(SPAIN) Spain will roll out one of Europe’s most far‑reaching immigration reforms on May 20, 2025, betting that easier legal paths for migrants, faster family reunification, and the regularization of hundreds of thousands of undocumented people will support its economy and aging society rather than strain it.
Overview of the reform and purpose
The reform, set out in Royal Decree 1155/2024, reshapes how non‑EU nationals can live and work in Spain, with a clear focus on Latin Americans, who already form the country’s largest immigrant group. Officials say the rules are designed to:
- match labor shortages
- tackle rural depopulation
- offer stable status to long‑term residents who are currently working in the shadows of the economy
Under the new regulation, initial work permits will run for one year, with the option to renew them for up to four years. This replaces a patchwork of shorter, more rigid permits that often pushed workers back into irregular status.
The change is intended to give employers more certainty when hiring foreign staff and give migrants a clearer, longer‑term horizon in Spain.
Family reunification and new residence options
One of the most sensitive changes concerns family reunification, a key issue for many immigrant communities. The reform:
- Simplifies the rules that allow foreigners with legal residency to bring close relatives to Spain.
- Creates new residence options for certain family members and carers of Spanish citizens.
Authorities say the aim is to reduce long separations and stop pushing people toward irregular routes when formal channels are slow or blocked.
If you’re applying under the regularization routes, organize proof of long residence, previous work, and social security contributions now to strengthen your case and reduce delays later.
Pathways to legal status (regularization)
The government is introducing new paths to legal status for those already in the country without papers:
- A category known as “second‑chance arraigo” will allow some people who previously held a residence permit, worked, and paid into Spain’s social security system — but then fell out of legal status — to recover a residence authorization.
- In many cases, the required time living in Spain to apply for regularization will fall from three years to two, potentially affecting large numbers of undocumented workers.
Madrid plans to legalize around 900,000 undocumented immigrants over three years, bringing them into the formal labor market and tax system.
Key numbers and demographic context
- 4.25 million Latin American nationals were living in Spain at the start of 2024, making them the largest single immigrant bloc (official figures cited by Spanish officials).
- Spain’s population stands at 49.1 million in 2025.
- Immigrants make up about 15.9% of Spain’s total population.
- Government claims newcomers contributed more than 20% of growth in GDP per capita between 2022 and 2024.
These figures underpin policymakers’ view of a “natural bridge” between Spain and Latin America, built on shared language, culture, and family ties.
Citizenship and comparative advantage
Spain already offers Latin Americans a powerful incentive: they can usually apply for citizenship after just two years of legal residence, compared with ten years for most other non‑EU nationals. That rule predates the current reform and makes Spain a relatively fast track to a Spanish passport and EU citizenship.
Initial work permits last one year and can be renewed up to four years; consider pairing this with a job-seeker visa plan to maximize your time while seeking a suitable match.
Advocates often contrast this with stricter naturalization rules in other destinations, including the 🇺🇸 United States, arguing Spain’s mix of shorter routes to citizenship, expanded work permits, and friendlier family reunification rules is making the country a “beacon” for migrants seeking stability and a European future.
Work permits, job‑seeker visas and labor market effects
Key changes for employment and job search:
- Initial work permits: 1 year, renewable up to 4 years.
- Job‑seeker visas extended to 1 year, giving qualified workers more time to find employment that matches Spain’s needs.
- The reforms allow more people to work legally while their immigration applications are processed, reducing waiting‑in‑limbo periods.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the regularization drive is one of the most ambitious in the European Union and could reshape labor markets in sectors that currently rely heavily on off‑the‑books work (agriculture, care work, construction, services).
Social and political framing
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has tied the new policy to a broader vision, saying Spain has chosen to be “an open and prosperous country” rather than a closed one. He argues immigration is both a humanitarian question and a basic requirement for long‑term economic growth and the survival of many small towns.
Mainstream parties often present Latin American arrivals as part of a wider Spanish‑speaking community, stressing shared heritage and cultural links. That framing is intended to soften public debate and help defend relatively open immigration rules against far‑right criticism.
Practical guidance and responsible ministry
Officials at the Spanish Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration — which oversees much of the system — argue that clear legal paths are safer and fairer than a policy of deterrence.
The ministry’s website, Spanish Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, lays out detailed guidance on residence and work options, including the new arraigo categories that connect legal status to social and economic ties in Spain.
Regularly check the official Ministry guidance for new paths like ‘second-chance arraigo’ and any regional note changes to avoid missing eligibility shifts.
Criticisms, limitations and implementation risks
The regulation does not solve every problem. Observers and rights groups warn:
- People who cannot prove continuous residence or formal work may still fall through the cracks, especially those in informal domestic or agricultural jobs.
- Faster legal paths will matter little if regional immigration offices remain understaffed and backlogs continue, leaving applicants waiting months or even years for decisions.
These practical hurdles will determine whether the reform’s benefits reach people on the ground.
What to watch next
The scale and direction of the 2025 reform mark a clear policy choice: rather than trying to shrink immigration, Spain is reshaping its laws to manage and, in many cases, encourage it. Over the coming months, monitor:
- Implementation capacity at consulates, police stations, and regional immigration offices.
- The pace of the planned regularization of ~900,000 people.
- The impact on labor markets in sectors reliant on informal employment.
- Family reunification outcomes for long‑separated families.
For millions of Latin Americans already in the country, and for those considering the trip, the coming months will show whether Spain’s promise of openness can match the reality across administrative offices and local services.
Royal Decree 1155/2024, effective May 20, 2025, simplifies work permits, strengthens family reunification, and expands regularization paths. Initial work permits last one year, renewable to four; job-seeker visas extend to one year; residency requirements for many regularizations drop from three to two years. Madrid aims to legalize about 900,000 undocumented people over three years, addressing labor shortages and rural decline. Success depends on administrative capacity and timely implementation across regional offices.
