The Government of Spain launches the new Immigration Regulation after an intense training campaign and reinforcement of offices

The Minister for Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration, Elma Saiz, with representatives of the groups involved in the new Immigration Regulations

The new Immigration Regulation, approved on 20 November 2024, enters into force. In these six months of 'vacatio legis', the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration has carried out an intense campaign with the aim of providing extensive training and information on all the new rules and changes introduced through the new Regulation.

This commitment has take the form of training for all staff in Immigration offices throughout the country, as well as an in-depth information campaign on the new features of the Immigration Regulation for social, economic and third sector agents, as well as citizens.

The training and information campaign has reached thousands of people, in particular all groups directly or indirectly involved in the application of the new Regulation.

"During these months we have worked ceaselessly to get everything ready. We have thoroughly prepared our offices and provided specialised training. We have provided information, listening and support to thousands of people," said the Minister for Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz.

Permeable and accessible information

Information on the new features of the Immigration Regulation has been developed in a way that ensures its accessibility and that it is able to reach the entire population. To this end, the heads of the Legal Regime and Migration Management units have travelled around the country to inform people of the main new features of the Reloex, as well as to address and resolve any queries or doubts. In total, the legal specialists have so far given talks in 15 cities in nine autonomous communities (Galicia, Basque Country, Andalusia, Catalonia, Valencia, Castilla y León, Castilla La Mancha, Murcia and Madrid), as well as participating in meetings organised by other bodies and institutions such as the General Council of Spanish Lawyers or the Ministry of Economy, among others.

The Ministry has also hosted various training and information sessions, such as the one aimed at the Third Sector on 1 April, which was attended by nearly a hundred people in person and more than a thousand via streaming.

The public, for its part, has also been able to access this information through various streaming initiatives open to all interested members of the public. This training will be extended and updated over the next few weeks, both with organisations and institutions and with the Immigration offices themselves.

Reinforcement of public employees

The State Secretariat for Migration has also collaborated with the Ministry of Territorial Policy in reinforcing the staff of the Spanish Immigration offices with 250 new recruits, to which another 500 people will be added during the month of June, providing two million euros for this purpose.

The staff of these offices have received specific training on the new Regulation with the aim of navigating all the changes that the regulation entails in the most efficient way. In addition, the heads of the Legal Regime and Migration Management units have given specific training to the Employment counsellors abroad. These training sessions will be held again in June.

New instructions

The State Secretariat for Migration has also intensified its efforts to guarantee the uniform interpretation and application of the immigration regulations by the network of immigration offices, responding to queries about the regulations made by the offices themselves, foreign citizens, lawyers, managers and trade union organisations during the six months that have elapsed since its approval.

One of these instructions regulates the application of temporary residence permits based on ties to the community and its aim is to guarantee a uniform, secure and comprehensible application of the new regulatory framework, facilitating the social and labour integration of foreigners with ties to Spain. It introduces clear criteria by type of ties (socio-occupational, social, socio-training, second chance and family), specifies general requirements and establishes specific conditions for access to the labour market or training.

It also incorporates flexibility measures for special cases, such as minors or people moving from one model to another under the previous regulation.

The other instruction implements the new specific temporary residence regime for family members of Spanish nationals. This measure resolves a historical situation of legal uncertainty and regulatory vacuum that affected thousands of mixed families, as they were not clearly covered by either the EU or the general regime. The instruction complies with the doctrine of the Court of Justice of the European Union and the Supreme Court, reinforcing the right to family life, avoiding unnecessary separations and allowing, in many cases, immediate access to work. The concept of family is broadened (including extended family and carers), administrative procedures are clarified and the protection of vulnerable situations is guaranteed.

The Instructions have been discussed in the framework of the working group of the Tripartite Labour Commission on Immigration with the trade unions and employers' organisations.

Training, employment and the family, the main pillars of the new regulation

The new Regulation is adapted to the current migratory situation and to European legislation, as well as taking into account the demands of the labour market, the needs of migrants and Spain's demographic challenges. Employment, training and family are the three pillars on which the important improvements of the new Immigration Regulation are based.

The regulation thus reduces time frames and formalities, eliminates duplication, strengthens the rights of migrant workers and provides guarantees for companies. "Our objective is to reinforce regular and safe migration. This regulation also allows us to clarify the channels of arrival and residence in Spain, to guarantee the rights of migrants, but also their duties", added Saiz.

In addition, all initial authorisations will be for one year with four-year renewals. The jobseeker's visa is also extended to one year instead of three months.

On the other hand, five different types of ties are established, with the creation of second-chance ties, which allows for the regularisation of people who have had a residence permit in the last two years and have not renewed it. Finally, the stay for study purposes has been amended, allowing up to 30 hours of work per week, and family reunification has been improved.

"Today is not the culmination of a process, it is the continuation of a commitment. Spain has clear, modern and permanent regulations", concluded Minister Saiz.

Non official translation