Bureaucratic Violence in the Residency Application Process

Findings from a Mixed Methods Cross-Sectional Survey of Migrant Women in Spain

Bibliographic Data

ID5935937
AuthorsAbigail Bentley (0000-0001-9837-5211, Universitat de València, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume12
Issue9
Pages526
Publication date2023-09-20
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Sciences (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2076-0760 • E-ISSN: 2076-0760
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/socsci12090526
OpenAlexW4386884990
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited36

Bureaucratic violence linked to immigration systems and residency applications, such as confusing and cumbersome administrative processes, discriminatory practices and a lack of accountability, act as significant post-migration stressors in destination countries that can impact migrant wellbeing. The behavior of public officials within these systems, referred to as 'street-level bureaucrats', can amplify stress through the use of discretion in interpreting legal requirements. The experiences of migrant women in attempting to obtain resident status in Spain have not been well documented. This article makes a novel contribution to the literature by aiming to understand the barriers faced by migrant women when applying for residency in Spain, and how experiences differ by socio-demographic subgroups. The study analysed mixed-methods data collected via an online survey of migrant women living in Valencia, Spain. A lack of information, communication barriers and difficulty meeting the stringent requirements of visa applications emerged as some of the main barriers to residency, with women from Africa, Asia or the Middle East being most likely to encounter barriers. Policy makers should seek to enhance transparency, standardize processes and improve communication for migrants interacting with the immigration system in order to reduce barriers and create more accessible pathways to residency in Spain

Accountability · Bureaucracy · Demographic economics · Discretion · Economics · Immigration · Political science · Public relations · Transparency (behavior · Medicine · Migration and Labor Dynamics · Migration, Health and Trauma · Migration, Refugees, and Integration · Psychology

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