Spain’s left-wing authorities will on Tuesday approve a decree anticipated to regularise round 500,000 undocumented migrants, stated Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who has bucked a European pattern cracking down on irregular immigration.
Cupboard will move the measure “that begins the extraordinary regularisation course of for individuals dwelling irregularly in our nation”, Sánchez wrote in a letter posted to social media, confirming a choice first introduced in January.
“This regularisation is, above all, an act of normalisation” as a result of the individuals affected already “construct the wealthy, open and various Spain that we’re and aspire to be”, Sánchez stated.
Right this moment the Council of Ministers will approve the Royal Decree that begins the method of extraordinary regularization of individuals in an irregular scenario in our nation.
An act of normalization, of recognizing the truth of just about half one million people who find themselves already a part of our… pic.twitter.com/Es9il0KE59
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) April 14, 2026
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“The trail is evident: combine higher, organise higher, and channel all of the potential of those that already reside amongst us.”
The Socialist chief has lengthy argued that Spain wants migration to fill workforce gaps and counteract an ageing inhabitants that would imperil pensions and the welfare state.
He credited in his letter “the dynamism of migrants” which have helped Spain turn into one of many fastest-growing developed economies.
Migration Minister Elma Saiz informed Cadena SER radio that migrants may apply from this week till June 30, “with all of the channels protected and strengthened” in preparation for the work forward.
The measure will have an effect on individuals dwelling in Spain for at the least 5 months and who utilized for worldwide safety earlier than December 31, 2025.
Candidates will need to have a clear felony document. The regularisation can even apply to their youngsters who already reside in Spain.
The decree will turn into regulation with out approval by parliament, the place the Socialist-led coalition lacks a majority.
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The conservative and far-right opposition have stated the plan will encourage extra irregular immigration.
Spain’s extra open stance contrasts with a pattern that has seen governments toughen migration insurance policies underneath strain from far-right events which have gained floor throughout Europe.
Round 840,000 undocumented migrants lived in Spain at the start of 2025, most of them Latin American, based on the Funcas think-tank.
Spain is one in every of Europe’s most important gateways for irregular migrants fleeing poverty, battle and persecution. Tens of hundreds of largely sub-Saharan African arrivals have landed within the Canary Islands archipelago off northwestern Africa.
