Background information

The Royal Decree 1155/2024, of 19 November, updates and approves the Regulation of Organic Law 4/2000, of 11 January, which governs the rights and freedoms of foreigners in Spain and their social integration. This reform modernises the regulatory framework previously established by Royal Decree 557/2011, adapting it to current migratory, labour, and social realities. The decree addresses key areas such as residence permits, work authorisations, student mobility, and procedures for regularisation (e.g., arraigo). It aims to facilitate legal migration pathways, improve integration mechanisms, and align with Spain’s economic and demographic needs. The new regulation enters into force on 20 May 2025, six months after its publication in the Boletín Oficial del Estado.

Legal reference can be found at: https://www.boe.es/eli/es/rd/2024/11/19/1155

Content of measure

The Royal Decree 1155/2024 extends its coverage to all foreign nationals residing or intending to reside, work, or study in Spain under non-EU legal status. It establishes a unified framework regulating entry, stay, residence, employment, and integration of third-country nationals. The measure particularly targets individuals applying for or renewing residence and work permits, students seeking authorisation to work part-time, and those in irregular situations pursuing regularisation through mechanisms such as arraigo (social, labour, familial, or training-related rootedness). Notably, the reform reduces the required period of continuous residence for arraigo from three to two years, significantly broadening eligibility. Eligible applicants must demonstrate compliance with legal residence requirements, absence of criminal records (in Spain and in previous countries of residence), and in some cases, integration efforts (e.g. completion of vocational training or ties to the labour market)

Use of measure

The Spanish Government estimates that the new regulation under Royal Decree 1155/2024 could benefit approximately 300,000 foreign nationals currently residing in Spain in an irregular situation

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Migrants or refugees in employment	Applies to all businesses	Migrants or refugees

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Social partners jointly Other social actors (e.g. NGOs) Local / regional government	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Consulted	Consulted
Form	Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies	Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Unknown
• Main level of involvement: Unknown

Involvement

Unknown

Views and reactions

Positive views, particularly from the trade union perspectives

Sources

• 19 November 2024: Real Decreto 1155/2024, de 19 de noviembre, por el que se aprueba el Reglamento de la Ley Orgánica 4/2000, de 11 de enero, sobre derechos y libertades de los extranjeros en España y su integración social (www.boe.es)