Dominican migration to Spain: Opportunity or brain drain?

A Changing Migration Landscape

Dominican migration to Spain initially consisted mainly of women working as domestic helpers and caregivers. Over time, Spain has become the second-largest destination for Dominican immigrants, with 188,308 Dominicans residing there as of December 2022. While domestic work remains a significant sector, an increasing number of Dominicans are now employed in specialized fields, including engineering, healthcare, and technical professions. Many Dominicans feel motivated to seize opportunities in Spain, given the shared language and cultural ties.

Spain’s Aging Population Fuels Demand

Like much of Europe, Spain faces a rapidly aging population, with over 20% of Spaniards aged 65 or older—a figure projected to surpass 30% by 2050. The average age already exceeds 44 years, making Spain one of the oldest populations in the world. The broader European Union sees similar trends, with one in three Europeans expected to be over 65 by 2050. The fastest-growing group—those aged 80 and above—is set to expand from 6% today to 14% by 2100.

This demographic shift has driven increased labor demand across agriculture, construction, hospitality, transportation, technology, engineering, and healthcare, alongside continued reliance on domestic workers and caregivers. Studies from institutions such as the Bank of Spain, BBVA Research, the OECD, and CEOE predict that Spain alone will need between 5 and 7 million additional workers by 2050.

New Immigration Reforms Bring Opportunity and Restrictions

Spain has taken steps to address these workforce shortages through its latest Foreigners Regulation reform, which took effect on May 20, 2025. The reform introduces significant policy changes that will directly impact Dominican migrants:

• Reduced residency requirement for legal status: The minimum residency period for obtaining permits through Arraigo (legalization based on residency) has been lowered from three years to two, making it easier for undocumented migrants to regularize their status.
• Expanded pathways to legalization: New modalities of arraigo will allow migrants to legalize their status through varied personal and professional circumstances.
• Work opportunities for students: Foreign students, including Dominicans, can now work up to 30 hours per week during their studies and transition more easily into the labor market upon graduation.
• Stricter visa requirements: While the reforms offer new opportunities, Spain has also tightened financial and documentation requirements for visa applicants, potentially making it harder for those with limited resources to qualify.

Brain Drain Risks for the Dominican Republic

While these reforms will likely increase Dominican migration to Spain and Europe, they also pose long-term challenges. A growing proportion of skilled Dominican professionals—including engineers, doctors, and technicians—may be drawn abroad, fueling a potential brain drain.

This trend presents a pressing challenge: how can the Dominican Republic retain its skilled workers and prevent structural inequality caused by wealthier nations “importing” talent trained in poorer countries? The loss of investment in education, healthcare, and professional development, combined with workforce depletion in key sectors such as health, education, and technology, could significantly impact national progress.

To counteract this, the Dominican Republic must create domestic opportunities that incentivize talented professionals to remain, ensuring its citizens can thrive and contribute within their homeland. Without robust policies to retain local talent, global inequality, and economic disparities will continue to deepen.