Lorraine Williamson
Spain’s government has formally approved an extraordinary regularisation scheme that will grant legal residence and work rights to around 500,000 undocumented migrants, marking one of the most far-reaching immigration decisions in the country’s democratic history.
The measure was signed off by the Council of Ministers on Tuesday and will enter force via Royal Decree, allowing immediate implementation without a full parliamentary vote. The move follows years of pressure from civil society groups and reflects a growing acknowledgement of the scale of undocumented labour already embedded in Spain’s economy.
From political debate to confirmed policy
What had long been discussed as a political possibility is now official government policy. The regularisation covers people who can prove they were living in Spain before 31 December 2025, have maintained continuous residence for at least five months, and do not have a serious criminal record.
Once an application is formally admitted, applicants will be allowed to work legally, even before final approval of their residence permit. The government expects applications to open in April, with most cases processed within approximately three months.
Who is included in the scheme
Unlike earlier regularisation efforts, the approved decree explicitly includes asylum seekers whose applications were lodged before the end of 2025 and later stalled or rejected. This expands the scope of the measure beyond undocumented workers alone.
Government estimates suggest that up to 840,000 people currently live in Spain without full legal status, many having entered legally but fallen into irregularity due to long administrative delays or changing residency rules.
Why the government says it matters
Ministers argue that the scheme reflects economic reality. Undocumented migrants already work across key sectors including agriculture, construction, hospitality, domestic care and logistics — often without labour protections or access to healthcare.
By bringing workers into the formal system, the government says the policy will:
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Reduce labour exploitation
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Increase tax and social security contributions
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Improve access to healthcare and housing
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Strengthen social cohesion
The initiative builds on a popular legislative proposal launched during the pandemic, which gathered more than 700,000 signatures in support of large-scale regularisation.
Political backlash and legal challenges
Opposition parties have reacted sharply. The conservative People’s Party has accused the government of acting without consensus, while Vox has announced plans to challenge the decree in court.
Despite this, faith groups, migrant organisations and humanitarian charities have broadly welcomed the move, describing it as overdue and pragmatic rather than ideological.
A rare move in a tightening Europe
Spain’s decision stands out at a time when many European governments are tightening immigration controls. Analysts note that while regularisation programmes remain controversial, Spain has previously used them during periods of labour shortage — most notably in 2005.
This latest scheme signals a shift towards formal recognition of long-term residents already contributing to Spanish society, rather than continued enforcement through deportation and legal limbo.
What happens next
Regional administrations are now preparing for a surge in applications, with local offices expected to play a central role in processing documentation and verifying residence history.
For hundreds of thousands of people living in uncertainty, the decree offers a pathway out of the shadows — and for Spain, a recalibration of how immigration, labour and social integration intersect.
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