EU Nationalist Coalition Urges Suspension of Schengen Visa-Free Travel Over Spain’s Amnesty

A coalition of EU nationalist parties called on April 25, 2026, for an immediate suspension of visa-free travel privileges, including those affecting a Schengen visa from USA, citing Spain's new migrant amnesty as a threat to border security.www.visahq.comwww.visahq.com The demand comes amid a surge in applications for Spain's Extraordinary Regularisation Process, which launched on April 20 and has already received over 130,000 petitions from undocumented migrants—far exceeding initial government projections. Critics argue the policy, outlined in Royal Decree-Law 316/2026, rewards illegal residency by offering renewable one-year work permits to those present in Spain for at least five months before January 1, 2026, without serious criminal records. Nationalist leaders highlighted administrative chaos as evidence of uncontrolled immigration, with extranjería offices reporting backlogs of two to three months for fingerprinting in major cities like Madrid and Barcelona. Local governments are also overwhelmed; Madrid's City Council reported daily vulnerability certificate requests jumping from 1,500 to 5,500, sparking overnight queues in major urban centers. The controversy underscores tensions over broader EU travel policies, as employer groups push Spain to extend the June 30 application deadline to avoid disrupting legal pathways like EU ICT permits. While Spain's Interior Ministry promises more staff, the nationalist push signals potential ripple effects across the 27-nation Schengen Area, where visa-free access for short stays remains a cornerstone for millions of American travelers annually.www.visahq.com