is preceded by Ukraine (295,600) and India (192,400). The kingdom is followed by Syria (185,913), Belarus (174,790), China (114,526) and Turkey (111,515).

For Moroccans, the main reason for issuance remains family reunification: 46.6% of all permits issued to Moroccans. Spain is the main destination, as it granted 49.3% of these permits. The Iberian Peninsula is also the country that issued the largest number of residence permits last year. It is followed by Germany, Poland, Italy and France. Together they account for around 65.1% of the total permits. On the other hand, some countries have experienced a sharp drop in the number of permits, such as Estonia, Malta and Poland. Greece and Cyprus have recorded a strong increase.