A SPANISH residency pathway for Venezuelans will no longer be granted from mid-June, due to regulations under new EU migration pact.
Thousands of Venezuelan foreigners are expected to feel the impact of a residency rule change under the EU’s new migration order.
Due to the changes made under the asylum reform, European Pact on Migration and Asylum (EPAM), Spain has scrapped residency permits and renewals for South Americans who were previously given special authorisation.
Permits were granted to Venezuelan citizens wishing to reside in Spain after fleeing the economic and humanitarian crisis that shook the country in 2018.
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However, rules under EPAM will end the unique residency route on June 12.
Spain’s Interior Ministry has expressed that the changes are meant to separate EU-recognised international protection schemes from national humanitarian permits.
Concerns over creating ‘confusion’ with both residency options are in part the reason for cancelling out the old path.
A direct quote from the EPAM document states that it ‘recognizes the possible existence of national humanitarian statuses granted by Member States to third-country nationals and stateless persons who do not fall within the scope of this Regulation, but this recognition is based on the premise and obligation that such humanitarian statuses do not entail a risk of confusion with international protection.’
The transition period has started taking place as of April 16, making way for Spain’s migrant regularisation programme that is open through June.
Spanish government officials have also indicated that eligible Venezuelans can apply for residency through the migrant regularisation process.
Authorities insist that Venezuelans already residing in Spain under the special permit can stay, but will need to switch to a work permit under existing immigration rules.
An estimated 240,000 Venezuelans have benefited from the humanitarian programme, with over 55,000 permits granted in 2025.
A staggering 144,700 foreign nationals sought international protection through residency in Spain during 2025, with over 85,000 coming from Venezuela.
Venezuelans represented nearly 60% of applicants seeking residency in Spain between 2024-2025.
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