The Spanish government on Tuesday unveiled a sweeping plan to regularise the status of undocumented migrants, a move that is expected to grant legal residency to at least half a million people and mark the country’s first large-scale migrant legalisation exercise in two decades. Describing the decision as a turning point, the government said the measure reflects Spain’s commitment to human rights, social cohesion and economic stability.
Under the plan, undocumented foreign nationals will be eligible for regularisation if they have no criminal record and can demonstrate that they were living in Spain for a minimum of five months before December 31, 2025. Those who qualify will be granted an initial one-year residence permit, which can later be renewed. Applications for legal status are set to open in April and the window for submission will remain open until the end of June.
Elma Saiz, Spain’s minister of inclusion, social security and migration, termed the announcement “a historic day” for the country, stressing that the initiative strengthens a migration framework rooted in integration, coexistence and respect for fundamental rights. She added that the policy is designed to align humanitarian principles with the needs of Spain’s economy and society.
Spain has experienced a sharp rise in migrant arrivals over recent years, particularly from Latin American countries. A study by conservative think-tank Funcas revealed that the number of undocumented migrants living in Spain has surged dramatically, rising from just over 107,000 in 2017 to nearly 838,000 in 2025. Colombians, Peruvians and Hondurans are believed to form the largest groups among those currently without legal status.
Unlike several other major European nations, Spain’s socialist-led coalition government has consistently underlined the economic importance of migrants. The country has been among the strongest performers in the European Union in recent years, with economic growth projected to approach 3% in 2025. At the same time, unemployment — long considered a structural weakness of the Spanish economy — has fallen below 10% for the first time since 2008, according to official data released this week.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has repeatedly argued that immigrants contribute significantly to Spain’s prosperity, describing them as a source of “wealth, development and prosperity” and highlighting their role in sustaining the social security system. Left-wing parties have also framed the policy as a necessary step to counter discrimination and promote social justice. Irene Montero of the far-left Podemos party, who has actively campaigned for the measure, said that granting rights to migrants was the most effective response to racism. The decision follows an agreement between Podemos and the government, as well as sustained pressure from civil society groups.
The move will be enacted through a royal decree, allowing it to bypass parliamentary approval. It also revives a practice last seen two decades ago, when successive governments — led by both the Socialists and the conservative People’s Party — regularised the status of roughly half a million migrants between 1986 and 2005.
However, the announcement has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties on the right. People’s Party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo warned that mass legalisation could act as a pull factor for further irregular migration and place excessive strain on public services. The far-right Vox party went further, with its spokeswoman Pepa Millán claiming the policy threatened Spain’s national identity and announcing plans to challenge the measure in the Supreme Court in an attempt to block its implementation.
