Immigration is once again a key issue ahead of Spain’s general election on 29th November 2026. The main political parties have very different views on how the country should manage migration, from expanding legal routes and regularising undocumented residents to tightening border controls and restricting access to nationality.
For the many international residents who have made Spain their home, the debate raises some important questions. Could residency requirements change? Might it become harder to obtain Spanish nationality? And what could happen to people who are already living and working in the country?
It is important to remember that campaign proposals are not law. The following is an overview of the current framework and the main political positions, based on the parties’ most recent public statements and available policy documents. Not all parties have published a complete programme for the 2026 election yet.
What are Spain’s immigration rules today?
Spain’s immigration system is based primarily on the Immigration Act (Ley de Extranjería) and its implementing regulations. The latest major overhaul of these regulations came into force on 20th May 2025, introducing changes intended to simplify procedures and improve access to work and residency permits.
For non-EU nationals, the main routes to living in Spain include employment, self-employment, family reunification, study and various residence permits. People who have already been living in Spain without the necessary authorisation may also qualify for arraigo — a group of exceptional residence permits based on circumstances such as social, employment or family ties.
In April 2026, the Government also approved an extraordinary regularisation process for certain people already living in Spain without legal residency. This was a one-off measure, separate from the ordinary immigration system, and should not be confused with a general change to the requirements for obtaining residency.
EU citizens, meanwhile, benefit from freedom of movement. They can live and work in Spain, although those staying for more than three months must meet the relevant registration requirements.
British citizens have a different position following Brexit. Those who were legally resident in Spain before the end of the Brexit transition period on 31st December 2020, and meet the conditions of the Withdrawal Agreement, retain protected rights. British nationals who moved to Spain from 1st January 2021 generally fall under the same immigration rules as other non-EU nationals.
What do the main parties propose?
Spain's main parties’ approaches differ considerably. Their positions below reflect available public statements and policy documents; they should not all be treated as final commitments in their 2026 election programmes.
PSOE: maintaining legal routes and integration
The PSOE, currently in government, supports legal migration routes and policies aimed at integrating foreign residents into Spanish society.
Its approach includes defending the 2026 extraordinary regularisation process and improving the administration of immigration procedures. The party has also supported measures to facilitate employment-based migration and address labour shortages through legal channels.
For people already living in Spain, this approach is generally more favourable to regularisation and access to residency than the proposals put forward by parties on the right.
PP: stricter controls and a more selective system
The Partido Popular (PP) supports a more restrictive approach to immigration, placing greater emphasis on controlling irregular arrivals and linking migration policy more closely to employment needs.
Its proposals have included a points-based system for selecting migrants, agreements with countries of origin to facilitate returns, and stronger requirements for obtaining Spanish nationality.
The PP has also opposed broad, automatic regularisation processes, favouring individual assessments instead. Its approach would represent a shift towards tighter conditions, although the precise details would depend on the final programme and any legislation introduced.
The PP has also agreed to introduce the principle of prioridad nacional (national priority) in regional government agreements with Vox. This would give greater priority in access to public resources, including social housing and certain benefits, to people with a long-standing, demonstrable connection to the region. While the PP describes this in terms of local roots rather than nationality, Vox's interpretation is more explicitly based on prioritising Spanish nationals. How such measures could affect foreign residents remains uncertain, as their implementation would need to comply with existing Spanish and EU law.
Vox: a much tougher approach
Vox takes the hardest line on immigration among the main national parties. It opposes extraordinary regularisation and advocates tougher border controls, increased deportations and restrictions on access to public services and benefits for foreign nationals.
The party also promotes what it calls remigration, a policy focused on encouraging or requiring certain migrants to leave Spain, namely those with a criminal record. It has proposed reviewing nationality grants and making it harder for foreign nationals to acquire Spanish citizenship, as well as ramping up the idea of the previously mentioned "national priority".
These proposals would represent a significant departure from Spain’s current approach, particularly for undocumented migrants and those seeking to obtain nationality.
Frente Amplio: regularisation and greater protection
Frente Amplio supports a more inclusive immigration policy, with an emphasis on regularising people already living in Spain, simplifying administrative procedures and protecting migrants’ rights.
The party has also called for safer and more accessible legal migration routes, as well as changes to the way immigration detention is handled. Its proposals include closing Immigration Detention Centres (Centros de Internamiento de Extranjeros, or CIEs), where some foreign nationals are held while removal proceedings are carried out.
Frente Amplio’s position is broadly aligned with policies that make it easier for migrants to obtain legal status and integrate into Spanish society.
Podemos: expanding access to residency and nationality
Podemos advocates a particularly progressive approach, supporting regularisation for people living and working in Spain without legal status.
It has also proposed reforming the nationality system, including greater access to Spanish citizenship, and replacing parts of the existing Immigration Act. Other proposals include closing CIEs and expanding safe, legal routes into the country.
As with the other parties, the exact measures that would be pursued following the election remain subject to the publication of its final programme.
What could the election mean for foreign residents?
The impact of a change in government would depend on which proposals were turned into legislation. However, some areas are particularly relevant to people living in Spain.
- EU citizens: Their right to live and work in Spain comes from EU freedom-of-movement rules, rather than the Spanish immigration system for non-EU nationals. A change of government would not, by itself, remove these rights.
- British residents: People covered by the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement have protected residency rights. Those who moved to Spain after 31 December 2020 are generally subject to the rules for non-EU nationals. Any changes to ordinary immigration legislation would therefore be more relevant to this group.
- Non-EU residents: Changes to work permits, family reunification, arraigo and regularisation could affect people applying for residency or trying to change their immigration status. The impact would depend on the specific measures adopted and whether transitional arrangements were introduced.
- People applying for Spanish nationality: The general residence requirement for nationality is currently ten years, although shorter periods apply to certain groups. For example, nationals of several Ibero-American countries, Portugal, Andorra, the Philippines and Equatorial Guinea can generally apply after two years of legal residence, provided they meet the other requirements.
Some parties have proposed making nationality harder to obtain, including through stricter language requirements. Others favour expanding access. Any change would need to be formally approved and would not automatically alter the rules for applications already submitted.
When could immigration rules change?
The election itself will not change Spain’s immigration laws. After the vote, the parties will need to negotiate the formation of a government. Any new administration would then have to decide which proposals to pursue.
Some changes could be introduced through regulations or government decrees, while others would require parliamentary approval. The process and timescale would depend on the measure involved.
For foreign residents, the key point is that existing permits and rights do not automatically disappear when a new government takes office. Until new legislation is approved and comes into force, the current rules continue to apply.
Where to find official information
Immigration rules can be complex, and political announcements do not replace official guidance. For the latest requirements and application procedures, consult:
- Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration – information on residency, work permits and immigration procedures.
- Spanish Ministry of the Interior – information on documentation and foreign nationals.
- Official State Gazette (BOE) – the official publication for new laws and regulations.
- European Commission – Brexit citizens’ rights – guidance for British citizens covered by the Withdrawal Agreement.
For now, foreign residents should continue to follow the rules that apply to their individual circumstances and avoid making decisions based solely on election promises. The real impact will become clearer once a new government is formed and any proposed changes are translated into law.
