Spain's Historic Move to Legalize Half a Million Undocumented Migrants

Mon Feb 02 2026 19:45:59 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a landmark decision, the Spanish government aims to grant legal status to at least 500,000 undocumented migrants, reflecting a commitment to human rights and economic growth.

Spain has announced a significant initiative allowing about half a million undocumented migrants to gain legal residency. This policy, articulated by Minister Elma Saiz, will benefit those with no criminal records who can prove residency for at least five months by the end of 2025. The application process is set to begin in April and continue through June, reinforcing Spain's focus on integration and human rights amidst rising migrant numbers from Latin America.

The Spanish government has announced a plan to legalise the status of undocumented migrants, a measure expected to benefit at least half a million people.

Regularisation will be available to foreign nationals who do not have a criminal record and can prove they lived in Spain for at least five months prior to 31 December 2025.

This is a historic day for our country, said Elma Saiz, Spain's minister of inclusion, social security and migration.

The measure will provide beneficiaries with an initial one-year residence permit, which can then be extended. Requests for legalisation are expected to begin in April and the process will remain open until the end of June.

Saiz emphasized, We are reinforcing a migratory model based on human rights, integration, co-existence and which is compatible with economic growth and social cohesion. This initiative comes as Spain has experienced a significant influx of migrants in recent years, predominantly from Latin America.

According to the conservative think-tank Funcas, the number of undocumented migrants in Spain surged from 107,409 in 2017 to approximately 837,938 in 2025, marking an eight-fold increase. The largest groups of undocumented migrants currently are from Colombia, Peru, and Honduras.

Spain's socialist-led coalition government stands as a rarity among leading European nations, highlighting the key role migrants play in their economy. Reports indicate that Spain is performing well compared to other major EU economies, forecasted to grow by nearly 3% in 2025, while unemployment rates have dipped below 10% for the first time since 2008.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez articulated immigrants' contributions as vital for wealth and prosperity, asserting their role in enhancing the social security system. He, along with leftist parties, underlines the importance of humane treatment for migrants.

Former minister Irene Montero, a member of the far-left Podemos party, has advocated for migrant rights, asserting, Providing rights is the answer to racism. A recent civic proposal supporting mass regularisation garnered around 700,000 endorsements but faced legislative stagnation.

This new law will be established via royal decree, circumventing the need for parliamentary consent, marking the first substantial migrant regularisation in Spain in two decades. Previous initiatives by various governments had legalised the status of approximately half a million migrants between 1986 and 2005.

However, the move is not without opposition. Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the People's Party, warned that this will overwhelm public services, while Vox party spokeswoman Pepa Millán claimed it undermines national identity and indicated plans to challenge the measure legally.