SEM Instruction 3/2025, published by the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, is a fundamental step in the practical application of the new Royal Decree 1155/2024, which regulates the immigration regime in Spain. In this article I analyze its main novelties, what they imply for foreign students and what is my professional assessment. 1. What does this instruction regulate? SEM Instruction 3/2025 clarifies how to process long-term stay authorizations for studies, student mobility, volunteer services or training activities.…

On October 8, 2025 took place at the offices of Martínez & Caballero Abogados, in the heart of Barcelona, the second edition of the free face-to-face talk "Your way to Spanish nationality - Everything you need to know". The event was given by Anna Nicolás Torán, expert lawyer in immigration and family law, and Loren Andrea Cardona, expert advisor in immigration and Spanish nationality, who shared with the attendees all the secrets and steps necessary to successfully achieve the Spanish…

1. What SEM Instruction 4/2025 regulates This instruction establishes clear and uniform criteria for the preparation, content and evaluation of the social integration report, an essential requirement for temporary residence authorizations for social and socio-formative roots under the new Immigration Regulations (RLOEX, RD 1155/2024). The social integration report, as defined by this instruction, will be a technical instrument with determining effects for granting these authorizations. The instruction addresses, at least: The nature and competence to issue the report.…

On January 13, 2025, the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration and the Directorate General of Police issued a joint instruction reestablishing the validity of expired Venezuelan passports for all immigration procedures in Spain. This measure reverses the restrictive criterion adopted in November 2024, which had once again required a valid Venezuelan passport for most administrative procedures. In practice, this modification generated enormous legal insecurity and left thousands of people in a situation of vulnerability, as they were unable…

The Directorate General for Migration Management (DGGM) has approved Management Criteria 2/2025, aimed at regulating how changes of contract or employer should be processed in residence authorizations due to social and labor roots (Article 127.b of the RLOEX, approved by Royal Decree 1155/2024) . This criterion establishes clear rules to facilitate labor mobility, providing flexibility and legal certainty to those who obtain their residency through social and labor roots. 1. What regulates Management Standard 2/2025? The document provides detailed instructions…

The Directorate General for Migration Management (DGGM) has published Management Criteria 1/2025, a key document for the application of the new Alien Regulation (RLOEX) approved by Royal Decree 1155/2024. This criterion establishes clear and homogeneous guidelines on how modifications to residence and residence authorizations and extensions of residences due to roots should be processed, with the aim of guaranteeing legal certainty and uniformity in all immigration offices in Spain. 1. What regulates Management Standard 1/2025? The document sets out practical…

The Ministry of the Interior has published the accumulated monthly progress of international protection, with data as of July 31, 2025. This report reflects the status of asylum applications and other forms of protection filed in Spain, as well as the resolutions adopted by the administration in the first seven months of the year. 1. What is the monthly progress of international protection? This is an official statistical report that summarizes: The total number of registered applications for international…

The European Union has published in the Official Journal of the EU (C/2025/4538) the updated list of authorized border crossing points within the Schengen area. This list is essential for the control of entries and exits from the European territory, and is regularly updated on the basis of the information notified by the Member States to the European Commission, in accordance with Article 39 of the Schengen Borders Code. What are border crossing points in the Schengen Code? According to…