Spain's New migration policy

Spain, as one of the most attractive countries in Europe, continues to attract migrants from all over the world. This is due to its mild climate, rich culture, high living standards and many employment opportunities. But in 2024, the government decided to take decisive steps to improve migration policy in order to make it more flexible and adapted to modern realities.

Let's take a closer look at exactly what changes have been made to Spanish migration legislation and how they will affect the lives of migrants, as well as the economy of the country as a whole.

Major changes in migration policy

Spain has introduced a new migration reform, which is designed to simplify the process of obtaining visas and statuses for migrants. Here are the main changes:

1. Deadlines for issuing visas. Initial decisions on visas of all categories will now be issued for one year, and extensions for four. This will greatly simplify the change of residence status.
2.  Reduction of stay time. The required period of residence for obtaining a residence permit (residence permit) has been reduced from three to two years.
3. New channels of legalization. Five new channels of settlement legalization (arraigo) have been introduced. The innovation includes the possibility of re-legalization for those who had a residence permit in the last two years, but did not extend it.
4. Work visa. The term of the job search visa has been increased from three to one year.
5. New opportunities for students. A student visa will be issued for the entire period of study. Students will be able to work up to 30 hours a week, and after completing their studies, they will be able to quickly obtain a work permit.

The impact of the reform on the migration climate

According to statistics, in 2023 Spain became home to 6.3 million foreigners, which is about 13% of the total population of the country (48.1 million). Mostly, migrants seek to Spain for economic reasons. In 2022, 510 thousand foreign residents indicated employment as the main reason for migration to the country. Among all the ways to obtain a residence permit, the Digital Nomad Visa program has gained particular popularity.

Similar reforms have taken place in the past. For example, in 2012, Spain adopted a reform that simplifies obtaining a residence permit for highly qualified specialists. This allowed the country to attract talented workers in the context of the economic crisis.

Experts note that the new reform is aimed at overcoming the difficulties associated with filling vacancies in the country. Spain is facing a labor shortage in certain sectors, such as construction. Experts assure that simplification of migration procedures can help solve this problem.