Starting on May 20, under the new Single Permit Directive, European Union Member States will begin issuing residence and work permits to foreigners through a simplified procedure. Announcing the news, Spain's Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration stated that more favourable rules will apply to workers from other countries. They explained that once the new Single Permit Directive, approved during the Spanish Presidency of the Council, comes into effect, a set of equal treatment rights for foreign workers in the bloc will also begin to apply.

Under the Single Permit Directive, foreigners can obtain a permit that serves as both a residence and work permit without undergoing lengthy and stringent procedures. Once the directive takes effect, several improvements will be introduced, starting with an extended unemployment period and simplified procedures for issuing single permits. Foreign workers will also be allowed to stay in the EU for a longer period if they become unemployed. Additionally, nationals of third countries will no longer need to leave the EU member state they are in to apply for the permit. Instead, they will be able to apply for a single permit while residing in an EU country, provided they already hold a residence permit in that state.

In addition, authorities have emphasized that the new directive will enhance the protection of foreign workers against exploitation. Member states will have limited capacity to impose restrictive rules on the rights and working conditions of foreign workers. Furthermore, they will be required to ensure that foreign workers are treated equally to EU workers.

Once the new directive takes effect, EU member states will have two years to implement the necessary changes to their national laws.