Spain's Senate reiterates calls for points-based visa for foreigners

The Spanish Senate on Wednesday approved a motion by the centre-right Popular Party (PP) in which the opposition and likely next government has called for the establishment of a points-based immigration system. In Spain's upper chamber, the PP has a strong majority with 145 senators to the Socialists (PSOE) with 88.

The proposal forms part of a wider pivot on immigration by the PP, showcasing the party's new 'tough on migration' stance as the PP continues to lose votes to far-right party Vox, ahead of the 2027 general election in Spain. By contrast, ruling leftist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is one of the few international leaders making the case for immigration, and has promised in the past to regularise up to 300,000 illegal immigrants per year in order to boost the economy and protect pensions in the face of demographic change.

The motion received 148 votes in favour (PP, Vox and the conservative Navarrese party UPN) and 110 against (the ruling PSOE and its partners in Senate) with two abstentions.

READ ALSO: Will Spain's PP protect foreigners' rights if they get into power?

A points-based system, PP sources claim, will toughen up the immigration process and guarantee "rapid and effective" returns and expulsions of migrants who don't satisfy the criteria.

During the Senate debate, PP members denounced the "absolute lack of control" by the PSOE government in managing the immigration system, while the PSOE criticised the PP's plan for including ideas typical of the far-right Vox.

Miriam Bravo, a PP senator, defended the motion by arguing there was a need for “responsibility” against a loss of control at the borders and criticised the “arbitrary” distribution of unaccompanied migrant minors among the regions, an issue that has been long an open sore in Spanish politics, arguing that this harms coexistence and overloads public services.

Among other measures it proposes, the draft text includes the centralisation of immigration and foreigners' affairs powers in a single state authority, as well as modifying the Criminal Code and judicial rules to "strengthen the prosecution of migrant smuggling crimes committed in international waters."

In addition, it advocates reinforcing the requirements for accessing Spanish nationality; toughening up conditions of the arraigo residency system for undocumented migrants; as well as verifying age within a maximum period of 72 hours and expelling those who falsify their identity. The PP has also proposed raising the language level to B2 in order to obtain Spanish nationality.

The calls for a points-based system come amid wider pivoting by the PP. With polling forecasts suggesting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's Socialists are likely to lose the next election - slated for 2027 in Spain - a possible outcome is that the PP enter government with the support of Vox, whether in a formal coalition or an informal parliamentary pact.

Leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo has attempted to stem the flow of PP voters to Vox by talking tough on immigration. Feijóo originally announced his plans for a points-based visa system during an event in Murcia, one of the regions where Vox first gained a proper foothold in Spanish politics back in 2019.

He suggested that a new points-based visa could control the entry of migrants seeking jobs in sectors which need more workers, especially those who adapt ‘better’ to Spanish culture.

"We advocate for a new points-based visa that prioritises entry for those who want to work in sectors where there are labour shortages, for those who know our culture best, and for those with a greater capacity for integration," Feijóo said.

READ ALSO: Spain's PP calls for points-based visa system for foreigners