Spain: Visa Reform and Greater Employment Flexibility

Key Takeaways  

• Spain’s new migration measures simplify procedures, enhance family reunification and strengthen migrant workers’ rights while reducing bureaucracy 

New Visa Measures for 2025  

Spain introduced new migration measures that simplify procedures, set five types of integration, facilitate family reunification, strengthen migrant workers’ rights and offer more support for companies.  

The regulation reduces bureaucracy, aligns with European regulations, and combats fraud. Key highlights include: 

• The government will streamline visa processing by reducing bureaucratic delays and providing clearer requirements for applicants.
• The government will extend the period of stay for all work visas to one year and renew renewals to four years.
• Applicants who previously held a temporary status can now stay in the country to become eligible for long-term residence.
• The job seeker visa will be extended from three months to one year.
• Officials will create five categories of visas: social, socio-training, socio-occupational, family and second-chance integration. 
• The government will ease family reunification measures.
• The government will enhance protection for workers’ rights, improve living conditions and ensure safety from their home country to Spain. 
• Companies will receive more support, including guarantees for companies with more flexible and simplified recruitment processes.