Spain’s government has approved a decree granting residency and work permits to around 500,000 illegal immigrants seeking legal status.
Decree Details
The Spanish decree provides one-year residency and work permits with the possibility of citizenship to individuals who entered the country illegally before the end of 2025, stayed for at least five months, and have no criminal record.
Estimated Impact
Spain’s government estimates that approximately 500,000 people could be granted legal status through this extraordinary migrant regularization. However, a report from Funcas economic analysis center suggests the number could reach as high as 840,000, which is eight times more than in 2017.
Source Countries
The majority of individuals who will benefit from the new regulations are citizens of former Spanish colonies in Latin America and North Africa.