Spain’s Socialist-led government prepared on Tuesday to grant legal status to approximately 500,000 people currently living and working in the country without documentation, according to a report by France 24.
Foreign nationals with clean criminal records who arrived in Spain before the end of 2025 are eligible for renewable one-year residence permits. To qualify, applicants must prove they have lived in the country for at least five months.
Those who applied for asylum in Spain before December 31 are also eligible to apply under the new program. This marks the first mass regularisation effort in Spain in over two decades.
Economic and social drivers
The initiative stems from a citizen-backed proposal signed by roughly 700,000 people and supported by numerous civil society groups, including the Catholic Church, the outlet reported.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has championed the amnesty as a method to provide legal protections to informal workers while bolstering the country's social security system. The system currently faces pressure from Spain's ageing population, and the government aims to bring more revenue through formalised employment.
While much of the public focus remains on migrants arriving via boats to the Canary Islands or crossing borders at North African exclaves, the majority of undocumented individuals in Spain entered the country legally. Many overstay their visas to work in the 'black economy,' according to France 24.
These workers often occupy roles in construction, farming, shops, and restaurants, or provide domestic services like cleaning and childcare. Many of these individuals originate from Latin American nations such as Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador, as well as North African countries like Morocco.
This policy move contrasts with recent trends across the Atlantic and within the European Union. While several nations have ramped up deportations, Spain is moving toward integration to drive economic growth.