On 20 November 2024, Royal Decree 1155/2024 of 19 November was published in the Official State Gazette (BOE), approving the Regulation of Organic Law 4/2000 of 11 January, on the rights and freedoms of foreigners in Spain and their social integration. This regulation entered into force recently, on May 20 th, 2025.
Spain, with a long tradition of migration, has recognized the need to adapt its legal framework to current social and demographic changes. Therefore, instead of introducing specific modifications, it was decided to approve a renewed regulation that brings together all the necessary reforms to provide greater legal security and administrative efficiency.
What does the Immigration Regulation regulate?
The Immigration Regulation is the regulatory framework that establishes the requirements and procedures for foreigners to reside, work and regularize their situation in Spain. It also regulates the conditions for legal entry into the country and guarantees the fundamental rights and freedoms of foreigners.
Main objectives
This new regulation pursues several essential aims:
- Simplify and speed up administrative procedures related to immigration
- Reduce processing times for regular migration pathways
- Provide greater legal clarity on immigration categories and permits
- Explicitly recognize the labor rights of migrant workers
- Clarify the general provisions applicable to all authorizations
- Define the conditions under which a foreign national’s or their family member’s immigration status may be modified.
How will applications be handled during the transition period?
The Directorate General for Migration Management has issued an information note to clarify the handling of foreigners applications during the transition between the old regulation and the new one:
- Applications filed before May 20, 2025 will continue to be resolved under Royal Decree 557/2011, in force until that date
- As of May 20, 2025, all applications will be processed exclusively under the rules of Royal Decree 1155/2024. It is therefore essential that interested parties are aware of and comply with the new requirements
- Applications that are pending resolution at the date of entry into force of the new regulations will continue to be processed under the previous regulations, unless the applicant expressly chooses to take advantage of the new provisions, in which case he/she must prove compliance with the new requirements.
Teresa Aranda
