The Spanish government has unveiled a groundbreaking Immigration Regulation that aims to regularize the status of approximately 300,000 migrants each year for the next three years. The reforms focus on creating clear pathways to residency and work, addressing irregular migration, and fostering integration through education, employment, and family reunification.
Minister of Inclusion, Elma Saiz, highlighted the transformative potential of the regulation, describing it as “a balance between extending and protecting the rights of migrants and the legal rigor and attention to Spain’s needs.”
Regularizing Migrants Through the Arraigo System
At the core of the reform is the overhaul of Spain’s arraigo system, a unique EU framework for granting residency to undocumented migrants. The regulation introduces five new types of arraigo: social, socio-labor, family, socio-educational, and “second chance.”
The reforms reduce the residency requirement for eligibility from three years to two and make the process more flexible, allowing migrants to work—either as employees or self-employed—immediately upon obtaining permits. Most permits will be valid for one year initially and renewable for four years, while family-related permits will last five years.
According to the government, these changes will enable the regularization of up to 300,000 migrants annually, providing them with legal status and access to employment and social services.
“This regulation opens doors that were previously closed through three keys: education, employment, and family,” Minister Saiz emphasized.
A Lifeline for Irregular Migrants
The introduction of the “second chance” arraigo is particularly significant. This pathway is designed for migrants who had a residence permit within the last two years but were unable to renew it. By offering a route back to legal status, the government aims to reduce the number of people living in precarious conditions.
The reforms also address the challenges of irregular migration by simplifying procedures for transitioning from temporary to long-term residency. Migrants will no longer need to leave Spain to apply for permanent status, removing a significant barrier to regularization.
Tackling Labor Market Gaps
In addition to improving migrant rights, the regulation seeks to meet Spain’s labor market needs. Most residency permits under the new system will allow individuals to work immediately without requiring additional authorization. This change benefits both migrants and employers, ensuring a faster and smoother integration into the workforce.
Seasonal workers are also set to benefit from a new residence and work permit, which offers better protections and clearer processes for changing employers in cases of abuse or unforeseen circumstances.
Beyond employment, the reforms aim to enhance integration through education and family reunification. Migrants pursuing studies will receive permits valid for the duration of their programs and will be allowed to work part-time. Family reunification criteria have also been expanded, extending eligibility to children up to 26 years old and including parents and children of victims of trafficking and gender-based violence.
With this regulation, Spain reaffirms its commitment to creating a more inclusive society while addressing its demographic and labor challenges. By offering clear and accessible pathways to legal status, the government hopes to not only improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of migrants but also strengthen the social and economic fabric of the country.
