Spain’s opposition party announced this week that it will be including a points-based visa system as one of its flagship policies.
Partido Popular (PP) leader Alberto Nuñez Feijoo used last weekend to stake out his party’s position with the so-called ‘Declaration of Murcia’ – a document that sets out the PP’s line on some of Spain’s most contentious issues, not least migration.
‘We have the right to decide who enters our country and under what conditions,’ said Feijoo, unveiling his flagship proposal: a points-based visa system to regulate those who live and work in Spain.
Under the plan, priority would be given to migrants who fill labour shortages, have a stronger grasp of Spanish culture, and show greater potential for integration, including knowing the language.
‘Contributing has to be a condition for staying,’ insisted Feijoo, who added that a country’s cooperation with Spain’s migration policy would also count.
Feijoo also paired the proposal with a promise of ‘zero tolerance on crime’, stating that serious offences would automatically mean losing residency rights, while repeat minor crimes would also block the path to permanence in Spain.
Modelled on Canada and Australia – but with a twist
Feijoo compared his plan to the systems already used in Canada and Australia. Canada has operated a points-based immigration model since 1967, assessing factors such as age, education, languages and work experience. Australia rolled out a similar framework in 1979.
But unlike those countries, the PP plan explicitly introduces cultural and national-origin criteria. That is raising eyebrows among rights groups. Monica Lopez, director of the Spanish Commission for Refugee Aid (CEAR), told CNN such elements carry ‘certain discriminatory components’.
‘Are we talking about religion? About language? About customs?’ she asked. Without clarity on what counts as ‘better integration’, critics warn the PP plan could risk institutional bias.
What this means for expats
For British nationals and other non-EU residents, Feijoo’s proposal won’t have any immediate effect – it’s a party pledge, not current law.
Spain’s existing system still requires visas or residency permits depending on your circumstances (whether you’re working, studying, joining family, or applying under the Digital Nomad Visa).
However, if a points-based model were ever introduced, it could reshape the way Britons apply to live and work in Spain. Those without EU freedom of movement might find themselves assessed on similar criteria to Canada or Australia – age, work experience, qualifications, language skills and integration potential.
- Work visas: Applicants may be favoured if they can prove skills in shortage sectors (construction, healthcare, agriculture, care work).
- Retirees: Those moving to Spain on savings or pensions could be unaffected, as non-lucrative residency already applies different rules – but cultural or integration tests might come into play.
- Digital nomads: The new visa may survive as a separate route, but it’s unclear whether the PP would fold it into a broader points system.
For now, Britons with residency (TIE holders or green certificates) should not be worried – existing rights are protected under the Withdrawal Agreement. But newcomers may one day find Spain’s doors harder or easier to open, depending on how many points they can score.
