Meeting in Strasbourg on 10 February, MEPs questioned Commissioner Ylva Johansson about Spain’s decision to regularise up to 500,000 undocumented migrants. While the Commission reiterated that regularisation is a national prerogative, several parliamentarians from Germany, Austria and the Netherlands pressed for assurances that new residence-card holders will undergo full Schengen Information System and biometric Entry/Exit System checks.
Spanish representatives defended the plan, arguing that integration fosters tax compliance and aids the EU labour market as demographic ageing accelerates. They noted that applicants must prove five months’ residence before 31 December 2025 and present a clean criminal record, conditions designed to curb so-called "pull factors".
![European Parliament debates Spain’s mass-regularisation plan amid Schengen security questions]()
Companies and individuals seeking clarity on how these new Spanish residence cards will interact with Schengen travel formalities can turn to VisaHQ, which tracks consular updates in real time and provides step-by-step visa and permit support for Spain (https://www.visahq.com/spain/). The platform consolidates eligibility rules, biometric requirements and processing times, helping mobility teams stay compliant as the scheme rolls out.
From a corporate-mobility perspective, the debate matters because recognition of the new residence cards across the EU will determine whether regularised workers can undertake short-term business travel or be seconded to other member states. Legal experts expect the Commission to issue guidance clarifying rights under Directive 2004/38 and the Single Permit Directive once Spain begins processing applications in April.
Although no resolution was adopted, the exchange signalled that Spain may face peer scrutiny if approval rates appear lax or security vetting slow. Mobility managers with pan-EU operations should monitor forthcoming Commission communications and factor in potential Schengen-area travel restrictions during the first months of permit issuance.
Spanish representatives defended the plan, arguing that integration fosters tax compliance and aids the EU labour market as demographic ageing accelerates. They noted that applicants must prove five months’ residence before 31 December 2025 and present a clean criminal record, conditions designed to curb so-called "pull factors".
Companies and individuals seeking clarity on how these new Spanish residence cards will interact with Schengen travel formalities can turn to VisaHQ, which tracks consular updates in real time and provides step-by-step visa and permit support for Spain (https://www.visahq.com/spain/). The platform consolidates eligibility rules, biometric requirements and processing times, helping mobility teams stay compliant as the scheme rolls out.
From a corporate-mobility perspective, the debate matters because recognition of the new residence cards across the EU will determine whether regularised workers can undertake short-term business travel or be seconded to other member states. Legal experts expect the Commission to issue guidance clarifying rights under Directive 2004/38 and the Single Permit Directive once Spain begins processing applications in April.
Although no resolution was adopted, the exchange signalled that Spain may face peer scrutiny if approval rates appear lax or security vetting slow. Mobility managers with pan-EU operations should monitor forthcoming Commission communications and factor in potential Schengen-area travel restrictions during the first months of permit issuance.
