One of the most large scale regularisation movements in European history has seen the government of Spain pass a historic immigration law that will regularise the status of between half a million illegal immigrants in the country.
The Potential Significant Policy Change: Its Implications
A Royal Decree, approved by the Cabinet of Spain, granting a fast-tracked path to legal status and permission to work to an estimated half-million people in the country without formal immigration status, was approved.
According to the arguments made by the Migration Minister, Elma Saiz, the new scheme will enable the applicants who have qualified to work in any sector and anywhere in Spain with a view to introducing dignity and legal certainty to the people who already form part of the Spanish society.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the regularisation programme, the applicants usually require to:
Have lived more than five months in Spain at least as of 31 December 2025.
Applied to international protection before the year 2025.
Criminal History Clean.
Children who already reside in Spain were included as dependent children.
Applied to international protection before the year 2025.
Criminal History Clean.
Children who already reside in Spain were included as dependent children.
Such conditions will be geared towards having a balance between humanitarian interests and law, and the security of the people.
Applications Timeline and Process
The programme will be available until April 2026, and the application window will be open until 30 June 2026.
The authorities will give the beneficiaries one year of temporary residency and work permit after an application is received, and this will allow them to access formal jobs and social services.
Strategic Goals Underlying the decision
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has recently clarified that the policy is needed to relieve labour shortages, stimulate economic expansion, and offset an ageing population that is rapidly greying and could strain pension and welfare programmes.
This approach of Spain is a bright exception to other European countries, which possess more restrictive immigration policies, and it also makes the country more favorable to migrants, which strengthens its labor base.
Social Discourse and Political Reaction
Despite the fact that the move has received applause among the migrant support organisations and religious groups as a step towards social justice and assimilation, conservative parties have also been condemning the move. The opponents argue that the regularisation would promote illegal migration and overloading of the social services.
These fears notwithstanding, the decree was passed by the government without the united action of parliament on the basis that there was no time and great popular opinion supported the reform.
