Moroccans rank third among recipients of first EU residence permits

Monday 14 September 2026 - 16:21

By: Azzat Manal

Moroccans rank third among recipients of first EU residence permits

Moroccan citizens were among the largest groups receiving first residence permits from European Union countries in 2025, ranking third by nationality, according to data from Eurostat.

EU member states issued more than 202,000 first residence permits to Moroccan nationals during the year. Only Ukrainian and Indian citizens received more, with approximately 335,000 and 227,000 permits respectively.

Across all non-EU nationalities, member states granted around 3.9 million first residence permits in 2025, representing an increase of more than 10% compared with the previous year. The figures reflect new residence permits issued during the year rather than the total number of foreign nationals already living in the EU.

Employment remained the main reason for obtaining a first residence permit, accounting for roughly one-third of all permits issued. Family reunification, education and international protection were among the other major categories.

Work-related permits increased by 16.1% compared with 2024, highlighting continued demand for foreign workers across several European economies. Permits granted for family-related reasons also rose significantly, increasing by 14.1%. By contrast, permits linked to international protection declined by about 9%.

Spain was the largest issuer of first residence permits in the EU, granting more than 635,000 permits, equivalent to approximately 16.5% of the bloc's total. Germany, Poland, Italy and France followed Spain in the ranking. Together, these five countries accounted for 65.2% of all first residence permits issued across the European Union.

For Moroccan nationals, Spain and France remain particularly important destinations. Their popularity is linked not only to geographical proximity but also to longstanding family, cultural, economic and linguistic connections between Morocco and the two European countries.

Migration patterns differ considerably depending on nationality. Ukrainians and Belarusians, for example, were particularly likely to receive permits in Poland, while applicants from several Latin American countries tended to favor Spain. Portuguese-speaking Brazilians were also strongly represented among residence permit recipients in Portugal.

The data also show significant differences between EU countries in the evolution of residence permits. Portugal recorded the strongest increase, with the number of first permits rising by more than 154% compared with the previous year. Romania followed with growth of around 30%, while Italy recorded an increase of approximately 25%.

Not all EU countries experienced growth. Croatia registered a decline of more than 43% in first residence permits, while Greece recorded a decrease of more than 20% and Austria saw permits fall by around 15%.

The reasons for migration also vary across member states. Poland, Portugal and Germany were among the leading destinations for people receiving permits primarily for employment. Meanwhile, family-related permits represented more than 40% of all first permits issued in countries such as Luxembourg, Sweden, Finland and Belgium.

For Morocco, the Eurostat figures underline the country's strong migration links with the European Union. Thousands of Moroccan nationals continue to move to Europe for employment, education, family reunification and other legal residence pathways each year.

The figures also illustrate the changing structure of migration to Europe, where labor shortages, family networks and historical ties continue to influence the choice of destination. While the nationality ranking does not measure the total Moroccan population residing in the EU, it provides an important snapshot of new legal migration flows during 2025.