Spain grants legal residency to half a million migrants

The Spanish government has approved a new plan aimed at regularizing the status of around 500,000 undocumented migrants, granting them legal residency that allows their formal integration into the labor market, in a move described by the government as necessary to support the economy and address labor market challenges.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the decision is part of a social justice approach, stressing that the plan reflects the reality of hundreds of thousands of migrants who have become part of Spanish society.

He added in a social media statement that the goal of the mass regularization is to recognize the role of these migrants in daily life in the country, noting that they have contributed to building a diverse society and a strong economy.

Details of Spain’s migrant regularization plan

According to the government plan, undocumented migrants will be granted a one-year residence permit, renewable, subject to several basic conditions, including:

• Proof of residence in Spain for at least five months.
• A clean criminal record.
• Submission of the application within the specified period.

The authorities have set the period from April 16 until the end of June as the official timeframe for submitting applications to benefit from the program.

Economic and social objectives of the plan in Spain

The Prime Minister confirmed that migrants represent an important element in supporting the economy and maintaining public services, especially amid challenges related to the increasing proportion of elderly people in Spanish society.

He also noted that Spain has historically experienced significant emigration, with many of its citizens previously moving abroad in search of better opportunities, stating that this measure comes in a similar historical context in terms of the need to regulate migration and make use of it effectively.

Estimated numbers of undocumented migrants in Spain

Estimates from the Spanish research center Funcas indicate that the number of undocumented migrants in Spain reaches around 840,000 people, most of whom are from Latin American countries.

In this context, several migrants expressed optimism about the decision, with a Bolivian migrant saying that the move could give thousands of people the opportunity to work legally and improve their living standards, while also supporting the Spanish economy by increasing revenues and providing formal labor for employers.

Political opposition and warnings over the impact of the decision in Spain

On the other hand, the Spanish People’s Party announced its intention to block the plan, arguing that it could encourage more irregular migration to Spain.

The opposition also suggested that the number of applicants could exceed government estimates, potentially reaching around one million migrants, describing the plan as a controversial measure.

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