European Union countries issued more than 202,000 first residence permits to Moroccan citizens in 2025, making them the third-largest nationality receiving such permits, according to Eurostat.
Ukrainians ranked first with 335,000 permits, followed by Indians with 227,000. Across all nationalities outside the bloc, EU countries issued about 3.9 million first residence permits, an increase of more than 10% from the previous year.
Work accounted for roughly one-third of permits issued across the EU, making it the leading reason for granting residence. Other categories included family reasons, education and international protection.
Employment-related permits rose 16.1% from 2024, while those issued for family reasons increased 14.1%. Permits linked to international protection fell 9%.
Spain issued the largest number, at more than 635,000, or 16.5% of the EU total. Germany, Poland, Italy and France followed. Together, the five countries accounted for 65.2% of all first residence permits issued in 2025.
Eurostat identified Spain and France as major destinations for Moroccan applicants, citing geographic proximity alongside historical and language ties as factors influencing where people seek residence.
The same patterns were visible among other nationalities. Ukrainians and Belarusians frequently applied in Poland, while Latin American applicants favored Spain and Brazilians sought residence in Portugal.
Portugal recorded the sharpest increase in permits issued, at more than 154%, followed by Romania at about 30% and Italy at 25%. Croatia recorded a decline of more than 43%, while permits fell by over 20% in Greece and 15% in Austria.
Poland, Portugal and Germany were leading destinations for people receiving residence permits for work. Family reasons accounted for more than 40% of permits issued in Luxembourg, Sweden, Finland and Belgium.
The nationality ranking covers first residence permits issued during the year, rather than the total number of foreign residents living in the EU.
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