Spain has approved a significant reform of its Immigration Regulations (Reglamento de Extranjería), which will come into effect on May 20, 2025.
The reform, introduced through Royal Decree 1155/2024, brings sweeping changes to the existing framework with the goal of improving access to legal residency, promoting integration, and adapting immigration policy to Spain’s social and labor needs.
Why a Specialist Immigration Lawyer — Not Just a Gestor
Immigration is not just paperwork. A gestor or administrative agent can file forms, but they cannot provide legal strategy, anticipate complications in your case, or represent you if your application is denied.
A specialist immigration lawyer analyses your full situation before filing, identifies the strongest route for your profile, prepares for potential objections, and can file a formal appeal (recurso) if needed. At CostaLuz, every immigration case is handled by a qualified lawyer — never delegated to administrative staff.
Quick Answer: Spain’s immigration reform (Royal Decree 1155/2024) took effect on 20 May 2025. Key changes: arraigo residency reduced from 3 years to 2 years, new arraigo pathways (second chance, socio-formative, family), easier family reunification, improved student-to-work transitions, and stronger protections for vulnerable migrants. The reform is Spain’s most significant immigration policy update since 2011.
There has been considerable public debate and commentary surrounding this reform. However, here are the key confirmed changes you need to know:
1. Reduced Residency Requirement for Arraigo Applications
One of the most anticipated updates is the reduction of the time required to apply for residency through “arraigo” (roots or social integration). Under the current law, applicants must prove at least three years of continuous stay in Spain. From May 2025, this period will be reduced to two years, making it easier and faster for undocumented migrants who are already living in Spain to regularize their status.
2. New Forms of Arraigo Introduced
The reform also creates new types of “arraigo” to respond to the diverse circumstances of migrants:
- Arraigo for Second Chances: Aimed at people who had legal residence in the past but lost it due to non-renewal. This pathway allows them to apply again after a short period under specific conditions.
- Socio-Formative Arraigo: Offers a residency option for individuals enrolled in vocational or professional training (formación profesional), helping them complete their studies and move into the labor market.
3. Expanded Family Reunification Rights
Spain is also making it easier for families to stay together:
- The age limit for dependent children under family reunification will increase from 21 to 26 years.
- Unregistered partnerships can now be recognized for reunification if the relationship is proven to be stable and lasting, even if it is not legally registered.
4. Permit Duration and Renewals Simplified
All initial residence permits will now be granted for one year, with renewals extended to four years, offering more stability for foreign residents and reducing bureaucratic burdens.
5. Protection for Vulnerable Groups
The reform improves protections for victims of gender-based violence, trafficking, and sexual violence, creating simplified and more accessible pathways to residency and work permits for these particularly vulnerable individuals.
6. Challenges and Controversies
Not all aspects of the reform have been positively received. Advocacy groups warn that people whose asylum applications are denied may find it harder to access regularization through “arraigo,” as the time spent awaiting a decision on asylum will no longer count toward the required period for residency applications.
What About Non-Lucrative Visas and Digital Nomad Visas?
Although much of the reform focuses on irregular migration and family reunification, some changes will affect non-lucrative visa holders:
- Non-Lucrative Visa Renewals: From May 2025, applicants for renewal must demonstrate that they have spent more than 183 days per year in Spain, have maintained proper private health insurance, and are up to date with tax and social security obligations.
- Digital Nomad Visas: These remain governed primarily by the Startup Law (Ley de Startups). The current reform does not introduce changes to this visa category, meaning the conditions and requirements remain unchanged for now.
Why This Matters
This reform represents a major shift in how Spain handles immigration. It opens new legal channels for thousands of individuals who previously had no clear path to regularization while reinforcing Spain’s commitment to human rights and social inclusion.
At the same time, it adds complexity and new eligibility rules — making timely legal advice more important than ever.
At CostaLuz Lawyers, we are actively monitoring the reform’s rollout and can help you:
- Assess your eligibility under the new law
- Gather documentation and prepare applications
- Apply for “arraigo” or family reunification
- Transition from student, asylum, or expired residency status
- Understand the implications for your non-lucrative or digital nomad visa
We invite you to contact us for an initial orientation session at no cost, so we can help you understand your options and begin planning your next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spain’s 2025 Immigration Reform
Tell us what you are facing
Email marialuisa@costaluzlawyers.es with a short description of your situation. We reply with the next step and who in the firm handles it. If your question turns on your own documents or figures, reviewing them is a separate, scoped service that we explain before any work starts.
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When does Spain’s new immigration law take effect?
Royal Decree 1155/2024 entered into force on 20 May 2025. All applications submitted from that date onward are processed under the new rules. Pending applications filed before that date continue under the previous regulations.
What is the new arraigo requirement in Spain?
The continuous stay requirement for arraigo social (social roots residency) has been reduced from 3 years to 2 years. This applies to undocumented migrants who can demonstrate integration, employment ties, or family connections in Spain.
Does the reform affect the Non-Lucrative Visa?
The Non-Lucrative Visa itself was not directly modified. However, the reform improved transition pathways, making it easier for visa holders to switch to work permits or family reunification once they have residence in Spain.
Can students now switch to a work permit more easily in Spain?
Yes. The reform creates a clearer pathway from student residence to a work permit. Graduates who find employment in Spain can now transition without returning to their home country to apply for a new visa.
How does the reform affect family reunification in Spain?
The reform broadens family reunification eligibility, reduces processing times, and introduces more flexible criteria for demonstrating adequate housing and financial means. It also expands the definition of eligible family members.
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Related Immigration & Residency Guides
Key Information Summary
Spain’s 2025 Immigration Reform — Key Changes Now in Effect:
- NLV financial requirements updated — new income thresholds
- Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) renewal extended to 3 years
- New arraigo categories: training, social, and family routes
- Faster processing times for residence applications
- Family reunification rules simplified
- Self-employed visa requirements clarified
- Student-to-work permit transition streamlined
- TIE card validity extended during renewal processing
- Revised documentation requirements across visa types
Last updated: April 2026
Quick Answer
What: Summary of Spain’s major 2025 immigration regulation reform affecting visas and residency.
Who it’s for: Expats, digital nomads, and non-EU nationals planning to live or work in Spain.
Key fact: 9 key changes affect NLV, DNV, arraigo, and processing times under Spain’s 2025 reform.
CostaLuz difference: personalised quote legal advice. No percentage charges. Bilingual team since 2006.
- Immigration to Spain — Complete Residency & Visa Guide (2026)
- Non-Lucrative Visa Spain
- Digital Nomad Visa Spain
- Family Reunification Spain
- NIE Spain Guide 2026
- Arraigo Social Spain
- Immigration Lawyers in Spain
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the main changes in Spain’s 2025 immigration reform?
The 2025 reform introduces faster processing times, expanded digital nomad visa eligibility, simplified renewal procedures, new pathways for entrepreneurs, and stricter enforcement against irregular employment. It also creates a new fast-track system for in-demand professions and adjusts financial requirements for several visa categories.
Q: Does the 2025 reform affect the Non-Lucrative Visa?
Yes. The reform adjusts financial threshold calculations, introduces online application options, and may modify the renewal process. However, the fundamental requirement — sufficient financial means without working in Spain — remains unchanged. Specific threshold amounts are updated annually based on the IPREM indicator.
Q: How does the reform affect residency renewals?
The reform streamlines the renewal process with more online options and faster processing targets. It also introduces automatic extensions for pending renewals, meaning your legal status continues while your renewal is being processed. Some categories see adjusted documentation requirements.
Q: Will the reform make it easier to get Spanish citizenship?
The reform does not directly change citizenship requirements (which remain at 10 years of legal residence for most nationalities). However, by making it easier to maintain continuous legal residence through simplified renewals, it indirectly supports citizenship applications. Separate citizenship reform proposals are being discussed in Parliament.
Related Legal Guides
Legal Notice: The content on this page is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. No action should be taken based solely on this content without first seeking independent professional legal counsel. Each case requires individual assessment based on its specific circumstances. CostaLuz Lawyers accepts no liability for actions taken or not taken based on this content.
Related guide: Spain residency options for UK nationals.
For what it costs to have the new rules handled professionally, see immigration lawyer costs in Spain.
On the 183-day renewal condition specifically, see what counts and what does not.
Need advice on a Spanish legal matter?
We advise foreign clients on Spanish property, inheritance, tax and residency matters. Bilingual help across southern Spain since 2006.
Client line (EN/ES): +34 919 499 342 · marialuisa@costaluzlawyers.es · Costaluz Lawyers — Maria de Castro, ICA Cádiz nº 2745.
[12/05, 15:34] Jan: Hi, I don’t know if you can help in this situation.
I have lived in Spain for 18 years. I own my own home,
I am not a resident as when we moved I was assured I never needed it. Now I really do. My daughter has lived here for 18 years to and has got residency.
My son who has a Spanish partner and a six month old baby, A SIP card and a contract for full time work for the last 2-3 years cannot get residency either. The rules are changing on the 20th of this month and I hope that this will help us?
With the changes from May 20, you may qualify for residency if you can prove you’ve lived in Spain before 31/12/2024. Your son could apply under the new permit for family members of Spanish citizens, thanks to his partner and child. These updates may finally offer a solution. Start the process as soon as possible.
Buenas tardes, coordial saludo.
Deseándole éxito en sus labores.
Lo contacto justamente, por qué necesito orientación, con el tema de la regularización en España, con la entrada en vigor de esta nueva ley de extranjería e integración social. Muchas gracias espero una respuesta.
Gracias por su mensaje. Para poder orientarle mejor sobre la nueva ley, contácteme por “Contact Us” y estaré encantada de atenderle.
Buenos días y en primer lugar gracias por su artículo. Tengo solicitado asilo con tarjeta roja en vigor pero todavía no me lo han aceptado y vence en tres meses. Con la nueva ley, ?puedo pedir arraigo sociolaboral sin renunciar a mi petición de asilo? Actualmente estoy trabajando. Es decir simultáneamente pedir asilo y arraigo.
Gracias anticipadas por su respuesta
Sí. Con la entrada en vigor del nuevo Reglamento de Extranjería (Real Decreto 1155/2024) el 20 de mayo de 2025, es posible iniciar un procedimiento de arraigo sociolaboral sin renunciar previamente al asilo. Sin embargo, si se aprueba el arraigo antes que el asilo, será necesario renunciar formalmente a la solicitud de protección para obtener el permiso de residencia.
¿Tienes dudas sobre si cumples los requisitos? Podemos ayudarte a revisar tu caso y preparar la solicitud.
Buenos días y en primer lugar gracias por su artículo. Tengo solicitado asilo con tarjeta roja en vigor pero todavía no me lo han aceptado y vence en tres meses. Con la nueva ley, ?puedo pedir arraigo sociolaboral sin renunciar a mi petición de asilo? Actualmente estoy trabajando. Es decir simultáneamente pedir asilo y arraigo.
Gracias anticipadas por su respuesta
I went to know is there any option for applying residents permit without job contract as finding job contract are very expensive it could be 12 thousands euros,what is the next step for without this job contract, i went to know who have no money to buy the contract what should they do is there any option???
Yes — under Spain’s new immigration reform (May 2025), you don’t need to buy a job contract to get residency. If you’ve lived in Spain for at least 2 years, you can apply for arraigo social through:
Vocational training (arraigo para la formación), or
Family ties (arraigo familiar), or
Showing integration and community support.
Avoid paying for fake contracts — it’s illegal and risky. There are now legal alternatives if you don’t have money or work. Talk to a lawyer to explore the right option for you.
Hello,
I am interested in using your legal services to process my Social Arraigo in Spain having spent over 8 years.
Considering the current reform, all the required documents needed are ready except the police report from my home country, Nigeria.
Could this be processed having lived in Spain continuously for 8 years? In addition, I also have police reports from Spain and Austria.
Please I need your response.
For Social Arraigo you need:
Residency: At least 3 years of continuous residence in Spain (proof of empadronamiento).
No criminal record: Spanish police certificate plus criminal record certificates from Nigeria and any other country where you’ve lived in the past 5 years (legalized & translated).
Social integration: Evidence such as job contracts, course enrollments, or community involvement.
Signed job offer or training agreement: Proof of a formal employment or training contract in Spain.
If you meet these requirements, you can proceed with your Social Arraigo application.
hola,
Quisiera saber si hubo alguna modificacion para la solicitud de nacionalidad por simple presunción para un bebe nacido en territorio español de padres informales nacionalidad colombiana
es, as of 2025, nationality by presumption still applies to babies born in Spain to Colombian parents. There have been no legal changes — if Colombia doesn’t automatically grant nationality, the child can be recognized as Spanish by origin.
Hello,
I am a Swedish national. My wife is a Moroccan national who has been residing in Spain since December 2024. We were married in May 2025. At present, she does not hold a Spanish residence permit.
Could you please advise on the process for my wife to regularise her status and obtain residence in Spain as my spouse? And which other options she has to obtain residence permit in Spain?
As the Swedish spouse of a Moroccan national in Spain, the best option is the EU family member residence card (tarjeta de familiar de ciudadano de la UE). You apply at the immigration office in Spain with your marriage certificate (apostilled/translated if issued abroad), proof of living together (padrón), your EU registration in Spain, and proof that you work, study, or have sufficient funds and health insurance. This card grants your wife 5 years of residence and the right to work.
If that route isn’t possible yet, other options include arraigo after 2 years’ stay or a student residence, but these are slower. The EU family card is the most secure and straightforward.
If you are an EU citizen married to a non-EU national in Spain, your spouse can obtain the EU Family Residence Card: a 5-year residence permit with full work rights.
The main requirements are your EU registration in Spain, a valid marriage certificate, and proof of employment, self-employment, studies, or sufficient means with health insurance.
Alternatively, non-EU spouses may later qualify through arraigo (after 2 years of residence) or a student stay.
Hi.
I work and live in Saudi Arabia (country of residence) as an expat. I am Pakistani by nationality and want to apply for non -lucrative visa for self and three dependents (wife and two kids aged 18 and 16). I am on work visa and my residence status in Saudi Arabia is determined by virtue of my employment. So in case if I resign from my work or terminated by the employer then within 60 days, I have to leave Saudi Arabia and cannot stay here legally. One of the NLV requirement is that the applicant should be retiree and should not be in the employment status (Non-working). On this point, my question is:
1. Do I have to resign first and then apply for NLV in Spain Embassy/Consulate situated in Saudi Arabia. If this would be the case, I fear that I will lost my job and leave the country within 60 days (in case if the Consulate takes longer days (beyond 60 days of my resignation/termination) in granting visa. Or what if the Consulate responds within 30 days but rejects my visa application so since I already resigned / terminated at time of submitting visa application then the situation will remain same for me i.e i have to leave the Saudi Arabia within 60 days.
2. How about if I do NOT resign until my visa approval and leave Saudi Arabia to enter into Spain on NLV and gets my residence card within a month and then back to Saudi Arabia to complete my resignation process with short notice of 2 months and then again back to Spain after getting my salary and final settlement. Will this forth and back to Spain (for completing resignation process and getting employment benefits) be considered as a violation to non-working condition (as I will be out of Spain and not earning in Spain).
I have few more questions:
1. Can I accompany my dependent children (aged 18 and 16) with my NLV visa application as I heard that I cannot do so under new immigration reforms (May 2025)? How about if I apply alone for NLV and later bring them on reunification visa? Which one easier and hassle free?
2. Is this true that now the initial visa will be valid for 360 days instead of 90 days to enter the Spain once NLV is granted by the Consulate and the counting days for 1-year visa duration will be from first entry?
Best Regards
Mohammed
Hello Mohammed, thank you for your detailed query.
In short: you don’t necessarily need to resign before applying, but we must plan carefully to demonstrate non-working status when entering Spain. Returning briefly to Saudi Arabia after visa approval to complete your resignation is usually manageable if structured correctly. Your wife and younger child can typically be included; your 18-year-old may require specific dependency proof or reunification later. The new 360-day entry validity appears correct but depends on the consulate. I’ll send you a full, safer step-by-step explanation by email.
Thanks for the detailed questions, Mohammed. In general, a Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) is designed for living in Spain without working, but you usually do not need to resign before applying—what matters is showing you will stop working once you take up residence in Spain. Travelling back briefly to Saudi to finalise resignation is often workable, but it must be handled carefully to avoid creating evidence of “active employment” while resident in Spain.
On children: minors are normally included. For an 18-year-old, it often depends on whether they are still financially dependent (and in some cases studying), so it needs a document review. The “360 days / 90 days” point depends on the visa sticker and consulate practice—best confirmed case-by-case.
If you share your consulate (Saudi city) and your children’s dependency/study status, we can guide you on the safest structure and documents.
Hi
I am writing this msg to need your advise, I am working in saudi arabia and want to settle in Spain what is the right pathway for gaining PR without resigning from my job and how long it will take to get approval from Embassy / consulate. I have to move with my family (family of 5 member two son age 6yrs and 3 month one daughter age 5 yrs) please be guided
Spain’s “PR” usually comes after 5 years of legal residence — so the first step is choosing the right visa. If you can work remotely for a non-Spanish employer, the Digital Nomad / International Teleworking visa is often the best fit and can include your family.