The electronic filing of applications is currently fully implemented for immigration procedures in Spain. Therefore, nowadays, no appointments are required to file the applications, resulting in shorter processing times.

The audiovisual sector has a very beneficial treatment from an immigration standpoint in Spain, such that, depending on the duration of the given audiovisual sector project, the cast and crew members may work in Spain under a specific category, without having to obtain a work permit or visa. For example, from the immigration standpoint, if the project will have a duration of no more than 90 days, the cast or crew member may be able to work in Spain on their valid passport (if national of a visa free country, for example, the US or the UK) meeting entry requirements for visitors, of course, if circumstances allow.

There are additional authorizations that may apply to specific cases, such as work permit exceptions and residence authorizations that apply to directors or professors of foreign/local universities or to entrepreneurs or holders of work/residence permits issued in other EU countries that are temporarily posted to work in Spain. Spanish immigration regulations also establish a way to obtain a work and residence authorization based on the years that a foreign national has remained in Spain for and on their integration into Spanish society. In effect, work and residence authorizations based on exceptional circumstances (arraigo social) may be obtained if a foreign national has remained in Spain for more than three years and has been offered full-time employment for at least a year.

Immigrants to Spain are often interested in becoming Spanish citizens. Naturalization to citizenship requires, generally, 10 years of legal, continuous and effective residence holding legal resident status in Spain. However, this general period is shorter for nationals of certain countries (e.g., Morocco or the Philippines (five years), nationals of all South and Central American countries (two years), and spouses of Spanish nationals or the children or grandchildren of Spanish nationals (one year)).