Spain Approves Decree to Grant Residency to 500,000 Migrants

Spain has introduced a new regularisation programme to provide legal residency and work permits to hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants and asylum seekers, following a cabinet decision in January 2026.

The measure, enacted through a royal decree, will allow eligible individuals who have lived in Spain since before the end of 2025 to apply for an initial one-year residence permit that includes authorisation to work.

According to official information, the decree applies to foreign nationals who arrived in Spain before 31 December 2025, have resided in the country for at least five months, and have no criminal record. The application period is scheduled to begin in April 2026 and will remain open until the end of June 2026.

The government is implementing this policy by royal decree, which does not require parliamentary approval. This approach expedites the process and enables the programme to be put into effect without additional legislative steps.

What the numbers show

• Approximately 500,000 people are expected to benefit from the decree
• Applicants must have entered Spain before 31 December 2025
• Spain’s central bank and the United Nations estimate 300,000 migrant workers are needed annually

Spain’s central bank and the United Nations have both estimated that the country requires around 300,000 migrant workers each year to support its welfare system. The regularisation programme is expected to address some of this demand by providing legal status to a large group of undocumented residents.

Eligible applicants will receive a one-year residence permit with permission to work. The government has stated that the application process will be open for three months, from April through June 2026.

Some undocumented workers have described the new policy as transformative for their lives, stating that it will help them live with greater security and access to legal employment. These individuals have indicated that the decree offers them an opportunity to participate more fully in Spanish society.

Industry reaction

A union representing Spain’s national police officers stated that the new programme could result in administrative challenges due to the volume of applications expected. The union highlighted concerns about the potential workload for staff responsible for processing residency permits.

No additional institutional reactions were documented in the available sources at the time of the announcement. The government has not released further details regarding measures to address administrative capacity.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.