Spain has recently signed a “circular migration” agreement with African nations, aiming to reduce the number of migrants arriving by boat, particularly to the Canary Islands. The deal, signed by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez during a visit to Mauritania, allows for temporary work permits for Mauritanians, while also allocating €500,000 to train local security forces in managing migration. A similar deal was signed with The Gambia, building on Spain’s existing circular migration programs with countries like Morocco and Senegal.
Circular migration allows migrants to stay in Spain for a fixed period before returning to their home countries. In 2022, around 16,000 individuals benefited from this system, with Moroccan fruit-pickers among those taking temporary jobs in southern Spain. However, despite these agreements, migrant numbers continue to rise. So far this year, 35,456 migrants have arrived in Spain, a 62.8% increase compared to the previous year. Of these, 25,524 made the dangerous journey from West Africa to the Canary Islands, marking a 123% increase.
Spain’s government hopes the circular migration plan will help address the growing migrant crisis. Prime Minister Sánchez has stated that immigration is necessary to fill labor gaps and sustain the country’s welfare and pension systems. Spanish authorities estimate that between 200,000 and 250,000 immigrants are needed annually to meet labor demands.
The UK has a similar scheme, issuing work visas to around 40,000 seasonal agricultural migrants from countries like Ukraine and Uzbekistan. However, Britain continues to face challenges in reducing boat crossings through the English Channel. In 2024, 21,720 migrants have crossed the Channel, a slight increase from the previous year, and the government is still seeking solutions to curb this trend.
Experts believe that while circular migration could offer benefits, it may have limited success in significantly reducing illegal migration. Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, pointed out that there is insufficient evidence to suggest that these programs would greatly impact migration patterns in Spain or the UK. A study from the Peterson Institute for International Economics found that legal visas reduced illegal crossings, but only by three for every ten legal visas issued.
Jonathan Thomas, a migration expert from the Social Market Foundation, noted that if legal migration routes are capped, those who are not accepted may still opt for illegal methods. While circular migration may offer an alternative route, it is unlikely to completely replace existing migration channels. In Spain, opposition parties argue that legal migration policies could worsen illegal migration, with the People’s Party and hard-right Vox voicing concerns about the “pull effect” encouraging more people to attempt migration.