Spain Registers Over One Million Undocumented Migrants for Legal Status Program

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on Tuesday that over one million undocumented migrants have registered for a government program allowing them to regularize their status and work legally. This figure, revealed on the final day of registration, is double the government's initial estimate of 500,000 applicants. The program, launched in April, aims to provide legal recognition to migrants who have been living and working in Spain without authorization, addressing both moral and economic concerns amid Spain's aging population and labor shortages.

Sánchez described the initiative as essential for justice and economic vitality, stating that ignoring undocumented migrants makes the country "less good" and emphasizing the government's goal to offer "opportunity and future" while upholding human rights. Eligibility requires migrants to have arrived before December 31, 2025, to have lived in Spain for at least five months, and to have no criminal record. The government also plans to regularize the status of migrants' children. So far, 360,000 applications have been approved, with three months allocated to review the remaining requests. Approved migrants will receive a one-year residence and work permit, renewable thereafter.

The program predominantly benefits migrants from Latin America, especially Colombia, which accounts for about 30% of applicants, followed by Morocco (14%), Venezuela (10%), and Peru (9%). Spain, home to roughly 10 million foreign-born residents out of 50 million, faces significant migration pressure, particularly from North Africa to the Canary Islands. Despite a 40% drop in illegal arrivals in 2025, Spain remains at the forefront of Europe's migration challenges.

The policy contrasts with the tightening immigration stances of many European countries amid rising right-wing influence. The European Union recently adopted stricter measures to expedite deportations and establish return centers outside the bloc, which Sánchez's government opposes, advocating instead for full respect of international law. Domestically, the program faces sharp criticism from conservative parties, who warn it could strain infrastructure and worsen housing shortages. Right-wing Vox leader Santiago Abascal called it an "invasion" that would alter Spanish society.

Sánchez, known for his left-wing views and criticism of Israel, has received international praise from leftist activists and was dubbed a "beacon of the global left" by The New York Times. In a February op-ed, he rejected right-wing critiques, highlighting Spain's economic growth, job creation, and reduced inequality as evidence that the country can successfully integrate migrants as vital contributors to its prosperity.