The Spanish government has approved a new immigration regulation that improves the integration of migrants in 3 key areas: work, education and family. The main goal is to adapt foreigners and meet the needs of the local labor market. Find out what changes expats in Spain can expect in 2025

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The Spanish Council of Ministers has approved a major reform of migration legislation, the main objective of which is to facilitate the process of legalization and employment for hundreds of thousands of foreigners already in the country. These changes will affect students, family members of Spanish citizens and foreign students. It is expected that the updated legislation will come into force in May 2025.

What will change in Spanish migration legislation in May 2025?

- Visa legislation

1. The job search visa will now be valid for a year instead of three months, reducing the risk of losing legal status.

2. The procedure for changing from one residence status to another has been simplified, in particular, it will no longer be necessary to leave the country to obtain the right to long-term residence after the previous temporary residence status.

3. The new text creates a specific name for visas, clarifying the scheme, requirements and procedures. All initial visa permits will be valid for 1 year, with extensions for 4.

4. The minimum period of stay in Spain to apply for a residence permit has been reduced from three to two years. In addition, the requirements have become more flexible, and those who have a permit will be able to work both as employees and as self-employed from the very beginning.

- Labor legislation

1. The “social” and “labor” statuses have been merged into a new “social-labor” (arraigo sociolaboral).

2. Instead of a single employment contract, it is now possible to grant several short-term contracts, for example for seasonal work.

3. The number of working hours allowed has been reduced from 30 to 20 per week.

4. Most of the permits introduced in the new reform allow individuals to start working immediately, without the need to directly request an initial work permit as an employee.

5. For seasonal activities, a special residence and work permit has been created, facilitating both individual and collective hiring.

6. In addition, the protection of workers' rights is improved, as they must have specific and written information (in a language they understand) about working conditions, accommodation and other costs.

For a safe move to any country in the world, obtaining citizenship and employment, use the advice of an international lawyer. We help solve complex and simple issues for your comfort and safety in any corner of the world.

- Family reunification

Spanish citizens can invite first-degree relatives (partners, children under 26, parents or siblings), who will be able to enter the country already with a work permit. To do this, it is necessary to confirm the financial support of the relative for the last six months and to prove sufficient income. The minimum income threshold is 1,050 euros for two, but it is recommended to have between 1,200 and 1,500 euros per month. In addition, the possibility of submitting applications from Spain has been introduced, which will reduce bureaucratic obstacles.

- Students

Foreign students studying at vocational or higher education institutions will be able to work up to 30 hours a week. The job does not have to be related to their major.

The requirements and obligations of educational centers have been strengthened, giving students greater protection of their rights.

- "Second chance" for restoring legal status

This mechanism will allow migrants who previously had a residence permit to restore it if it was lost for administrative reasons, such as missing the deadline for submitting documents, staying abroad or making an error in processing. Importantly, this does not apply to cases related to violations of public order, security or health. This mechanism, according to the government, will help people get out of the "gray zone" of illegality.

- Temporary permits for those who have refused asylum

Migrants whose asylum applications have been rejected, but who were residing in Spain at the time the reform came into force, will be able to obtain a temporary work and residence permit.

When will the new rules come into effect?

The changes were published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) on November 20, 2024, and will come into force six months later, in May 2025. The first work permits under the new procedure will be issued in the summer of 2025.

It is predicted that the innovations will allow up to 300 thousand migrants to be legalized annually for three years. This is especially important for the Spanish economy, where migrants make up more than 13% of those registered in the social security system.

Let us remind you! A new law came into effect in Spain on December 2, 2024, requiring tourists to share personal information when checking into a hotel or renting a car in Spain. The main goal of this measure is to increase the level of security in the country, but the new rules have sparked some debate. We have already told you what personal information tourists in Spain will now have to provide and how this will affect privacy.

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