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Spain

At the end of 2023, Spain had registered around 163,200 new asylum applications. As in previous years, the top nationalities were asylum-seekers from Latin American countries such as Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Honduras and Cuba, although it also registered applications from Moroccan and Sengalese persons. Additionally over 194,900 temporary protection requests were lodged before the Spanish authorities since 2022 from people fleeing the war in Ukraine.

Around 57,500 arrivals were registered by sea and land (Ceuta and Melilla) through the Western Mediterranean route and the North/West Africa Atlantic route towards the Canary Islands, 70% of them to the Canaries shores. More than 1,400 persons lost their lives in the attempt.

UNHCR has been present in Spain since late 1960 and has a role in the asylum procedure. UNHCR has a Central Office in Madrid and field presence in main sea & land entry points such as Melilla, Málaga, Algeciras (covering Ceuta) and the Canary Islands. UNHCR teams in the field support the Spanish authorities in identifying persons in need of international protection, providing training and advice on asylum and refugee matters.

Spain has been a signatory of the 1951 Geneva Convention and its Protocol since 1978 and counts on national asylum legislation (law 12/2009). Spain acceded to the UN Statelessness Conventions in 1997 and 2018 and established a statelessness determination procedure in 2001.

Additional information

For information about our work in Spain:

Help

Are you a refugee or asylum-seeker in Spain? Find information about your rights and available services on our HELP site.

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Spain website

Visit the UNHCR Spain website for more information on our work in the area and the latest local news and stories

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Legislation and guidance

For legislation, case law and UNHCR policy relating to claims for international protection, visit Refworld.

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Office contact details

UNHCR Head of National Office, Czech Republic

Street and mailing address:
Václavské náměstí 1282/51, 110 00 Praha 1, Czech Republic

Phone:
+420 776 437 775

Email:
czepr@unhcr.org

Time zone:
GMT +1

Working hours

  • Monday: 8:30 – 17:00
  • Tuesday: 8:30 – 17:00
  • Wednesday: 8:30 – 17:00
  • Thursday: 8:30 – 17:00
  • Friday: 8:30 – 17:00
  • Saturday: closed
  • Sunday: closed

Public holidays

  • 7 April 2023, Good Friday
  • 10 April 2023, Easter Monday
  • 21 April 2023, Eid al-Fitr
  • 1 May 2023, Labour Day
  • 8 May 2023, Victory Day
  • 29 June 2023, Eid al-Adha
  • 5 July 2023, Saints Cyril and Methodius Day
  • 6 July 2023, Jan Hus Day
  • 25 December 2023, First Christmas Day
  • 26 December 2023, Second Christmas Day

Office contact details

The UNHCR Representative in Spain

UNHCR will be moving to a new office in Madrid. From July 15, 2024, face-to-face services are temporarily suspended. During this time, you can contact us via:

The return to face-to-face service will be announced through our websites and social media:

Thank you very much for your understanding and collaboration during this process.

Office contact details

The UNHCR Representative in Spain

Street Address:
Avda. General Perón, 32 ¿ 2nd floor, 28020 Madrid, SPAIN, Spain
Telephone:
Facsimile:
+34 91 555 18 45
Time Zone:
GMT + 1
Working Hours
Monday: 09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday: 09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday: 09:00 - 17:00
Thursday: 09:00 - 17:00
Friday: 09:00 - 17:00
Saturday: closed
Sunday: closed
Public Holidays:
06 January 2022, Epiphany
14 April 2022, Maundy Thursday
15 April 2022, Good Friday
02 May 2022, Eid Al-Fitr
11 July 2022, Eid Al-Adha (observed)
12 October 2022, National Day of Spain
01 November 2022, All Saints Day
06 December 2022, Constitution of Spain Day
08 December 2022, The Immaculate Conception
26 December 2022, Second Day of Christmas