Spain is going to change its asylum and immigration rules. The Government has taken the first step towards the adoption of a new asylum law and the reform of the Aliens Act, with the aim of adapting to European standards. It is a huge news for millions of people, but it should be understood well: at the moment are only pre-projects. Nothing has changed yet in practice. We explain to you what is being cooked, why and when it might affect you.
What exactly has the Government approved
The 25 August 2026the Council of Ministers approved first round two draft laws:
- One new asylum lawwhich would replace the existing regulation of international protection.
- One partial reform of the Aliens Act (Organic Law 4 / 2000 on the rights and freedoms of foreigners in Spain and their social integration).
The expression «first round» is important: it means that it is the start of the processing, not its end. The Government must now seek the mandatory reports of bodies such as the General Council of the Judiciary, the Council of State or the Forum for the Social Integration of Immigrants, including contributions, approval of them in the second round, and then processing them in Parliament.
Practical conclusion: nothing changes today. Until these rules are finally adopted and published in the BOE, the current Aliens Act and its current regulations and the existing asylum rules continue to apply.
Why is it coming now: the European Pact on Migration and Asylum
The engine of this reform is European. The European Pact on Migration and Asylum —a set of common EU-wide standards— is applicable since June 2026and Spain is obliged to adapt its domestic legislation.
This Covenant translates into 10 legislative instruments: Directive (EU) 2024 / 1346on the conditions for the reception of applicants for international protection, which must be transposed through a national law, and nine other direct implementation. The new asylum law and the reform of foreigners were Spain's response to that obligation.
The context is also not neutral: the texts come at a time of strong migration pressure, which has accelerated the times.
What changes are being made (and why are you interested in following them)
As these are pre-projects, the content may vary during processing. These are the lines announced:
Asylum
- A framework for international protection aligned with common European rules on reception and procedure.
- Rules on the right of stay of the applicants during the processing of their file, which would not in itself grant a residence permit in certain cases.
- A closer connection between the refusal of the application and the consequent obligation to leave the country in certain cases.
Foreign nationals
The reforms announced in recent months point to several directions that should be monitored:
- Family reunification: greater rigour in the accreditation of the economic and housing means of the regrouping, priority to the nuclear family, authorization to work from the beginning for the regroups of working age and possibility of regrouping for humanitarian reasons to ascendants under the age of 65.
- Administrative simplification: reduction of bureaucracy, greater legal certainty and better coordination between consulates and foreign offices.
- Combating fraud and labour exploitationespecially in sectors such as agriculture or care.
It should be recalled that, in parallel, the new Aliens Regulations (aprobado por el RD 1155/2024 y modificado en 2026), que introdujo nuevas figuras de arraigo y autorizaciones por circunstancias excepcionales. Esa parte sí es aplicable hoy, a diferencia de los anteproyectos.
Qué debes hacer mientras tanto
- No tomes decisiones basándote en la nueva ley todavía. Cualquier trámite que inicies hoy se rige por la normativa actualmente en vigor.
- Si tu situación depende de un plazo o de una figura concreta (arraigo, reagrupación, protección internacional), revisa qué regla te resulta más favorable hoy, sin esperar a un cambio que aún no existe.
- Sigue la evolución de los textos, porque algunos cambios pueden mejorar —o endurecer— los requisitos según el caso.
Frequently asked questions
¿Ya está en vigor la nueva ley de asilo? No. Es un anteproyecto aprobado en primera vuelta el 25 de agosto de 2026. Debe superar informes, una segunda aprobación y la tramitación parlamentaria antes de publicarse en el BOE.
¿Puedo acogerme ya a los nuevos requisitos de reagrupación familiar? No. Mientras la reforma de la ley de extranjería no se apruebe definitivamente, se aplican los requisitos actuales.
¿Por qué se reforma ahora la normativa? Para adaptar España al Pacto Europeo de Migración y Asilo, aplicable en la UE desde junio de 2026, que obliga a homogeneizar las reglas nacionales.
¿Qué normativa de extranjería sí está vigente hoy? La Ley Orgánica 4/2000 y su reglamento (RD 1155/2024, con las modificaciones de 2026), que ya incorpora nuevas figuras de arraigo y autorizaciones excepcionales.
Artículo publicado en agosto de 2026. Tiene carácter informativo y no constituye asesoramiento jurídico. Los textos descritos son anteproyectos en tramitación y su contenido puede variar antes de su aprobación definitiva. En LEYNVER ABOGADOS somos especialistas en extranjería y asilo: analizamos tu situación conforme a la normativa vigente y te anticipamos cómo pueden afectarte los cambios. Contáctanos para valorar tu caso.
