Approval of the new Spanish immigration regulations 2024.
After nearly a year of anticipation and delays caused by the catastrophic floods in Valencia, the Council of Ministers has officially approved the long-awaited reform of the Immigration Regulations on November 19, 2024.
See below the Cey Changes Introduced by the Reform:
The reform encompasses significant adjustments, including:
- Modifications to all existing Arraigo pathways.
- A new residence permit tailored for family members of Spanish nationals.
- A hybrid system for managing national visas and authorizations for relatives of Spanish citizens.
- Overhauled regulations for students.
- Streamlined processes for individuals with pending asylum applications.
These are just a few highlights of the sweeping changes. The full scope will become clear with the official publication of the reform text in the BOE (Official State Bulletin), which will detail the structure of permits for residency and employment in Spain.
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In this post we cover the following: (click any section to see its content)
The new Spanish immigration regulations 2024:
- AMENDMENTS TO IMMIGRATION REGULATIONS »
- VISA FRAMEWORK »
- VISA CATEGORIES »
- PATHWAYS TO REGULARIZATION (ARRAIGOS)S »
- TYPES OF REGULARIZATION PATHWAYS »
- PROVISIONS FOR FAMILY MEMBERS OF SPANISH CITIZENS »
- GET ADVICE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS »
- ALL TYPES OF RESIDENCY AVAILABLE IN SPAIN »
- SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A SOLICITOR »
AMENDMENTS TO IMMIGRATION REGULATIONS:
The primary goals of the reform are as follows:
- Simplifying bureaucratic procedures to enhance usability.
- Strengthening legal protections for all stakeholders.
- Boosting administrative efficiency to reduce delays.
- Safeguarding the rights of both employers and workers.
- Expanding pathways for regular migration.
- Aligning Spanish immigration policies with overarching European Union standards.
VISA FRAMEWORK:
A restructured approach to visas has been implemented, introducing notable improvements:
- A dedicated section now changes responsibilities between consulates and immigration offices.
- Uniform validity: All visas will now be granted for one year.
- Job-seeking visas are redefined as 12-month residency permits, providing greater flexibility.
- Holders of temporary permits seeking long-term residency will no longer need to exit Spain to complete the process.
VISA CATEGORIES:
The reform organizes visas into the following types:
- Short-term Stay Visas
- Long-term Stay Visas
- Residency Visas
- Airport Transit Visas
- Visas for Extraordinary Circumstances
- Job-Seeking Visas
PATHWAYS TO REGULARIZATION (ARRAIGOS):
Spain remains the sole EU nation offering a robust mechanism for transitioning individuals from irregular to regular migration status through the Arraigo framework.
- This reform anticipates regularizing approximately 300,000 individuals annually over the next three years.
- A new “Second-Chance Arraigo” has been introduced, targeting those who previously held residence permits but lost them due to various circumstances. This addition complements the existing sociolaboral and socioformativo pathways.
- Residency requirements for eligibility have been reduced from three years to two, with the exception of family-related pathways, which do not impose a minimum residency duration.
TYPES OF REGULARIZATION PATHWAYS:
The reform outlines five categories of Arraigo pathways:
- Social Arraigo
- Family Arraigo
- Second-Chance Arraigo
- Socioformative Arraigo
- Sociolaboral Arraigo
PROVISIONS FOR FAMILY MEMBERS OF SPANISH CITIZENS:
The reform provides greater clarity and expansion of eligibility criteria for family members of Spanish nationals, ensuring enhanced accessibility to residency permits and associated rights.
This reform represents a monumental step in modernizing Spain’s immigration framework, making it more inclusive and aligned with contemporary societal and labor needs.
GET ADVICE:
As with any legal process, it’s best to consult an immigration specialist before starting to ensure your application is accurate and complete.
Please click-here » to contact us today.
ALL TYPES OF RESIDENCY AVAILABLE IN SPAIN:
- Golden-Visa Spain (residence in Spain by investment)
- Non-Lucrative visa Spain (Spanish visa non lucrative)
- Self-Employed visa Spain (self employed expats in Spain)
- Digital-Nomad visa Spain (remote worker in Spain)
Please see-here our video-blog with options and legal-advice to obtain residency in Spain.
Remember that immigration procedures and immigration regulations change regularly, so it’s crucial to stay updated with the latest information from reliable sources. If you have specific questions or concerns about your situation, it’s advisable to consult with immigration authorities or legal professionals specializing in immigration matters, to do this, please click-here »
DO YOU REQUIRE ASSISTANCE TO APPLY FOR RESIDENCE OR CITIZENSHIP IN SPAIN?
We are a Spanish Solicitor and assist our clients with all types Spanish legal processes.
Permanent residency is obtained after 5 years of Spanish Residency through Self-Employed Residency, Digital-Nomad, Non-Lucrative Residency or Golden-Visa. This followed by 5 years as a permanent resident in Spain and means you can then obtain Spanish Citizenship with a Spanish Passport.
