Spain's Socialist government has announced plans to grant legal status to around 500,000 undocumented migrants living and working in the country without documentation. The move is seen as a significant shift from the hardening approach to irregular immigration that has been adopted by many European countries in recent years.
The decision was made possible thanks to a proposal signed by over 700,000 citizens and supported by hundreds of civil society groups, including the Catholic Church. This extraordinary mass regularisation – the first in Spain in more than 20 years – will give foreign nationals with clean criminal records who arrived before the end of 2025 the opportunity to apply for renewable one-year residence permits.
Those who applied for asylum in the country before December 31, 2025, are also eligible. Migration Minister Elma Saiz has stated that applications will open in April and June, marking a significant effort by the government to regularise the status of millions of undocumented migrants.
The decision is seen as part of a broader effort by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to address Spain's growing labour shortages and demographic decline. The country's ageing population and low fertility rate have sparked concerns about the long-term sustainability of its social security system, and Sanchez has argued that migrants can play a crucial role in keeping this system strong.
Jasmijn Slootjes, deputy director at the Migration Policy Institute Europe, said that Spain's approach is "partly in response to fears that the ageing native-born population won't be capable of sustaining the kind of workforce the country needs to thrive". By regularising undocumented migrants, the government can tap into their skills and experience while also generating tax payments and reducing social welfare costs.
Slootjes noted that the decision marks a significant shift away from the hardening approach to irregular immigration that has been adopted by many European countries. While Spain is not immune to rising nativist sentiment, levels of anti-immigration feeling have not reached the same heights as in other parts of Europe.
In fact, Spanish think-tank Funcas found that local support for immigration remains high, with just 28 percent of respondents favouring restricted immigration in 2024 – one of the lowest rates in Europe. The report noted that even during years when unemployment exceeded 25 percent, support for immigration remained largely stable.
The decision has been welcomed by many as a pragmatic approach to addressing Spain's labour shortages and demographic decline. As the competition for talent and skill shortages continues to intensify across economies and societies, this move could well be a model for other countries to follow in the future.
The decision was made possible thanks to a proposal signed by over 700,000 citizens and supported by hundreds of civil society groups, including the Catholic Church. This extraordinary mass regularisation – the first in Spain in more than 20 years – will give foreign nationals with clean criminal records who arrived before the end of 2025 the opportunity to apply for renewable one-year residence permits.
Those who applied for asylum in the country before December 31, 2025, are also eligible. Migration Minister Elma Saiz has stated that applications will open in April and June, marking a significant effort by the government to regularise the status of millions of undocumented migrants.
The decision is seen as part of a broader effort by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to address Spain's growing labour shortages and demographic decline. The country's ageing population and low fertility rate have sparked concerns about the long-term sustainability of its social security system, and Sanchez has argued that migrants can play a crucial role in keeping this system strong.
Jasmijn Slootjes, deputy director at the Migration Policy Institute Europe, said that Spain's approach is "partly in response to fears that the ageing native-born population won't be capable of sustaining the kind of workforce the country needs to thrive". By regularising undocumented migrants, the government can tap into their skills and experience while also generating tax payments and reducing social welfare costs.
Slootjes noted that the decision marks a significant shift away from the hardening approach to irregular immigration that has been adopted by many European countries. While Spain is not immune to rising nativist sentiment, levels of anti-immigration feeling have not reached the same heights as in other parts of Europe.
In fact, Spanish think-tank Funcas found that local support for immigration remains high, with just 28 percent of respondents favouring restricted immigration in 2024 – one of the lowest rates in Europe. The report noted that even during years when unemployment exceeded 25 percent, support for immigration remained largely stable.
The decision has been welcomed by many as a pragmatic approach to addressing Spain's labour shortages and demographic decline. As the competition for talent and skill shortages continues to intensify across economies and societies, this move could well be a model for other countries to follow in the future.
. 500k undocumented migrants just getting their cards willy-nilly? what's stopping them from working without paying taxes or taking jobs away from native born Spaniards? I mean, I get the point that Spain needs to address its labour shortages and demographic decline, but how are they gonna make sure everyone's on the same page? 
. Spain's decision to grant legal status to undocumented migrants raises questions about the true nature of citizenship and identity. Is it solely defined by documentation, or does it encompass a deeper sense of connection and shared humanity? 
This shift in approach could serve as a powerful reminder that borders are often more of a human construct than a natural barrier, and that our individual stories and experiences are what truly shape us 
Ugh, another government trying to solve their problems by just handing out free passes to whoever shows up at the door. I mean, I get it, Spain's got some major demographic issues and all, but can't they think of a more efficient way to deal with it? Like, a proper immigration system that doesn't rely on a bunch of random citizens signing a petition and hoping for the best? 
it's awesome that they're taking a different approach to immigration 
instead of making things harder, they're focusing on solutions 
and it's not just about fixing labor shortages 
but also about boosting their economy 
and social security system 
and having access to basic human rights like healthcare and education 
plus it's awesome that they're using a big proposal from citizens and civil society groups 
to make this happen
but spain seems to be doing things differently 
as a whole and who knows maybe it'll inspire other countries to take similar steps 
On one hand, granting legal status to these undocumented migrants is super fair and it'll definitely help Spain's labour shortages. And, let's be real, who doesn't want more workers in their country to boost the economy? 
That's a pretty big responsibility to put on someone else.