The Spanish government has approved a plan to give legal status to 500,000 undocumented migrants, allowing them to be integrated formally into the workforce.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described his government’s decision as both “an act of justice” and a necessity for Spain.

In a letter to the nation posted on social media, Sánchez said the mass legalisation sought “to acknowledge the reality of nearly half a million people who already form part of our everyday lives”.

Spain’s conservative opposition People’s Party (PP) has pledged to attempt to block the legalisation, which it said rewards illegal migrants and would encourage more to come.

Mr Sanchez has said migrants are needed to sustain Spain’s economy and public services in a country whose population is ageing.

He also said it was the right course of action for a nation which in the past had seen many of its own nationals emigrate in search of better opportunities.

Spain’s Funcas think-tank has estimated that there are around 840,000 undocumented migrants in Spain, the vast majority of whom are from Latin America.

The government’s plan will offer a one-year, renewable residence permit to undocumented migrants.

How the scheme will work

To be eligible, applicants must prove that they have already spent five months living in Spain and have a clean criminal record. They until the end of June to apply.

Individuals who have applied for international protection (asylum seekers) can also apply, provided their application was submitted before December 31, 2025.

The process also covers migrant children under 18 already living in Spain. These minors will receive a residence permit valid for five years.

Once an application is admitted, individuals are granted provisional authorisation to work legally in any sector and any location in Spain, offering security for both workers and employers. 

The measure “guarantees rights and gives legal certainty to a reality that already exists,” according to Spain’s Ministry of Inclusion, Security Social and Migration.

The regularisation plan grew out of citizen-led initiative (ILP) backed by more than 700,000 people.

This was passed in Congress in 2024 with 310 votes in favour and 33 against, although the main opposition has since criticised the measure, arguing that it should have been debated further and raising concerns about its implementation.

From April 2026, applicants can submit forms online or in person, with proof of residency, such as a municipal registration certificate (empadronament), medical records, utility bills, or money transfer receipts.

Once accepted for processing, applicants immediately receive residence and work rights for one year, suspending any ongoing deportation procedures.

After the first year, beneficiaries transition into one of Spain’s ordinary residence permit categories under its immigration regulations, such as work or family reunification permits.

In Catalonia, a popular destination for migrants, a technical working group that included Catalan and Spanish government officials has been established to oversee information campaigns, legal support, and access to employment, ensuring the process reaches all eligible individuals.

The Spanish government has emphasised that the measure will cut off the business model of human traffickers, increase tax revenue, and reduce informal employment.

While right-wing parties argue the measure could create a “pull factor,” the Spanish government maintains that studies of previous regularisations – including the 2005 program – found no evidence that they encouraged increased irregular migration.