Spain has decided to grant legal status to up to 500,000 undocumented immigrants, marking one of the most significant immigration regularization drives in Europe in recent years. The move aims to integrate undocumented workers into the formal economy and counter labor shortages in key sectors.
According to international news agencies and official statements, Spanish Minister for Migration Elma Saiz confirmed that the application process will begin in April 2026 and continue until the end of June. Eligible immigrants will be granted up to one year of legal residency along with permission to work anywhere in Spain.
Under the new policy, individuals who arrived in Spain before December 31, 2025, and can prove they have resided in the country for at least five months, will qualify for regularization. Applicants must also have a clean criminal record. The decision will also apply to children of migrants already living in Spain.
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Law to Be Implemented via Decree
The Spanish government will implement the measure by fast-tracking a decree to amend immigration laws, bypassing a similar bill that had stalled in parliament. The move follows a last-minute political deal between the ruling Socialist Party and the leftist Podemos party, which secured parliamentary support for Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government.
“This government will not look the other way,” Saiz said, adding that Spain is choosing to recognize and dignify people who are already contributing to the country. Officials estimate the measure could benefit around 500,000 people, while advocacy groups suggest the number of undocumented immigrants could be as high as 800,000.
Economic and Social Impact
Most undocumented migrants in Spain come from Latin America and Africa and are employed in agriculture, tourism, domestic work, and service sectors, which form the backbone of Spain’s economy. Experts say the regularization will help address labor shortages and strengthen the country’s aging workforce.
“This is not the first time Spain has taken such a step,” said Anna Terrón Cusi, a senior fellow at the Migration Policy Institute. Spain has previously granted immigration amnesty six times between 1986 and 2005, moves that significantly boosted formal employment and tax revenues.
Terrón added that the decision allows Spain to “reset the counter” ahead of the new European migration and asylum pact set to take effect in June, which emphasizes deportations. By legalizing undocumented migrants, Spain is extending rights and protections while also benefiting economically.
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Celebrations and Criticism
The announcement was welcomed by hundreds of migrant rights groups and Catholic organizations, many of which had long campaigned for regularization and collected 700,000 signatures in support. Spain’s Episcopal Conference called the move an “act of social justice”, praising migrants’ long-standing contributions.
However, the decision drew sharp criticism from opposition parties. Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the conservative Popular Party, accused the government of using the policy as a distraction from a recent deadly train crash. Meanwhile, Santiago Abascal of the far-right Vox party condemned the move, echoing hardline anti-immigration rhetoric.
Despite criticism, Minister Saiz said Spain would remain a “beacon against rising anti-immigration politics” across Europe and beyond, adding, “Today is a great day for our country.”
