Moroccans Lead as Spain Grants Citizenship to Over 180,000 Foreigners in 2022

More than 50,000 Moroccan nationals obtained Spanish nationality in 2022, far ahead of residents of Colombian (11,125), Ecuadorian (10,845), Bolivian (9,016), Dominican (8,100), Venezuelan (8,036), Pakistani (6,400), Honduran (5,778), Peruvian (5,152) and Cuban (4,780) origin.

The majority of applicants for Spanish nationality reside in Catalonia and Madrid (50%). By age group, those under 10 and 30-39 year olds have benefited the most from the granting of nationality, reports La Razón. During the first half of 2023, grants of Spanish nationality by residence increased to reach 164,064, exceeding the figures for the year 2022 (157,415), which represents an increase of 96.61%.

According to Spanish legislation, nationality can be acquired by residence if the applicant has resided continuously in the country for more than ten years. For refugees, five years are sufficient and two years for nationals of Ibero-American countries and other countries historically close to Spain. Spanish nationality can also be obtained by naturalization, or if one of the applicant’s parents is Spanish or born in Spain.