Meridian · Freshness tracker

What's changed.

Dated updates to visa, tax, residency, citizenship, housing, and labour policy across every country tracked. Every entry cites its primary source and the date we last verified it.

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Category All categoriesVisa & immigrationResidencyCitizenshipTaxationLabourHousingHealthcareOther
In force 20 May 2025
In force Residency

Family regrouping permitted after one year of residence

Under the 2025 Immigration Regulation, non-EEA residents with permits including the DNV, HQP, and NLV can apply for family regrouping after one year of residence — rather than waiting until the first renewal (typically two years). Materially shortens the timeline for reuniting with a spouse and dependent children.

Who it affects: DNV, HQP, NLV, and other non-EEA residence-permit holders seeking family regrouping.

Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones ↗ · BOE — Boletín Oficial del Estado (Spanish Official Gazette) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 20 May 2025
In force Residency

New Immigration Regulation (Real Decreto 1155/2024) enters force

Real Decreto 1155/2024 — a comprehensive update of the Immigration Regulation — entered force on 20 May 2025. Material changes include: family regrouping permitted after one year of residence (previously at first renewal), updated definitions for several residence categories, and clarified pathways between permit types. Also implements changes to the Non-Lucrative Visa and Digital Nomad Visa operational procedures.

Who it affects: All non-EEA residents and applicants to Spanish residence permits from 20 May 2025.

BOE — Boletín Oficial del Estado (Spanish Official Gazette) ↗ · Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones ↗ · La Moncloa — Spanish Government ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 3 Apr 2025
In force Residency

Golden Visa (investor residency via real-estate) abolished

The Residence by Investment programme allowing residence in exchange for €500,000 in Spanish real estate was abolished on 3 April 2025, via modification of Ley 14/2013 under the Organic Law on the right to housing (Ley de Vivienda). Other investment routes (public-debt, business capital) remain, but the widely-used real-estate route is closed. Application submitted before the cut-off date continue to process under prior rules.

Who it affects: High-net-worth non-EEA applicants to the Spanish investor-residence route via real estate.

BOE — Boletín Oficial del Estado (Spanish Official Gazette) ↗ · La Moncloa — Spanish Government ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 16 Aug 2022
In force Residency

Arraigo para la Formación route created

Real Decreto 629/2022 introduced a new "arraigo para la formación" (integration through training) regularisation route from 16 August 2022. Allows non-EEA residents with two continuous years of residence to regularise status by enrolling in a recognised training programme leading to an occupation on the shortage list. Has become a significant practical pathway for irregular-to-regular transition.

Who it affects: Non-EEA residents in irregular status considering regularisation through training.

BOE — Boletín Oficial del Estado (Spanish Official Gazette) ↗ · Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones ↗ · verified 2026-04-19