Spain has introduced a new immigration regularisation programme aimed at granting temporary legal status to nearly 500,000 undocumented migrants currently residing in the country.
Under the newly approved policy, eligible applicants will receive a renewable one-year residence permit, allowing them to legalise their stay and gradually integrate into Spain’s formal labour market and administrative systems.
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According to officials, applicants must prove they arrived in Spain before January 1 and have lived in the country continuously for at least five months before submitting their application. They are also required to provide evidence of a clean criminal record.
Authorities have set June 30 as the deadline for submitting applications under the scheme.
Individuals who obtain temporary legal status through the programme will become eligible to apply for other work permits or long-term residence authorisations through Spain’s existing immigration system after completing one year.
The policy also includes family-focused provisions aimed at preventing separation. Applicants living with close relatives, including spouses, registered partners or immediate family members, may have their cases processed simultaneously.
Officials said applicants will be granted a one-month grace period to secure police clearance certificates from their home countries confirming the absence of criminal records.
To simplify the application process, Spain has designated multiple submission centres nationwide, including 60 Social Security offices, 371 post offices and five immigration offices where applicants can file documents in person.
Spanish authorities emphasised that the programme is strictly limited to undocumented individuals already residing in Spain who meet the listed criteria. It does not provide a pathway for new migrants to enter the country.
Officials also warned the public against fraudulent agents and misleading advertisements claiming the policy can be used to send new migrants abroad. Such false promises, they said, could lead to scams and financial losses.
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Spain previously implemented a large-scale migrant regularisation programme in 2005, under which around 577,000 undocumented migrants were granted legal residency.
The new measure is being viewed as a significant step in addressing labour shortages, improving migrant integration and bringing more undocumented residents into the formal economy.