Spain has approved a mass migrant regularisation plan that will allow up to 500,000 undocumented people already living in the country to apply for legal residency in 2026.
The move, announced by the Spanish government in Madrid last week, targets long-term residents working without papers and comes as many other EU states tighten migration rules.
Moving fast on permits
Spain’s migrant regularisation plan allows undocumented residents already living in the country to apply for legal status during a limited application window.
To qualify, applicants must prove they arrived before the end of 2025, have lived in Spain for at least five months and have no criminal record. Successful applicants will receive a one-year renewable residence permit that allows them to live and work legally.
The measure was approved by Spain’s Council of Ministers through a royal decree following a political agreement between the governing Socialist Party and the left-wing Unidas Podemos party.
The government has said that the policy could apply to around 500,000 undocumented people already in Spain.
Spain breaks with neighbours
Spain’s decision comes as several other European countries tighten migration rules and increase deportations.
In recent years, governments in France, Germany and Italy have pushed for stricter asylum procedures and stronger border enforcement. Spain has instead focused on regularising migrants who are already working and living in the country without legal status.
Spain’s migration minister, Elma Saiz, said at a press conference that the policy recognises people who are already part of Spanish society.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has previously said migration supports Spain’s economy, particularly in labour-intensive sectors like agriculture, tourism and domestic care.
Half-a-million undocumented population
Spain does not publish official figures on the number of undocumented migrants.
Estimates cited by the economic think tank Funcas suggest that the number ranges from about 500,000 to more than 800,000 people. Many are from Latin America and North Africa and entered Spain legally before overstaying visas.
A similar large-scale regularisation took place in 2005, when Spain granted legal status to almost 600,000 undocumented migrants.
Since the mid-1980s, Spain has carried out several regularisation campaigns under governments from across the political spectrum, affecting more than one million people in total.
Who’s filling the jobs gap?
Foreign workers make up a growing share of Spain’s workforce. Data cited by Deutsche Welle shows that migrants accounted for most new hires in late 2025, during a period when Spain’s unemployment rate fell below 10%.
Economists have said that migrant labour eases shortages in sectors where employers struggle to recruit locally.
A study on Spain’s 2005 regularisation found that tax revenues increased after undocumented migrants gained legal status.
The same research found no significant rise in new arrivals linked to the policy, according to labour economist Joan Monràs, who studied the effects of that earlier programme.
Right wing hits brakes
Opposition parties have criticised the government’s approach. Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the conservative Popular Party, said that the decree rewarded “illegality” and accused the government of bypassing Parliament.
The far-right Vox party announced that it would challenge the measure before Spain’s Supreme Court, calling the move unconstitutional.
Vox leader Santiago Abascal used social media to accuse the government of enabling mass migration. His party has proposed large-scale deportations of foreign-born residents, including some with legal status.
Similar rhetoric has been reported across Spanish media following the announcement.
Waiting on papers, not promises
Coverage by The Guardian and France 24 shows that many undocumented migrants welcomed the announcement.
Interviews published by those outlets describe workers who have spent years in Spain without access to stable jobs, healthcare or housing due to their legal status.
Migrant advocacy groups have said that the policy could allow people already contributing to the economy to move into formal employment.
Catholic organisations and civil society groups that supported the proposal described it as recognition of long-term residents who have lived and worked in Spain for years without papers.
What permit won’t fix
The new permits do not grant Spanish citizenship or voting rights. Applicants will still need to renew their permits and meet legal requirements to remain in the country long term.
The application window is limited, and applicants must provide documentation proving their length of stay, which some advocacy groups have said could be difficult for people working informally.
People with criminal records are excluded from the programme. Spanish authorities have said that applications will be accepted between April and June, with residence permits issued for one year and renewable if conditions are met.
Border tech closing in
Spain’s migrant regularisation does not change entry rules for tourists or short-term visitors.
People travelling to Spain for holidays, study or short stays remain subject to Schengen visa rules. The policy applies only to people already living in Spain without legal status.
From October 2025, Spain is gradually introducing the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES), an automated border system that records the entry and exit of non-EU nationals travelling for short stays of up to 90 days. Full implementation across participating countries is expected by April 2026.
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is expected to launch in late 2026. It will require visa-exempt travellers from 59 countries to apply for online travel authorisation before entering 30 European countries, including Spain.
ETIAS applies only to short-term visitors and does not affect people holding residence permits.
A legal card, a new start
Migrant support groups are now preparing to assist applicants with documentation and submissions once the process opens. Spanish authorities have said that they will monitor the rollout and assess the number of successful applications.
The policy’s long-term impact will depend on how smoothly applications are processed and whether newly regularised residents are able to move into formal employment.
For now, the decree marks one of the largest migrant regularisation efforts in Europe in recent years.