Spain is facing one of the biggest migration policy decisions in its recent history. Around 900,000 people have now submitted applications for residence and work permits under an extraordinary regularisation programme – a historic high that is placing significant political and social pressure on the country.
Spain Expat Press Editorial Team
by Marlon Gallego Bosbach
The measure is intended to give migrants without valid residence status the opportunity to legalise their stay and formally participate in the labour market. For the government, it is a balancing act between economic necessity and political controversy.
Record number of applications
According to current figures, around 900,000 applications had been submitted by mid-June 2026. This means the programme has reached a scale that clearly surpasses previous regularisation waves.
Around 360,000 cases are already being formally processed, while many others still need to be reviewed. The authorities are under considerable pressure, as the deadline for submitting applications is 30 June 2026. The administration is working at full speed to handle the large number of cases, while new applications continue to be submitted and processed on a daily basis.
Objective: Legalisation and integration
The Spanish government aims to use the procedure to better integrate migrants already living in the country into society and the labour market. Many of those affected have been living in Spain for months or even years, often without formal residence status, and are working in sectors where there is a pressing need for labour.
The regularisation is intended to reduce undeclared work, promote legal employment and strengthen the tax and social security systems. At the same time, the government hopes to stabilise the labour market in sectors that are heavily affected by labour shortages. Economic estimates suggest that each successfully regularised migrant could make a significant long-term contribution to the economy, particularly through tax payments and social security contributions.
Requirements for regularisation
The opportunity for regularisation is subject to clear conditions. One of the requirements is that applicants must have been living in Spain before 1 January 2026 and must be able to demonstrate a continuous stay in the country lasting at least several months.
In addition, applicants must have no criminal convictions and must not pose any threat to public safety. Each case is assessed individually, which represents a significant burden for the responsible authorities given the high number of applications.
Politically controversial measure
While the government defends the programme as a necessary step towards regulating and stabilising the labour market, it remains highly controversial politically. The measure is supported in particular by trade unions, religious organisations, and numerous human rights and migrant support groups, which see it as a realistic and humane response to an already existing social reality.
Criticism, however, mainly comes from conservative and right-wing opposition parties, which warn of potential perverse incentives and fear that the measure could attract additional migration. In the political debate, the programme is therefore increasingly seen as a symbol of the broader dispute over how migration should be managed in Spain.
Bureaucracy under pressure
The implementation of the programme is placing considerable strain on the administration. The high number of applications is already leading to long processing times and a heavily burdened bureaucracy. In many cases, necessary documents or proof are also missing, which further slows down the procedures. Regional differences in how applications are handled are also becoming apparent, resulting in uneven implementation of the programme across the country.
Aid organisations also warn that some of those affected may struggle to meet deadlines or fulfil all requirements in time, which creates uncertainty throughout the process.
A country undergoing migration policy change
Spain is once again at the centre of Europe’s migration debate. While some European countries are increasingly adopting more restrictive measures, Spain is pursuing a more pragmatic approach that focuses on integrating people already living in the country, rather than relying solely on border enforcement and exclusion.
Whether this approach will be successful in the long term will depend largely on its practical implementation and the political stability of the programme, which is already one of the most significant migration policy initiatives in Europe in recent years.
