In 2025, Spain resolved a total of 160,951 international protection files, the highest number since 1992.
LIMA, Peru – According to statistics released this Friday by the Ministry of the Interior of Spain, that country authorized zero residences for humanitarian reasons for Cuban citizens last year.
Through of a statement It was learned that the Asylum and Refuge Office (OAR), dependent on the General Directorate of International Protection of the Ministry of the Interior, has resolved a total of 160,951 international protection files in 2025. This figure represents an increase of 67.2% compared to the previous year and is the highest since the creation of the office in 1992.
Although Cubans did not receive any humanitarian residency benefits from the Spanish authorities, in 2025, 144,396 applications for international protection have been formalized, according to provisional data closed as of December 31. Spain is thus the third country receiving international protection in the European Union, behind Germany and France.
In contrast, the country of origin with the most applications submitted (85,413) was Venezuela, of which some 56,259 residences were authorized for its nationals for humanitarian reasons.
Although Cuba and Venezuela They live in very similar political-social circumstances, the requests of Cuban citizens are never executed and the denials automatically become orders to leave the country, while Venezuelans receive residence and work permits.
According to the official note, Venezuela and Mali (16,004 formalized requests) have been the only countries in the top 20 whose number of applicants has increased compared to 2024. They are followed, by number of requests, by Colombia (14,524), Peru (3,511) and Senegal (3,333).
The independent media Cuban Diary He recalled that last year, 225 Cubans submitted applications for international protection in Spain. The Interministerial Asylum and Refuge Commission, the entity in charge of the process, issued 40 favorable resolutions, denied 331 and archived 1,177.
