Portugal’s decision to tighten immigration regulations is emerging as a potential model for Spain, where rising migrant numbers, pressure on public services and growing concerns over housing affordability have intensified the debate over migration policy. The shift marks a possible change in the approach of two southern European countries that have experienced a significant increase in foreign residents in recent years.
While Portugal has introduced stricter entry and residency requirements, Spain has continued to defend immigration on humanitarian and economic grounds. However, mounting domestic concerns and changing political dynamics could push Madrid towards tighter controls.
According to a report, Portugal witnessed a substantial increase in immigration between 2017 and 2024, with more than 1.1 million migrants arriving during the period. The foreign-born population rose from around 4% to 14% of the country’s total population.
Among the newcomers were approximately 250,000 South Asians, many of whom faced challenges adapting to Portuguese language and society. The rapid demographic change brought immigration to the forefront of public debate. Concerns about crime, neighbourhood conditions, housing and integration contributed to the growing prominence of anti-immigration politics.
Chega, a right-wing populist party, secured 23% of the vote in Portugal’s 2025 parliamentary election, reflecting the increasing electoral significance of the issue. In response, the centre-right government led by Prime Minister Luis Montenegro began overhauling the country’s migration framework after taking office in 2024.
The measures included stricter visa requirements, the re-establishment of a border force, longer waiting periods for citizenship and restrictions on family reunification. At the same time, provisions for expedited visas for certain skilled and essential workers were retained.
The Portuguese government has maintained that the objective is to regulate migration rather than shut the country off from foreign workers. The changes have coincided with a fall in annual net migration from approximately 270,000 to 60,000, according to the report.
Spain, meanwhile, has pursued a different course under Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. The country has received around 3.1 million immigrants since 2021, and its foreign-born population reached 10.3 million in 2026, accounting for more than one-fifth of the total population. A considerable share of these migrants come from Latin America, allowing many to integrate more easily because of their shared language.
Sanchez has argued that immigration supports economic growth and reflects Spain’s humanitarian commitments. His government’s decision earlier this year to offer an amnesty to undocumented migrants, however, sparked disagreements with other European Union members.
While the administration initially expected around 500,000 applications, approximately 1.2 million people applied, according to the report. Portugal has also planned to regularise the status of up to 800,000 migrants. However, its authorities have adopted an individual assessment process, with approximately 45,000 applications rejected, the report said.
The growing migrant population has also placed additional demands on public infrastructure in both countries. Lisbon experienced a shortage of school places, while Spanish educators have raised concerns about language barriers and the difficulties some immigrant children face in classrooms. Teachers in parts of Madrid have described the concentration of migrant students in certain schools as a challenge, with some educators reportedly seeking employment elsewhere.
Healthcare services have faced similar pressures, with Spain’s waiting lists for operations reaching record levels. Housing has become an especially contentious issue, as demand continues to outpace supply in several areas. Immigration is among the factors being debated alongside insufficient construction and broader housing-market pressures.
The issue has become central to Spain’s political contest, with Sanchez calling a snap general election for November 29. Opposition parties have questioned the government’s approach, while the anti-immigration Vox party has gained support in opinion polls. The conservative People’s Party, led by Alberto Nunez Feijoo, has proposed a points-based immigration system, quotas and preferential treatment for applicants from Latin America.
The debate also extends to the economic consequences of restricting migration. Portugal’s government has argued that the earlier availability of inexpensive foreign labour reduced incentives for some businesses to improve productivity. However, tighter immigration rules can also create labour shortages in sectors dependent on migrant workers, making the balance between regulation and economic demand a significant policy challenge.
With public opinion in Spain increasingly divided over immigration, the country’s approach could move closer to Portugal’s more restrictive framework. Any such shift would represent a notable change in the migration policies of the Iberian Peninsula, bringing both countries closer to the wider European debate over border management, integration, labour requirements and the capacity of public services to accommodate newcomers.
