The Spanish government announced a plan on the 27th (local time) to legalize the residency status of undocumented immigrants. It is expected that at least 500,000 people, primarily from Latin America, will benefit from this measure.
According to AP News and the BBC, this legalization measure targets foreign nationals who entered Spain before December 31 of last year and can prove they have resided there for at least five months. They should also have no criminal record.
The Spanish government plans to issue up to one-year residence and work permits to those eligible, with possible extensions. Applications for legalization are expected to be accepted from April to the end of June.
This measure will be approved through a “Royal Decree,” bypassing the need for separate parliamentary approval. The government estimates that a minimum of 500,000 people will benefit from this measure.
Spain has recently seen a significant influx of immigrants from Latin America. According to the conservative think tank Funcas, the number of undocumented immigrants in Spain increased from 107,409 in 2017 to 837,938 in 2025, roughly an eightfold increase.
Most undocumented immigrants are reported to be from countries like Colombia, Peru, and Honduras. They typically work in agriculture, tourism, and service sectors, which are central to Spain’s economic prosperity.
This is the first legalization of undocumented immigrants in 20 years. From 1986 to 2005, the Spanish government conducted six major legalization efforts.
Spain’s Socialist-led coalition government has emphasized that, unlike other major European countries, legal immigration positively affects the national economy and helps address aging population issues.
Spain’s economy is currently in recovery, and its chronic unemployment rate has fallen below 10% for the first time since 2008. The projected growth rate for 2025 is 3%, outpacing other major European Union (EU) member countries.
Elma Saiz, Spain’s Minister of Migration, said, “Today is a historic day for Spain,” highlighting efforts to strengthen an immigration model based on human rights, integration, and coexistence, aligning with economic growth and social cohesion.
The Spanish Episcopal Conference stated that this measure represents the realization of social justice and recognition of the numerous immigrants who have long contributed to Spain’s development through their labor.
However, there are opposing voices. The far-right party Vox is preparing a legal challenge against this measure, criticizing it as an attack on national identity and stating their intention to file a lawsuit to stop it.
Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the People’s Party, criticized the large-scale legalization, arguing that it will create a “pull effect” that entices more illegal immigration and could paralyze public services.