Over One Million Undocumented Migrants Apply For Legal Status In Spain

More than one million undocumented migrants have applied for legal status in Spain under a government regularisation scheme that closed on Tuesday, significantly surpassing initial projections.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the milestone at an event in Madrid, describing the overwhelming response as evidence of the need to extend legal recognition and protection to migrants living in the country.

“The more than one million applications submitted show how necessary this recognition of rights and responsibilities was,” Sánchez said.

The regularisation programme, launched in April by Spain’s left-wing government, was initially expected to benefit about 500,000 undocumented migrants, many of them from Latin America.

To qualify, applicants must demonstrate they have no criminal record and have lived continuously in Spain for at least five months before January 1. Successful applicants will receive residence and work permits valid within Spain.

Sánchez defended his government’s migration policy, arguing that immigration is essential to sustaining Spain’s economy, labour force, welfare system and pension scheme as the country’s population ages.

He said denying migrants legal recognition only pushed them into the shadows and made the country worse off.

“We want the world to view Spain as a country that respects, protects and upholds human rights,” the Prime Minister said.

Spain has emerged as one of Europe’s most migrant-friendly countries at a time when several European governments have tightened immigration policies in response to growing political pressure from right-wing and far-right parties.

Business groups have broadly welcomed the regularisation programme, saying it will help address labour shortages in key sectors such as construction and agriculture.

Many migrants have also described the initiative as an opportunity to secure stable employment and escape exploitation by unscrupulous employers who often take advantage of undocumented workers.

However, the policy has drawn strong criticism from Spain’s conservative and far-right opposition parties, which argue that it could encourage more irregular migration.

The government has rejected those claims, insisting that the programme is intended to promote orderly migration while improving social integration.

To support the initiative, Sánchez announced an investment of €505 million to fund integration programmes, including vocational training and language education for migrants.

Meanwhile, several regional governments controlled by opposition parties have challenged aspects of the regularisation scheme in court. Spain’s Supreme Court has given the parties five days to present arguments on whether parts of the decree should be referred to the European Union’s courts for legal interpretation.

Spanish authorities have three months to process the applications and determine who qualifies for legal residency under the programme.