Spain’s Ministry of the Interior has published its first immigration dashboard of the year, confirming that only 1,370 people reached Spanish territory irregularly between 1 and 15 January 2026, compared with 3,460 in the same period last year. Maritime arrivals fell even faster—down 65 % to 1,194 people in 27 boats—while land crossings through Ceuta and Melilla rose to 176 individuals. Officials point to calmer Atlantic waters and a winter enforcement surge by Mauritanian and Senegalese patrols as key factors.(europapress.es)
The data mark an abrupt change from 2025, when unprecedented volumes through the Atlantic “Canary Route” stretched reception facilities on Gran Canaria and Tenerife. In early January the coast-guard still intercepted two large cayucos, including one with 143 passengers and a fatality, but the route has otherwise been quieter. Policymakers believe last year’s bilateral readmission deal with Mauritania and a new Frontex rapid-coastguard deployment are starting to bite.(heraldo.es)
![Spain records 60 % fall in irregular migrant arrivals in first fortnight of 2026]()
Separately, travellers, expatriates and corporate HR departments can sidestep much of the administrative complexity by using VisaHQ’s digital visa-processing service, which offers real-time updates on Spanish entry requirements and handles courier logistics for work, study and residence permits; details are available at https://www.visahq.com/spain/.
For corporate mobility teams the sharp drop eases pressure on short-haul domestic flights that often carry humanitarian transfer passengers and frees up hotel rooms around key entry ports. The Interior Ministry nevertheless warns that Peninsular arrivals—up 156 % year-on-year—could shift the operational burden to mainland police stations and NGOs. Companies relocating staff to Barcelona or Valencia may therefore see continued wait-times for NIE appointments and residency cards.
Spain’s coalition government is expected to bring forward additional labour-mobility reforms in the spring, including faster processing for seasonal permits (the GECCO scheme) and a pilot “migration corridors” project for West African nationals. Corporate HR teams should review internal compliance manuals to reflect the evolving risk mix: although overall flows are falling, land arrivals into Ceuta and Melilla are rising and could trigger ad-hoc border closures that affect freight traffic. The ministry will publish its next migration briefing on 1 February.
The data mark an abrupt change from 2025, when unprecedented volumes through the Atlantic “Canary Route” stretched reception facilities on Gran Canaria and Tenerife. In early January the coast-guard still intercepted two large cayucos, including one with 143 passengers and a fatality, but the route has otherwise been quieter. Policymakers believe last year’s bilateral readmission deal with Mauritania and a new Frontex rapid-coastguard deployment are starting to bite.(heraldo.es)
Separately, travellers, expatriates and corporate HR departments can sidestep much of the administrative complexity by using VisaHQ’s digital visa-processing service, which offers real-time updates on Spanish entry requirements and handles courier logistics for work, study and residence permits; details are available at https://www.visahq.com/spain/.
For corporate mobility teams the sharp drop eases pressure on short-haul domestic flights that often carry humanitarian transfer passengers and frees up hotel rooms around key entry ports. The Interior Ministry nevertheless warns that Peninsular arrivals—up 156 % year-on-year—could shift the operational burden to mainland police stations and NGOs. Companies relocating staff to Barcelona or Valencia may therefore see continued wait-times for NIE appointments and residency cards.
Spain’s coalition government is expected to bring forward additional labour-mobility reforms in the spring, including faster processing for seasonal permits (the GECCO scheme) and a pilot “migration corridors” project for West African nationals. Corporate HR teams should review internal compliance manuals to reflect the evolving risk mix: although overall flows are falling, land arrivals into Ceuta and Melilla are rising and could trigger ad-hoc border closures that affect freight traffic. The ministry will publish its next migration briefing on 1 February.
