Spain is on the verge of a significant shift in its migration policy. The government is expected to approve today a large-scale regularisation process that could grant legal status to hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants currently living in the country.
Estimates suggest that between 500,000 and one million people could benefit from the measure, making it one of the largest regularisation programmes carried out in Spain in recent decades.
Spain Expat Press Editorial Team
What is planned?
The plan would allow migrants who were already in Spain before 1 January 2026 to apply for a temporary residence and work permit valid for one year.
To qualify, applicants must prove that they have lived in Spain for at least five months and that they do not have a criminal record. No criminal record
The procedure is expected to run until 30 June – the deadline is therefore very tight
Problem area: criminal records
A central issue is the proof of having no criminal record. Applicants must generally submit an official certificate from their country of origin.
However, the Consejo de Estado has expressed concerns, particularly regarding the originally planned possibility of submitting a self-declaration instead. The body warns of legal uncertainty and calls for stricter rules.
Proof of residence
The proof that someone has lived in Spain for at least five months is also not clearly regulated. Possible documents include:
- Registration certificate (empadronamiento)
- Rental contracts
- Medical appointments
- Social service records
- Money transfers
According to experts, there is still a lack of clear guidelines here.
Time pressure and possible overload
The biggest challenge is likely to be the tight timeframe. Within a few weeks, hundreds of thousands of applications could be submitted.
There are already warnings that the administration could quickly become overwhelmed without additional resources.
Political tensions
The measure is also causing political controversy. Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo has announced that he will take action against the regularisation at all levels.
