Marrakech – Moroccan nationals received 188,400 first residence permits in EU countries during 2024, making them the third largest group of documented non-EU citizens in their respective host countries across the EU. This places Morocco behind Ukraine (295,600) and India (192,400) in the ranking, according to data published today by Eurostat.
The EU statistical office reported that a total of 3.5 million first residence permits were issued to non-EU citizens in 2024, marking an 8.3% decrease (-315,700) compared to the record high in 2023.
Family reunification was the predominant reason for Moroccans obtaining residence permits, accounting for 46.6% of all permits issued to Moroccan nationals. Spain emerged as the primary destination for Moroccan citizens, issuing 49.3% of all permits granted to Moroccans in the EU during 2024.
Employment remained the main reason for issuing first residence permits across the EU in 2024, representing 31.9% (1.1 million) of all permits. However, this category saw the largest decline compared to 2023, dropping by 12.2% (-155,500).
Family-related reasons accounted for 27.1% (950,600) of total permits, reflecting a 6.5% decrease (-65,800) from the previous year. Other reasons, including international protection, made up 25.3% (886,300) of permits, falling by 10% (-98,900) compared to 2023.
Education was the only category showing growth, with a slight 0.8% increase (+4,500), representing 15.7% (549,400) of all first residence permits issued in 2024.
Among the top citizenships receiving permits, Ukrainian and Belarusian citizens primarily obtained them for employment reasons (72.5% and 55.2% respectively).
Afghanistan and Syria nationals predominantly received permits for other reasons, including international protection (85.4% and 79% respectively).
Read also: Refusal Rate at 20% as Moroccans Received 606,000 Schengen Visas in 2024
The Eurostat data reveals how geographical proximity, historical and linguistic links, and established migrant networks shape the destinations chosen by non-EU citizens.
For example, a high number of Moroccans sought residence in Spain and France, while Ukrainian and Belarusian citizens primarily went to Poland.
Yet the report deliberately overlooks the enduring weight of colonial history as a decisive factor shaping these migratory patterns, erasing an essential dimension that continues to tie former colonies to their ex-metropoles.
Spain issued the highest number of first residence permits in 2024 (561,640), followed by Germany (544,987), Poland (488,846), Italy (346,411), and France (342,208). These five countries accounted for 65.1% of all first residence permits issued in the EU.
Compared to 2023, several countries registered significant changes in permit numbers. Estonia saw the largest relative decrease (-42.5%), followed by Malta (-29.8%) and Poland (-23.9%). In contrast, Greece recorded the highest increase (+24.0%), with Cyprus following at +16.1%.
The statistics also show gender differences in permit reasons. Employment-related permits were more frequently issued to males (21.7% of total) than females (9.9%), while family-related reasons were more common for females (16.0%) than males (11.2%).
The data does not include persons granted temporary protection due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which is tracked in a separate collection.
