Spain Draws 1 Million Legalization Applications as Sanchez Pushes Migrants Into Formal Workforce
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 30
Spain Draws 1 Million Legalization Applications as Sanchez Pushes Migrants Into Formal Workforce
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 30
Summary
More than 1 million undocumented immigrants in Spain applied for legal status under a program that closed June 30, exceeding the government's April projection by about 25%.
Pedro Sánchez said the measure would move migrants into the formal labor force and help support an aging country where deaths have outnumbered births among resident mothers since 2015.
More than 3 million people have arrived in Spain since the pandemic, filling labor gaps in agriculture and tourism and helping make the economy one of Europe's fastest-growing, officials and economists say.
The program, announced in January and open to undocumented migrants living in Spain at least five months before applications began, is expected to benefit mostly Latin Americans.
Conservative leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo and far-right Vox chief Santiago Abascal oppose the plan, arguing it will strain housing and infrastructure and alter Spanish society.
Spain legalized a million people. What is the plan to ensure their successful integration after their first year expires?
With critics citing low retention, will Spain's mass legalization be an economic boom or just a temporary fix?
Spain’s 2026 Regularization: Integrating 840,000 Undocumented Migrants and Transforming the Economy
Overview
Spain's extraordinary migrant regularization program, which closed applications on June 30, 2026, aimed to integrate around 840,000 undocumented migrants into the formal workforce and social-security system. The initiative was designed to formalize the economy by ensuring that a large segment of the population could contribute officially. As the deadline approached, many applicants filed paperwork at post offices, with some finding the process straightforward while others faced long waits due to high demand. Applicants were motivated by the desire for stability and formal recognition, reflecting the program’s goal to bring lasting change for both individuals and the broader Spanish economy.