In a decisive effort to address the status of a substantial population of unauthorized immigrants, Spain's government revealed on Tuesday an expedited measure to grant legal residency and work permissions for up to a year to individuals currently living and working in the country without official authorization. This initiative, led by Spanish Minister of Migration Elma Saiz, involves fast-tracking a decree to modify immigration laws, circumventing a similar legislative proposal that has languished in parliament.
Amid a regional climate where many countries reinforce restrictive immigration and asylum policies, often influenced by precedents set by the United States’ previous administration, Spain is charting an alternative route. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and members of his cabinet have frequently highlighted the positive economic contributions and demographic benefits that legal immigration offers to Spain’s aging society and labor market.
Statistics suggest that nearly 500,000 immigrants could become eligible under the new decree; other reports estimate the undocumented immigrant population could reach 800,000. These individuals predominantly originate from Latin America and Africa and hold employment positions crucial to Spain’s agricultural, tourism, and service industries, sectors integral to the nation's economic vitality.
Eligibility criteria specify that immigrants who arrived in Spain prior to December 31, 2025, and can demonstrate continuous residence in the country for at least five months, coupled with a clear criminal record, will qualify to apply. Minister Saiz anticipates the application process to commence in April and continue through June, with measures to ensure efficient processing despite concerns raised by police unions regarding administrative burdens.
The government's announcement followed a last-minute parliamentary agreement between the ruling Socialist Party and the left-wing Podemos party, securing parliamentary support for Prime Minister Sánchez's fragile administration. Podemos lawmaker Irene Montero publicly framed Spain's move as a humanitarian contrast to the more coercive immigration enforcement policies instituted in the previous U.S. administration.
This legal recognition was met with applause among migrant advocacy groups and prominent Catholic institutions that secured a prior petition garnering 700,000 signatures in favor of similar initiatives. Silvana Cabrera, spokesperson for the campaign RegularizaciónYa (Regularization Now), expressed emotional relief at the victory, emphasizing the movement's roots in the COVID-19 pandemic era when undocumented workers occupied essential roles without adequate protections. The Spanish Episcopal Conference described the government’s decision as an act of social justice acknowledging migrants’ longstanding contributions to Spain’s development. Similarly, Laetitia Van der Vennet of the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) highlighted the policy as an embodiment of humanitarian values amidst a rising tide of anti-immigrant sentiment across the Atlantic.
This approach is not unprecedented in Spain, which has previously granted amnesty to undocumented immigrants on six occasions between 1986 and 2005. Migration policy expert Anna Terrón Cusi noted the positive impact of past legalization efforts on formal job creation and workforce integration. She further noted that the current measure allows Spain to prepare for the upcoming European migration and asylum pact, expected to emphasize deportation measures. By regularizing undocumented migrants, the government provides them with rights and protections while simultaneously fostering economic benefits.
However, the policy has attracted criticism from opposition factions. The conservative Popular Party’s leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo accused Prime Minister Sánchez of deflecting attention from a recent fatal train crash. Moreover, Santiago Abascal, head of the far-right Vox party, condemned the decision on social media, employing rhetoric reflective of broader far-right anti-immigration narratives.
Spain, historically a source of emigration, has in recent decades received millions of immigrants primarily from South America and Africa, most entering legally. Minister Saiz underscored Spain’s commitment to countering the global surge in exclusionary immigration policies, describing the country as a "beacon" of opposition to far-right agendas. She described the day of the announcement as significant and positive for Spain.