Spain Plans to Regularize the Status of 500,000 Undocumented Migrants
The Spanish government announced on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, a plan to regularize migrants in irregular situations within the country, potentially benefiting nearly 500,000 individuals, with the aim of supporting the national economy.
Conditions for Regularization
The Spanish Minister of Social Security and Immigration, and government spokesperson, Ilma Saiz, stated on official television that this initiative will allow individuals who have been present in Spain for at least five months and who arrived before December 31, 2025, to obtain legal status and work in any sector and location across the country.
She specified that “all applications will be accepted from April until June 30,” adding that the government aims to “preserve dignity, provide guarantees and opportunities, and ensure the rights of individuals already present in our country.”
A Migration Policy Favorable for Economic Reasons
The leftist Spanish government adopts a favorable approach to migrants primarily for economic reasons, contrasting with the trend in many European Union countries to tighten their migration policies.
To facilitate the implementation of this measure, the government has adopted a “royal decree,” a procedure outlined by the Spanish Constitution that allows for its publication in the Official Gazette without a parliamentary vote, due to the lack of an executive majority.
Wide Popular Support
The announcement of these “comprehensive” measures comes after a meeting between the government and its radical left ally, the Podemos party, which welcomed this initiative. This reform also follows a popular initiative signed by over 600,000 individuals and supported by nearly 900 associations, calling for the exceptional regularization of all migrants in irregular situations in Spain.
Spain, a Major Entry Point to Europe
Spain, along with Italy and Greece, represents one of the three main entry points for migrants into Europe, primarily via the Canary Islands, located off the northwest coast of Africa.
In 2025, approximately 37,000 irregular migrants entered Spain, reflecting a significant decrease of 42.6% compared to 2024 (64,000 arrivals), according to the Ministry of the Interior. According to the latest statistics from the National Institute of Statistics, more than 7 million foreigners reside in Spain, within a total population of 49.4 million inhabitants.
