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Saudi Arabia → Spain

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
Saudi Arabia
To
Spain
Inflow 2023—OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
CR<ESSAUDI<ARABIA<SPAIN<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
SA6<ES2<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<6

Migration from Saudi Arabia to Spain

Inflows of nationals of Saudi Arabia recorded by Spain; stock of nationals of Saudi Arabia living there; and acquisitions of Spain's nationality (OECD).

Inflows by year

13126120002003200620092012201520182019
131261200020042008201220162019
Data table
200015
20018
200235
200345
200457
2005130
2006109
200785
200866
200950
2010110
2011159
2012143
2013228
2014204
2015162
2016214
2017133
2018228
2019261
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2023——4
2022——3
2021——5
2020—9426
2019261829—
20182287112
20171337503
20162136844
20151626143
20142045344
20132274182
20121423812
2011159292—
2010110251—
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Spain's consulates in Saudi Arabia

Short-stay Schengen (C) visa applications at Spain's consulates located in Saudi Arabia.

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
202462,95559,9511,7132.7%
202352,62449,6361,2422.4%
202243,26940,7331,1052.6%
202125,89624,4424621.8%
20205,1714,4142544.9%
201945,21441,8819082.0%
201840,18136,0469662.4%
201727,91125,3575902.1%
201635,39632,5743741.1%
201528,54026,3071800.6%
201418,60516,1171030.6%
201318,43514,6611781.0%
201215,81813,4511230.8%
201113,00211,9822542.0%
201010,8489,816490.5%
20099,6768,5254835.0%

Applications by year

31k63k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
31k63k200920122015201820212024
Data table
20099,676
201010,848
201113,002
201215,818
201318,435
201418,605
201528,540
201635,396
201727,911
201840,181
201945,214
20205,171
202125,896
202243,269
202352,624
202462,955
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Spain

First residence permits issued by Spain to citizens of Saudi Arabia (Eurostat).

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Education80
  2. Other reasons65
  3. Family60
  4. Work18
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
2025223000
202446703323
202330004287
202285503209
20211,32005195
202019706176
201936210113
20183840299
20173590376
20163190460
2015175030
2014290040
20134311239
2012299500
2011195000
2010166000
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)14
  2. Other paid activities4
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
1,061
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
92
Changed status into work, 2025
2
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
1
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Embassy and consulates

Missions of Spain in Saudi Arabia, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyRiyadhexteriores.gob.es
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Spain, 2023; Saudi Arabia ranks 96.

Inflows to Spain, 2023
  1. Colombia170,722
  2. Morocco123,468
  3. Venezuela88,361
  4. Peru66,933
  5. Italy48,089
  6. Romania45,663
  7. Argentina35,041
  8. Ukraine34,385
  9. Honduras32,357
  10. Paraguay24,324
  11. Ecuador21,762
  12. Russia21,617
Other destinations for people from Saudi Arabia, 2023
  1. Türkiye1,048
  2. Japan552
  3. Australia550
  4. United States520
  5. Germany465
  6. South Korea428
  7. Canada235
  8. Switzerland230
  9. Netherlands125
  10. France118
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more