As of May 20, 2025, Spain has extended the Job Seeker Visa validity from just 3 months to up to 12 months.
The reform, part of Royal Decree 1155/2024, seeks to address acute labor shortages, giving skilled professionals more time to secure work in Spain.
🧩 2. Migrant Regularisation & Easier Integration
Spain is set to regularise around 300,000 undocumented migrants annually until 2027, offering legal residence and work authorisations to nearly 900,000 people over the next three years.
Significantly, pathways like “arraigo social” residency now require just 2 years of residence (down from 3) to qualify, effective in May 2025.
🚫 3. Golden Visa Program Abolished
Spain ended its Golden Visa scheme—which granted residency in exchange for property investment (typically €500K)—on April 3, 2025 .
This aligns with efforts to reduce real estate speculation and prioritise affordable housing for residents.
📲 4. ETIAS & EES – New Pre‑Authorization Rules
From 2025 onwards, non‑EU travellers must apply for ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System), even if they’re from visa‑exempt countries. The fee is around €7 for a three‑year permit.
The Entry/Exit System (EES) introduces biometric tracking at Spain’s borders instead of manual passport stamping .
💼 5. Student & Family Reforms
International students can now work up to 30 hours/week without additional permits, boosting their integration and financial independence.
Family reunification rules have also been eased, raising dependency cutoff age to 26 and streamlining applications.
🌍 Visa‑Free Entry to Spain: Who Can Visit Without a Visa?
✅ Spain and Schengen
Citizens of Schengen Area/EU countries enjoy full visa-free access to Spain with up to 90 days in any 180‑day period for tourism or business.
Spain’s passport is currently ranked 3rd globally, granting access to approximately 189–191 countries visa-free/eTA/visa‑on‑arrival.
🌐 Non‑EU Visa-Free Countries
Spain allows visa-free entry (short stays) to citizens from about 86 countries, including: USA, UK, Japan, Canada, Brazil, Australia, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, UK, Israel, Argentina, Colombia, Thailand, among others .
Additionally, Spain has strong reciprocal ties with Latin American countries due to cultural and historical links, further simplifying entries for many nationals.
💡 Why These Changes Matter
The extended job seeker visa empowers foreign professionals to stay longer and find suitable employment.
Regularisation policies offer legal pathways and labour market integration for migrants already in Spain.
Abolition of the Golden Visa signals a shift toward addressing local housing affordability concerns.
Implementation of ETIAS and EES modernizes security while preserving supervised visa‑free access.
Expanded rights for students and simplified family reunification strengthen Spain’s attractiveness as a global hub.
