The new Immigration Regulation (Reloex), in force since May 20, 2025, has caused a notable jump in applications to reside and work in Spain. Between January and May 20, 495,000 residence authorizations were registered, compared to the 724,000 processed between that date and October 31, which represents an increase of 46.2%.
The Government maintains that the reform adapts the Immigration Law to the needs of the labor market, the reality of migrants and demographic challenges. The regulation reduces deadlines and procedures, eliminates duplication and reinforces, according to the Executive, the rights of migrant workers and guarantees for companies.
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Reloex: main developments that double residence and work applications
One of the main novelties is the reorganization of roots into five figures: second chance, socio-occupational, social, socio-training and family. Furthermore, the length of continuous stay required in Spain is reduced from three to two years in most cases. Renewals are more flexible and allow you to live and work for an additional four years. In the first five months of application, 95,000 people have regularized their situation through one of these means.
The regulation also creates a new residence authorization for relatives of people with Spanish nationality, which replaces the old family roots. It expands the links that allow access to the permit: sons and daughters up to 26 years of age, a stable partner in conditions comparable to the spouse and other dependent relatives, such as first cousins. In general, proof of financial means and medical insurance are no longer required, except for dependent family members. Applications have gone from 58,000 before the entry into force of Reloex to 102,000 between May and October, 74.5% more.
In the field of studies, the stay authorization becomes the same duration as the academic program, for example, four years in the case of a degree. It can begin a month before the start of classes and extend fifteen days after the end. The visa’s validity has also been extended, which makes it easier to travel to the countries of origin while the Foreigner Identity Card is being processed. Applications for study stays have gone from just over 32,000 until May 20 to 93,000 between that date and October 31, in a period that coincides with the registration campaign.
The reform also makes it possible to make employed work and self-employment compatible, clarifies the reasons for changing employers and opens the door to doing so voluntarily after three months. In seasonal work, residence and work authorizations become valid for four years, with a maximum of nine months of activity per year, in line with European regulations, and incorporate greater labor guarantees.
Reloex introduces changes in collective circular migration, by incorporating into the regulations itself procedures that were previously included in the annual hiring order at origin, with the aim of simplifying procedures and reinforcing rights. It also modifies the regime for foreign minors: the temporary residence of an accompanied minor born in Spain is now valid for five years and no longer depends on the permission of their parents.
Finally, the regulation expands the exceptional circumstances for victims of gender violence and sexual violence. The way of accrediting the status of victim is made more flexible, a specific authorization for sexual violence is created and the granting of temporary residence for humanitarian reasons is provided for the ascendants of women victims of this violence.
In the absence of independent evaluations, its medium-term impact on the labor market, integration and workload of immigration offices remains to be verified.