Date of publication:
09/25/2026
Spain
Do domestic laws and policies provide for a legal status to refugees, authorizing them to stay in the country?
Assessment by population
Analysis
Regulation (EU) 2024/1347 of 14 May 2024, on standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection, for a uniform status for refugees or for persons eligible for subsidiary protection, and for the content of the protection granted, (the Qualification Regulation) applicable since June 12 2026, is part of the EU pact on Migration and Asylum and establishes the legal status to be enjoyed by Refugees in Spain. This Regulation is directly applicable and has replaced Directive 2011/95/EU (the Qualification Directive).
Chapter VII of the Qualification Regulation "Content of Protection" sets out the rights attached to refugee status and subsidiary protection. Persons benefitting from such forms of protection are granted an indefinite residence permit (“residencia de larga duración”), which is not subject to expiration and allows the holder to reside and work in Spain under the same conditions as the Spanish citizens (Organic Law 4/2000, Articles 32(1) and 32(3bis) and Royal Decree 1155/2024, Articles 182 and 183(3)(f)).
Related provisions of domestic law or policy
Law 12/2009 of October 30 regulating the Right to Asylum and Subsidiary Protection
- Year: 2009
- Type: Domestic law
- Rights Category: Asylum
- Link to external source: https://www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/2009/es/70353
Legal provision
Law 12/2009 of 30 October 2009, regulating the law of asylum and subsidiary protection Official Gazette No 263, 31 October 2009 Amended by: Law 2/2014 of 25 March 2014 Official Gazette No 74, 26 March 2014 - Generic
Law 12/2009 of 30 October 2009, regulating the law of asylum and subsidiary protection Official Gazette No 263, 31 October 2009 Amended by: Law 2/2014 of 25 March 2014 Official Gazette No 74, 26 March 2014 - Generic
Royal Decree No. 865/2001 of July 20 approving the Regulation on the Recognition of Stateless Status
- Year: 2001
- Type: Domestic law
- Rights Category: Asylum, Nationality, Integration & Public Affairs
- Link to external source: https://www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/2001/es/14731?prevDestination=search&prevPath=/search?order=desc&sm_country_name%5B%5D=Spain&sm_document_source_name%5B%5D=National+Legislative+Bodies+%2F+National+Authorities&sort=score&page=2&result=result-14731-en
Legal provision
Real Decreto N° 865/2001, de 20 de julio, por el que se aprueba el Reglamento de Reconocimiento del Estatuto de Apátrida - Generic
Real Decreto N° 865/2001, de 20 de julio, por el que se aprueba el Reglamento de Reconocimiento del Estatuto de Apátrida - Generic
Organic Law 4/2000 of 11 January 2000 on rights and liberties of aliens in Spain and their social integration Official Gazette No 10, 12 January 2000 Amended by: Organic Law 4/2015 of 30 March 2015 on the protection of citizen security Official Gazett
- Year: 2000
- Type: Domestic law
- Rights Category: Asylum, Education, Health, Nationality, Integration & Public Affairs, Social protection
- Link to external source: https://www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/2003/es/115110
Legal provision
Ley Orgánica 4/2000, de 11 de enero, sobre derechos y libertades de los extranjeros en España y su integración social - Generic
Ley Orgánica 4/2000, de 11 de enero, sobre derechos y libertades de los extranjeros en España y su integración social - Generic
Royal Decree 1155/2024 approving the Regulation of the Organic Law 4/2000
- Year: 2024
- Type: Domestic law
- Rights Category: Asylum
- Link to external source: https://www.boe.es/eli/es/rd/2024/11/19/1155/con
Legal provision
Royal Decree 1155/2024 approving the Regulation of the Organic Law 4/2000 - Generic
Royal Decree 1155/2024 approving the Regulation of the Organic Law 4/2000 - Generic