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Local Spain
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Local Spain
Why waiting times at Spain's immigration offices could get even longer
Processing visas and residency permits could take even longer now due to the fact that extranjería offices are reportedly already "overwhelmed", before new immigration regulations that could worsen the situation considerably. Back in November 2024, Spain announced it was going to make it easier for foreigners to get residency and work permits by approving a series of new immigration reforms, legislation which although good on paper has been met with some doubts by litigators as it could leave some asylum seekers in an increased state of vulnerability. These changes are due to finally come into force this month on May 20th. The new rules are designed to supposedly simplify the regularisation process for migrants living in Spain illegally, as well as making it easy for people to change to different residency options. For example, it will allow foreigners who have studied in Spain to move more easily from a study visa to a residence and work permit. At the same time, however, all this extra paperwork will also greatly increase the workload of administrators. Spanish trade union Comisiones Obreras has even called for a strike due to a "lack of resources" to implement these new regulations, as well as a steep increase in the workload. 'We denounce the unsustainable workload, the precarious working conditions of public employees, and the disastrous management, which is leaving thousands of citizens trapped in a bureaucratic labyrinth with no way out," the union said in a recent statement. The strikes will take place from 12:30 to 2:30pm at all immigration offices in Spain next Tuesday May 19th, one day before the regulations come into effect. In essence, understaffed, overworked and underpaid extranjería staff are fearful of the sheer volume of residency processes immigration officers they are going to have to carry out. Catalan authorities alone say they are looking at regularising the residency and work papers of 200,000 migrants in two years. To make matters worse, just days before the reform of the Immigration Regulations comes into effect, Spain's Ministry of Inclusion has made several amendments to the rules. While these aim to clarify the interpretation of the new regulations, it is also causing more confusion among extranjería workers. Even before the new reforms come into force, long waiting times, trouble getting appointments (citas previas) and phones that are never answered have been chronic issues at many of Spain's extranjería offices. This was recently brought to light by an article in Cadena Ser, where they reported how in order to process an appointment to obtain protected status at Valencia's foreigner office, you have to call on only one particular day of the week at a specific time. Obstacles such as these leave many foreigners in limbo and vulnerable. Appointments are so hard to come by due to the fact that 'mafia' gangs are blocking them all with the help of computer bots and then selling them to desperate foreigners, when in reality appointments should be completely free. For years, Spanish authorities have been unable to stamp out this scam. As Spain's population continues to increase largely due to the arrival of more documented and undocumented foreigners, an already overstretched and trouble-ridden immigration department will have to deal with a sizable increase in its workload, something that is certain to reflect in waiting times for foreigners.
Morocco World
17-03-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Moroccan Workers Lead Foreign Social Security Contributors in Spain
Rabat – Moroccans have topped the list of foreign resident workers enrolled in Spain's social security system, according to official data from the Spanish Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration. As of February 2025, a total of 350,433 Moroccan workers were registered with Spanish social security, making them the largest foreign contributor group. This data places Moroccans ahead of Romanians (335,223), Colombians (220,030), Italians (192,544), and Venezuelans (178,187). The total number of foreign workers contributing to Spanish social security reached 2,874,398 in February. This figure represents an increase of 31,369 contributors (1.1%) compared to the previous month. Foreign contributors to Spain's social security have nearly 69% (1,975,868) coming from non-EU countries, while 31.2% (898,529) are from European Union member states. The report also points out the significant presence of 73,231 Ukrainian workers in the system, which marks a 54% increase (+25,653) since January 2022, an increase that followed the eruption of the Russo-Ukrainian war. When adjusted for seasonal factors, foreign enrollment in the social security system grew by 15,804 people in February compared to January, reaching a historic high of 2,971,811 employed individuals — 7.6% more than the same period last year. Read also: Wafira Expands as 17,807 Moroccan Women Join Seasonal Work in Spain The ministerial report noted that foreign workers have played a crucial role in Spain's employment growth. The system added 604,592 foreign workers since 2022 — a 26.6% increase. Notably, foreign workers account for 44.1% of all new jobs created in Spain over the past three years. This data shows the significant contribution of immigrant communities, particularly Moroccans, to Spain's labor market and social security system, elevating their integral role in the country's economic landscape. 'Wafira' – meaning 'abundance' in Arabic – is a program created in joint collaboration between Morocco and Spain in the labor field. The initiative's first phase concluded with 209 successful women entrepreneurs and 17,807 seasonal workers recruited for 2025. Tags: Moroccan workersMorocco and SpainSocial Security
Local Spain
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Local Spain
Residency permits for 'integrated' irregular migrants in Spain soar
New figures have revealed that the number of arraigo permits, a type of residency permit given out to formerly undocumented immigrants in Spain, has increased by 500 percent in just a decade. In 2013 there were just 43,858 foreigners with one of Spain's four types of arraigo (social, educational, labour and family) but by 2023 that figure had increased to 239,084, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration. This was the headline figure highlighted by Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration Elma Saiz, in the presentation of a report of the Strategic Framework for Citizenship and Inclusion against Racism and Xenophobia 2023-2027. Spanish residency can be awarded to non-EU foreigners who have even arrived or lived illegally in the country for providing evidence of social integration and making roots in the country. This is known as permiso de residencia por arraigo in Spanish. Furthermore, in the space of a year, processing times for the arraigo procedure were reduced by 35 percent. This follows further changes by the government to cut the time period necessary to receive an arraigo. The required time in Spain used to be three years, but the government recently reduced it to two years, a modification will come into force on May 20th 2025. Spain is now home to seven million foreign residents, equal to 14 percent of the population. However, despite the growing foreign population and streamlining of residency processes, many still live with social divides compared to native Spaniards. Though Saiz stated that the growth was positive, she also recognised that there are still several 'persistent challenges' for Spain's foreign population. The difference in salary, for example, is €10,000 per year on average. There's also a 20 percent difference in school dropout rates and homelessness affects migrants 7.5 times more than Spaniards. The arraigo is applicable to all those who have been living without the proper residency documents in Spain for two years or more. It is one of the easiest ways to legalise migration status without facing harsh consequences of overstaying or having to leave Spain and re-enter again on a different visa. In order to get one, you must have a genuine connection to Spain. This could be either socially, economically or through familial ties. You must have proof of this such as a job contract, library card, membership to an organisation here, birth certificates of family members, and so on. The main requirements are that you must have been in the country for a period of at least two years and can't have left the country for more than 120 days in that period.
Local Spain
13-02-2025
- Business
- Local Spain
Nearly 1 million self-employed owe €400 to Spain's social security
New data has revealed that almost a million of Spain's self-employed workers owe hundreds of euros to the country's Social Security ministry. However, a further million 'autónomos' are due for a refund of around €600. Up to one million self-employed workers in Spain will have to pay hundreds of euros to the government in backlogged social security payments, new tax data has revealed. Equally, one million more could be due a refund. The discrepancies correspond to the 2023 income tax return (known as la d eclaración de la renta in Spanish) which Spain's tax authorities are now in the process of finalising. The campaign for that year ushered in a new contributions system which meant anyone registered as autónomo made social security payments based on real earnings rather than one flat fee for everyone. According to new data from Spain's Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, of the total of 3.7 million autónomos affected by the quota regularisation process, around half (1.83 million) do not have to make any changes, while the rest will either receive a refund or be forced to fork up payments owed for 2023. This is because around one in four self-employed workers, some 889,553, paid contributions in 2023 below the bracket that corresponded to them according to their overall net income. They will now have to pay the difference, with reports in the Spanish media suggesting this is €400 to €450 on average. The figure is considerably lower than that estimated by the Spanish Association of Self-Employed Workers (ATA), which last year calculated that between 25 and 30 percent of autónomos hadn't been paying the right amount of social security since the new system came into force in 2023, and would have to cough up an extra €1,000 to €1,200. Tax data shows that 23.85 percent made social security contributions below their tax base, according to data from the General Treasury of the Social Security (TGSS). The remaining 26.85 percent, just over one million workers, paid above the required amount and can therefore opt for a refund, which on average is around €600, or maintain their chosen tax base. Spanish online outlet 20 Minutos reports that so far some 430,000 autónomos have decided to forego the refund and maintain their contribution base, something the tax authorities interpret as opting for better social benefits rather than cash compensation. Secretary of State for Social Security and Pensions, Borja Suárez, confirmed in a press conference when presenting the 2023 figures that: 'The average amount of refunds is below €600 and that of regularisations is slightly above €400.' Those self-employed workers who underpaid will begin to receive notifications from the tax authorities informing them of their situation from March onwards. The deadline for paying off the debt will be extended to the last day of the month following the date of notification. As is often the case with Social Security and tax debts more generally in Spain, those affected may request deferrals and pay in instalments. The new contribution model, which allows up to six bracket changes per year, seeks a gradual transition to a system of contributions based on real income. Previously, Social Security had to carry out a contribution regularisation process every year to check that the bases have been adjusted to net income and proceed to repay or claim the resulting amounts.
Euronews
12-02-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Spain to grant residency and work permits to as many as 25,000 immigrants hit by Valencia floods
The Spanish government will grant one-year residency and work permits to as many as 25,000 foreigners affected by catastrophic flash floods that hit an eastern area of the country last October. The measure, which was approved by the Spanish cabinet yesterday, will facilitate paperwork for those now left homeless in dozens of towns affected by the floods, principally in the Valencia region. The government has embarked on a major recovery and reconstruction effort after the 29 October disaster, which killed 227 people and destroyed countless homes and businesses. The Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration said the chaos that resulted from the flooding, which was caused by torrential rains, left many immigrants unable to meet the requirements for living, studying and working in Spain legally. Many employers have also been left unable to comply with the bureaucracy required to hire foreign workers. The ministry said that new one-year permits will be granted due to the "unexpected exceptional circumstances", but noted they can and will be denied where there are concerns over public order, security or health. In addition, foreigners who lost relatives in the floods will be permitted five years' residency in Spain. While governments across Europe are toughening their migration policies, Spain has been swimming against the tide and crediting migrant workers' contribution to a year of economic growth and job creation. Foreigners currently represent some 15.9% of the country's registered employed population, though many more are working in the underground economy, whether picking fruits, cleaning homes or caring for the elderly. Spain is facing a declining birth rate, and has said it needs more migrants working legally and contributing to its social security and pensions for the state to cope with the demographic shift. While Spain has shut down several partnerships with African countries in an effort to stop irregular migration to its territory, including via dangerous Mediterranean routes, it is passing measures to legalise the status of immigrants already living in the country without permission. The majority of this population have flown into Spain legally from Latin America and overstayed their visas.
