How many Nigerians moved to Spain in 2025?
Spain issued 2,129 first residence permits to Nigerian citizens in 2025, the main official indicator of how many moved there (Eurostat, data updated on 22 October 2026). That is 574 fewer than in 2024 (2,703), a change of −21.2%. By reason: family 1,216 (57.1%), work 423 (19.9%), education 311 (14.6%), other reasons 179 (8.4%). 1,932 of them (90.7%) were valid for 12 months or more.
Spain · Nigerian citizens · 2025: 2,129 first residence permits
Spain issued 6.6% of all first permits given to Nigerian citizens in the EU in 2025 (32,039). Every EU country.
Source: Eurostat, First permits by reason, length of validity and citizenship (migr_resfirst), data updated on 22 October 2026, downloaded on 28 October 2026 (definitions). First residence permits, persons. Re-use: Eurostat copyright notice (free re-use with acknowledgement, CC BY 4.0).
What this number is, and what it is not
- It is the number of Nigerian citizens who received a residence permit in Spain for the first time in 2025: a permit valid for at least 3 months, for family, education, work or other reasons. A permit also counts as "first" when the person had none for the same reason in the 6 months before.
- It is not a count of moves: some people who receive a permit never move, or leave soon after.
- It leaves out Nigerians who also hold an EU passport (the statistics cover non-EU citizens only), stays shorter than 3 months and renewed permits.
- It is not the number of Nigerians living in Spain, which is much larger.
Why Nigerians moved to Spain in 2025: permits by reason
| Reason | 2025 | Share | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family | 1,216 | 57.1% | 1,393 | −12.7% |
| Education | 311 | 14.6% | 600 | −48.2% |
| Work | 423 | 19.9% | 548 | −22.8% |
| Other | 179 | 8.4% | 162 | +10.5% |
| All reasons | 2,129 | 100% | 2,703 | −21.2% |
Source: Eurostat, First permits by reason, length of validity and citizenship (migr_resfirst), data updated on 22 October 2026, downloaded on 28 October 2026 (definitions). First residence permits, persons. Re-use: Eurostat copyright notice (free re-use with acknowledgement, CC BY 4.0).
Family: joining or accompanying a family member. Education: study and other education. Work: paid employment (Eurostat's "employment reasons", also called remunerated activities), for example EU Blue Cards, other skilled work and seasonal work. Other: international protection and humanitarian status, permits for residence only, and other or unspecified reasons.
Nigerians moving to Spain, year by year (2019–2025)
| Year | All reasons | Family | Education | Work | Other | Valid 12+ months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1,889 | 1,201 | 87 | 400 | 201 | 1,647 |
| 2020 | 1,912 | 999 | 87 | 480 | 346 | 1,715 |
| 2021 | 2,504 | 1,269 | 234 | 419 | 582 | 2,227 |
| 2022 | 2,564 | 1,329 | 194 | 754 | 287 | 2,284 |
| 2023 | 2,992b | 1,716 | 419b | 631 | 226 | 2,549b |
| 2024 | 2,703 | 1,393 | 600 | 548 | 162 | 2,328 |
| 2025 | 2,129 | 1,216 | 311 | 423 | 179 | 1,932 |
Source: Eurostat, First permits by reason, length of validity and citizenship (migr_resfirst), data updated on 22 October 2026, downloaded on 28 October 2026 (definitions). First residence permits, persons. Eurostat revises past years when countries correct their data. Re-use: Eurostat copyright notice (free re-use with acknowledgement, CC BY 4.0).
Eurostat marks a break in the time series in 2023 (b): figures before and after are not fully comparable.
Questions people ask
How many Nigerians moved to Spain in 2025?
2,129 Nigerian citizens received a first residence permit in Spain in 2025 (Eurostat). That is 574 fewer than in 2024 (2,703), a change of −21.2%.
How many Nigerians moved to Spain in 2024?
2,703 Nigerian citizens received a first residence permit in Spain in 2024.
Why do Nigerians move to Spain?
The most common reason in 2025 was family (1,216 permits). By reason: family 1,216 (57.1%), work 423 (19.9%), education 311 (14.6%), other reasons 179 (8.4%).
How many Nigerians moved to Europe in 2025?
The 27 EU countries issued 32,039 first residence permits to Nigerian citizens in 2025; Spain issued 6.6% of them. All countries.
Is this the number of Nigerians living in Spain?
No. It counts only new permits issued in 2025. People who have lived there for years, renewed their permits or have an EU passport are not included.
Visas and statistics for Spain on this site
- Spain visa income requirements 2026
- Spain digital nomad visa: income requirement
- Spain non-lucrative visa: income requirement
- Spain Schengen visa rejection rate 2025
- Visa refusal rates for Nigeria: Schengen, UK and more
Where else Nigerians moved in 2025
Who else moved to Spain in 2025
How many Nigerians moved to Europe in 2025 · Who moved where: all nationalities · Visa income calculator