Migrant arrivals by sea to the Balearics increased by 24% in 2025, and the state system took in 4,535 people who arrived in the region. In general terms, the State Reception System assisted 124,170 migrants in 2025 through the Directorate-General for Humanitarian Assistance and the International Protection Reception System, both of which report to the State Secretariat for Migration of the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration. It also managed the transfer of 20,489 people from the Canary Islands to the mainland.
During the past year, the State Reception System had 56,053 places, distributed between the International Protection Reception System (SAPI), with 33,936 places, and the Humanitarian Assistance Programme (PAH), with 22,117 places. In 2023 and 2024, the reception networks managed a migration situation marked by an increase in arrivals to the Canary Islands. In 2025, this trend moderated and the total number of migrants arriving in Spain fell by 42.6% compared to 2024, while arrivals by sea to the Canary Islands fell by 62% to 29,055 people.
In contrast, arrivals in the Balearics increased by 24%, prompting the declaration of a migration emergency in the archipelago to ensure the provision of essential services and strengthen reception capacity. In response to these changes in migration flows, the Ministry strengthened the operational capacity of the State Reception System throughout the year, enabling the transfer of 20,489 people from the Canary Islands to the mainland and the reception of 4,535 people arriving in the Balearics.
The Secretary of State for Migration, Pilar Cancela, stressed that migrants ‘have the right to a dignified life and an opportunity to integrate into a host society’ and underlined the importance of migration policies ‘from a human rights perspective’. ‘Migration is an opportunity for those who arrive and for the host country,’ she added.
In 2025, the International Protection Reception System assisted 69,573 people, 6.5% more than in 2024. All of them received an individualised itinerary aimed at promoting their autonomy and social and labour integration. 63.4% of those assisted were men. By nationality, the main countries of origin were Venezuela, Ukraine, Mali, Senegal, Colombia and Peru.
Over the last decade, the SAPI has experienced significant growth, from 1,920 places in 2015 to 33,936 places in 2025, in line with the increase in applications for international protection. Likewise, the average occupancy rate reached 82% of places in the initial assessment and referral phase, and 84.6% in the reception phase. The average stay in the system was 283 days.
The International Protection Reception System provides for the basic needs of applicants and beneficiaries of international and temporary protection who lack financial resources, accompanying them in their process of acquiring autonomy and integrating into Spanish society. On the other hand, in 2025, the Humanitarian Assistance Programme assisted 54,597 people in vulnerable situations who had arrived in Spain by sea or across the land borders of Ceuta and Melilla. Ninety-one per cent were men.
The Ministry has pointed out that throughout 2025, the Humanitarian Assistance Programme has operated with a total capacity of 22,117 places, 81.6% of which have been occupied. The main nationalities of the people assisted were Mali, Senegal, Morocco and Guinea. The Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration participates in the process of transferring migrants who have arrived in Spain, once they have been identified. ‘The system has centres distributed throughout the national territory, which makes it possible to guarantee an adequate reception service and reduce pressure on the areas of first arrival,’ said the department headed by Elma Saiz.
In view of the increase in arrivals in the Balearics and the geopolitical situation in the Western Mediterranean, the Ministry launched a daily and detailed monitoring of migrants entering the region via its coasts in the first quarter of the year. The aim of the measure was to anticipate possible difficulties in absorbing mass arrivals.
In September last year, the Council of Ministers approved a declaration of emergency in the Balearics in response to the increase in migrants arriving throughout 2025 and the need to strengthen humanitarian assistance for these people. The declaration included various actions such as providing the necessary facilities to ensure adequate accommodation and care, translation and interpretation services, medical care for people treated in emergency facilities, and attention to basic needs such as food, health and safety.
In 2025, the Ministry carried out five humanitarian operations to evacuate 143 injured or sick Gazan minors, along with nearly a hundred family members. In total, 234 people were taken in by the International Protection Reception System, as part of the commitment made to the World Health Organisation. These missions were made possible thanks to coordination between the Ministries of Inclusion, Health, Defence, the Interior and Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with international organisations and allied countries for the transfer from safe locations outside the conflict zone.