Spain has introduced immigration laws that will help many new and existing immigrants in the country. The new immigration reforms include many good things for students, families, and irregular immigrants. Due to the labor crisis in which Spain finds itself, it has decided to reform the Immigration Law, in order to benefit thousands of migrants through greater flexibility in obtaining residence or work permits.
The new immigration reforms include the following most important changes:
- Work permit for illegal/irregular immigrants through integration after living in Spain for a minimum of two years;
- Work permissions for family members from the beginning of their stay in Spain;
- Work permission for unto 30 hours a week for international students;
- Four years work permit for temporary workers.
About 5.5 million foreigners live in Spain, more than a third of them from Latin American countries, according to official data.
Although the real figure is difficult to calculate since Spain is the sixth country in the European Union with the most irregular immigrants.
But with a reform of the Immigration Law that the Spanish government has just approved, thousands of migrants could benefit from more flexibility in obtaining residence or work permits.
Who will benefit from Spain’s new immigration laws
Irregular immigrants
Irregular migrants who would be more than 30,000 will have the possibility of having residence through a system called “rooting by training” aimed at those who have been in the country for more than 2 years. They will be able to opt for a 12-month prerogative and it will offer them a work permit with the commitment that they are trained in the areas where labor is most needed.
Currently, there were two forms of regularization:
- the first was social roots, which required 3 years of residence and proof of a job offer,
- the other was labor roots, where an employment relationship must be proven, even if it was without a contract.
Temporary workers
Given the need for labor, the Spanish government also proposed to improve the conditions of temporary workers. With the reform, a 4-year authorization is provided in which workers will be able to work up to 9 months a year with the obligation to return to their countries.
After each period, if a candidate meets these conditions, he/she can apply for a residence and work permit for two years, extendable. In addition, the government promised to update every 3 months the list of professionals that companies need to hire and that allows them to hire professionals at the origin.
Family reunification
The people with permission for family reunification previously had to wait a year to be able to work, from now on the residence permit includes the work permit. And access to this permit is made more flexible for families with minors and people with disabilities.
International students of universities
The university students will also benefit from new immigration reforms. According to the figures, a third of foreign students come from Latin America. This figure increases to 64% at the Master’s level and 53% at Ph.D. Until now, the student visa did not allow them to work. With the reform, the law will allow them to work legally 30 hours per week, once finished they will be able to stay one more year. The possibility of working and being able to finance their studies makes the Spanish educational offer more attractive.