Barcelona opens 4 centers to speed up migrant regularization in Spain
The Barcelona City Council has announced the opening of four reception and service centers across the city dedicated to accelerating the process of regularizing undocumented migrants, as part of a plan aimed at simplifying administrative procedures and reducing waiting times for applicants.
The decision comes as part of preparations for the implementation of Spain’s collective regularization program, which is expected to benefit tens of thousands of residents in irregular situations, with a focus on facilitating access to documents and essential services.
New centers to bring services closer to migrants
The Deputy Mayor for Social Rights in Barcelona explained that the four centers will directly assist applicants by providing services related to file preparation, issuing required certificates, and guiding migrants through administrative procedures.
The new centers include:
- Migrant and Refugee Services Center (SAIER)
- Citizen service offices in several areas of the city
- A new service center dedicated to supporting regularization files
- Additional support points linked to local administrations
These centers will receive applications and provide assistance until the end of the application period set for June 30.
Growing pressure due to applicant numbers in Spain
Local authorities in Barcelona expect a large number of irregular residents to benefit from the program, amid estimates suggesting that thousands of people are eligible to submit their applications during the current period.
The city aims, through these centers, to avoid administrative congestion and speed up file processing, especially with expectations of a rise in applications in the coming weeks.
Direct support to reduce administrative pressure
The new centers operate on a walk-in service system, allowing applicants to obtain essential documents such as registration certificates and social status reports more quickly, in addition to providing administrative support for preparing regularization files.
Coordination between different centers in the city will also be strengthened to ensure that applications are processed within a shorter timeframe, drawing on previous experience in managing similar regularization programs.
Service continues until the end of June
The Barcelona City Council confirmed that these centers will continue providing services until June 30, which is the expected deadline for the application intake phase under the current program.
It also noted that other service centers in the city will continue receiving applications through an appointment-based system to ensure organized flow and reduced waiting times.
This post is also available in:
العربية
