On 12 September 2025, the Dirección General de Gestión Migratoria (DGGM – General Directorate for Migration Management) published Management Guidance 5/2025, providing important clarifications on the requirement of a medical certificate in applications for long-term stay or residence permits under the new Immigration Regulation (Royal Decree 1155/2024).
💡 At ARC Legal, we maintain a dynamic resource where we constantly update all guidance documents, clarifying notes, and instructions related to the new Immigration Regulation. You can access it here (in Spanish): Immigration Regulation Hub.
⏺️ Regulatory context
The RLOEx (RD 1155/2024) establishes, among the requirements for processing long-term stay and residence visas, the submission of a medical certificate confirming that the foreign applicant does not suffer from any of the diseases with serious public health implications, as defined in the International Health Regulations (IHR-2005) of the World Health Organization.
The IHR-2005 aims to prevent the international spread of diseases, safeguard public health, and, at the same time, avoid unnecessary interference with international travel and trade.
⏺️ Key change introduced by Criterion 5/2025
The DGGM clarifies that the medical certificate is not required when the application for a long-term stay or residence permit is submitted from within Spain, i.e., by foreign nationals who are already in Spanish territory.
Consequently, the medical certificate will continue to be required only in applications lodged abroad at consulates or embassies, in connection with visa procedures.
You can access the full official text of Management Criterion 5/2025 here:
⏺️ Practical implications
This new guidance represents an important simplification for foreign nationals managing their permits directly in Spain, as it removes the obligation to submit a medical certificate in these cases.
The measure reduces administrative burdens and facilitates the processing of authorizations, in line with the spirit of the new Immigration Regulation.
⏺️ Conclusion
Management Guidance 5/2025 harmonizes the application of health and immigration regulations and establishes a clear distinction between applications submitted abroad and those processed within Spain. It is another step towards simplifying procedures and ensuring legal certainty in the application of the Regulation.
⏺️ Do you need help with your residence or stay application in Spain?
At ARC Legal we support our clients throughout the process, from preparing documentation to submitting the application and monitoring the file. If you would like us to review your case or help you prepare your application, contact us and we will work with you to design the best strategy.
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Prefer to read this article in Spanish 🇪🇸? You can read it here: Residencia y estancias en España: exención del certificado médico según nuevo criterio de la DGGM
The information contained in this article is general in nature and for informational purposes only. It does not constitute individualized legal advice. For an assessment tailored to your specific case, we recommend consulting with a lawyer specialized in immigration law.