Immigration offices in Spain are reported to be experiencing delays due to technical issues affecting mandatory police background checks. The disruption relates to a technical incident in the Adexttra immigration database, which is used for processing residence, work, and arraigo applications. Since December, the system has been unable to generate automated police background reports, which are part of most immigration procedures.
WHY THIS MATTERS
The disruption is affecting applications nationwide. A significant proportion of cases rely on automated police checks through the Adexttra system, and therefore many applications may not be able to progress until the issue is resolved. The delays are further compounded by increased volumes of nationality applications that also require background verification.
Key anticipated impacts on employers and international assignees include:
- Potential delays in new work and residence permit applications, which may affect planned start dates and project timelines.
- Renewal applications may also be impacted if background checks cannot be completed in time.
- Nationality procedures may experience longer processing times due to shared reliance on the same system.
- Applicants may face a period of uncertainty despite having submitted complete documentation.
Background
According to reporting from El Periódico,1 the Ministry of the Interior has confirmed a technical incident affecting the Adexttra system that currently prevents authorities from issuing required police background reports. Some provincial offices are escalating urgent cases for manual review by the National Police; however, capacity limitations mean that pending cases continue to accumulate. The issue began in December 2025 and is still ongoing.
KPMG INSIGHTS
Given that the system failure is occurring on the government side, applicants and employers cannot influence timelines. Delays may vary across provinces depending on local mitigation efforts, but nationwide disruption may be expected.
In light of the changes, employers might wish to consider the following:
- Planning for longer timelines for hiring or transferring non‑EU talent into Spain.
- Assessing whether alternative permit categories follow different background‑check workflows.
- Identifying employees with upcoming expiries to support timely filings and help manage the risk of irregular status.
- Communicating proactively with affected assignees regarding expected delays.
- Documenting delay impacts for internal or external compliance purposes.
If assignees and/or their programme managers have any questions or concerns about the scope of the update, its application and potential impacts, and appropriate next steps, they should consult with their qualified tax professional or a member of the GMS tax team with KPMG in Spain (see the Contacts section).
ENDNOTE:
1 El Periódico, “Un fallo informático en Extranjería atasca expedientes de residencia y trabajo de miles de inmigrantes,” published on February 10, 2026.
Contacts
Disclaimer
* Please note the KPMG International member firm in the United States does not provide immigration or labour law services. However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.
The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Spain.
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