Spain’s immigration policy in 2025 has reached a new level following the entry into force of the Aliens Regulation (Real Decreto 1155/2024). This regulation expanded the grounds for obtaining residence through the arraigo procedure, simplified applicants’ access to the local labor market, and revised the rules for family reunification.

However, the key developments were not limited to May. In the following months, Spain’s migration policy underwent a series of transformations: from temporary humanitarian measures introduced after the floods in Valencia to an unprecedented increase in asylum applications, which for the first time placed Spain ahead of Germany in this indicator.

In this article, we will examine the main legislative changes and social trends of recent months, as well as their impact on the local economy.

Contents:

  1. Key Reforms in Immigration Law
    1. Family Reunification Program
    2. Arraigo
    3. Students and Job Seekers
    4. Digitalization
    5. Protection of Vulnerable Groups
    6. Temporary Humanitarian Measures
  2. Why Spain Focuses on Foreign Nationals
  3. Future Changes in Spanish Legislation
  4. Key Takeaways

Key Reforms in Immigration Law

The aforementioned Aliens Regulation was not adopted immediately — it was under review for about six months after being submitted to the government in November 2024. The long timeline is explained by the fact that the document fully replaced the previous version of the Reglamento de Extranjería and became the most significant update in the last 15 years.

Family Reunification Program

Previously, children could hold a dependent residence permit in Spain until the age of 21, after which they were required to apply for a separate residence status (such as a study or work permit). The new regulation has raised this age threshold to 26.

The eligible age for parents of the sponsor has also been increased from 65 to 80 years. Moreover, proving dependency has become simpler: it is now sufficient to demonstrate actual financial reliance, without strict bureaucratic requirements.

Arraigo

Arraigo is a special procedure for obtaining residence in Spain designed for foreigners already living in the country without documents. If they can prove a stable connection to Spain, they may qualify for a residence permit. Essentially, it is a legalization mechanism for those already integrated into Spanish society but lacking legal grounds for residency.

Under the new regulation, the minimum period of residence required for arraigo has been reduced from 3 years to 2. In addition, new subcategories have been introduced alongside the existing Arraigo social, Arraigo laboral, Arraigo familiar, and Arraigo para la formación:

  • Arraigo socioformativo — for those enrolled in educational programs;
  • Arraigo laboral ampliado — for workers previously in the «grey zone» of semi-legal employment;
  • Arraigo de segunda oportunidad — allowing the restoration of residence status after losing it.

Students and Job Seekers

The number of hours foreign students may legally work per week has been increased from 20 to 30 without requiring a separate permit.

The new regulation also extended the job-seeking residence authorization for graduates from 12 to 24 months. The procedure for switching from a study permit to a work permit has been simplified, making it easier for employers to hire graduates.

Digitalization

All key processes from submitting applications to uploading documents and tracking status have been moved online. A unified database has been introduced, integrated with social security and tax registries. Official processing times have been reduced to 3 months, whereas in practice, applicants previously waited 6 to 12 months.

Protection of Vulnerable Groups

The new regulation strengthened legal guarantees for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking. These categories are now granted accelerated access to residence permits, even if they do not meet general requirements for length of stay or financial capacity.

Temporary Humanitarian Measures

In February 2025, Spain faced one of the largest floods in the Valencia region, leaving tens of thousands of residents without housing or employment. A significant number of migrants were affected, prompting the Spanish government to introduce unprecedented measures:

  • granting one-year residence and work permits to up to 25,000 foreigners living in the disaster zone;
  • offering five-year renewable residence permits to severely affected families and close relatives;
  • enabling fast-track processing through municipal offices, without fees and with simplified documentation.

Why Spain Focuses on Foreign Nationals

Spain views migration as an important economic resource. Between 2022 and 2025, foreign nationals filled around 13% of jobs, contributing an additional 3% to the country’s GDP growth. As a result, the government has decided to increase and accelerate the legalization of migrants, aiming to reach 1 million legalized residents in the coming years (compared to the current 700,000). According to the Spanish Confederation of Employers’ Organizations (CEOE), this policy has been instrumental in alleviating labor shortages in agriculture, construction, and elderly care.

This strategy is further supported by the strong demand for jobs from abroad. In May 2025, Spain, for the first time in history, surpassed Germany in the number of asylum applications. In 2025, monthly applications exceeded 12,800. By comparison, in May 2024, this figure did not surpass 9,000.

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Future Changes in Spanish Legislation

In addition to reforms already in force, Spain is considering extending student residence permits. If approved, such permits would cover the entire duration of studies, eliminating the need for annual renewal.

Amendments to the labor law are also being prepared. Procedures for hiring foreign professionals, including temporary (seasonal) workers, may be simplified. Efforts are underway to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and accelerate the hiring process.

Key Takeaways

The new reforms are substantial, but applications submitted before May 20, 2025, are still being processed under the old rules. However, lawyers note that applicants can withdraw their pending requests and reapply under the new framework. According to the Spanish Association of Immigration Lawyers (ASEMI), in June 2025 alone, approximately 20–25% of all residence applicants with pending cases opted for this option.