Spain Draws 549,596 Migrant Applications for 500,000 Legalizations by June 30
Updated
Updated · NBC News · May 30
Spain Draws 549,596 Migrant Applications for 500,000 Legalizations by June 30
3 articles · Updated · NBC News · May 30
549,596 undocumented immigrants applied within a month of Spain opening its regularization program on April 16, putting the government on track to legalize more than 500,000 people.
The scheme grants adults a one-year work and residence permit — renewable if they show employment — while minors receive five years of legal status.
Applicants must prove they were in Spain before Jan. 1, 2026, lived there continuously for at least five months and have a clean criminal record; authorities expect processing to take about three months after submission.
Pedro Sánchez has cast the measure as "normalization," and supporters say it could help Spain's aging economy by adding workers and Social Security contributors.
Right-wing opponents call the plan irresponsible, but beneficiaries still cannot vote; it is Spain's second major mass regularization in 20 years.
As Spain legalizes 500,000 migrants, will this move inspire the rest of Europe or trigger a backlash over EU border control?
Is Spain's immigrant amnesty an economic solution for its aging population or a reckless gamble that will strain its public services?
After a citizen-led push, 500,000 gain legal status. Is this one-year permit a real solution or just a temporary fix?
Spain’s 2026 Migrant Amnesty: Formalizing Half a Million Undocumented Residents for Economic and Social Inclusion
Overview
Spain’s 2026 migrant regularization program is underway, aiming to formalize the status of people already living and working in the country. The main goal is to help these individuals move from the informal economy into the legal labor market, so they can pay taxes and contribute to social security. This initiative, the seventh since 1986, applies to everyone regardless of nationality. Supporters highlight that past regularizations did not cause more irregular arrivals but instead reduced labor exploitation and strengthened social cohesion. The program reflects Spain’s ongoing effort to integrate migrants and address economic and social challenges.