legal and social conditions for asylum seekers and refugees in ...

longer compatible with the new Aliens Act and will therefore have to be modified. Currently, a
foreigner who wishes to be reunified with his/her relatives must have a renewed residence permit,
which means that he/she must have stayed legally in Spain for at least 15 months, usually up to
18-24 months. In addition, he/she must produce evidence of sufficient housing and of a regular
income which would cover the needs of the person(s) coming to Spain.
Statistics (Source: OAR and UNHCR Branch Office in Spain)
Number of asylum seekers
No. of asylum seekers*
1995 5,678
1996 4,730
1997 4,975
1998 6,764
1999 8,410
* this figures includes all asylum seekers, i.e. border and in-country applicants and those applying
from abroad, as well as persons coming under family reunification provisions (Section 10 of the
Asylum Act).
Number of Convention statuses granted in Spain
No. of Convention statuses*
1995 464
1996 244
1997 161
1998 238
1999 not available
* figures include statuses granted to persons coming to Spain under family reunification
provisions.
Number of asylum seekers allowed to remain in Spain on humanitarian grounds
No. of persons
1995 not available
1996 193
1997 218
1998 762
1999 not available
Main national groups to seek asylum in 1999
Country No. of asylum seekers %
Algeria 1,342 16.0
Romania 1,033 12.3
Armenia 886 10.5
Sierra Leone 803 9.6
Colombia 601 7.2
Ukraine 348 4.1
Russia 335 4.0
266
Spain