Spain’s job seeker visa will be extended from three months to one year starting next year under its revised immigration law to address labour market demands and support its economy, reports the Economic Times. The move is expected to benefit both job seekers and Spain’s economy, providing foreign nationals more time to secure employment and transition to legal residency. The exact implementation date for the change has not yet been disclosed.

The job seeker visa allows foreign nationals to enter Spain for employment searches. Once a job is secured, individuals can complete the necessary legal processes to stay in the country. The extended validity will offer job seekers a broader window to find suitable positions and ease their transition to permanent residence. In addition to visa reforms, Spain plans to regularise 300,000 undocumented migrants annually through 2027. Spanish Minister of Migration, Elma Saiz, highlighted the initiative as a measure to address labour shortages, stating, “The regulation opens doors that were previously closed by means of three keys: formation, employment, and family.”

This streamlined process will grant residence and work permits to around 900,000 migrants over three years, focusing on integrating those already in Spain rather than recruiting foreign workers.