The Spanish Council of Ministers approved a Royal Decree on January 27, 2026, paving the way for a large-scale regularization process (commonly known as an ‘amnesty’) for immigrants within the country. The decree aims to resolve the status of hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants. Government spokesperson and Minister Elma Saiz described the measure as an exercise in “order and responsibility,” intended to improve people’s lives rather than “turning a blind eye” to the issue of irregular immigration.
Eligibility and Key Dates
According to official information, this regularization process primarily targets two groups:
- Individuals who applied for international protection (asylum) before December 31, 2025.
- Foreign nationals who can prove continuous residence in Spain for at least 5 months before December 31, 2025.
Applicants must meet the basic conditions of having a clean criminal record and not posing a threat to public order. A wide range of documents can be used to prove residency, including municipal registration (padrón), utility bills, medical records, rental agreements, or even public transport passes.
Key Dates:
- Application Window: Tentatively scheduled from the beginning of April to June 30, 2026.
- Official Publication: The final regulations are expected to be published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) around mid-March.
Type of Residence Permit and Rights
Successful applicants will be granted an initial one-year residence permit, which includes the right to work without any sectoral or geographical restrictions, valid throughout Spain. After one year, holders can transition to a standard residence permit under the current Immigration Regulations. Notably, once the application is formally processed by the administration, applicants can legally work and are protected from deportation. Furthermore, applicants’ minor children already in Spain will also be granted a five-year residence permit.
Policy Background and Social Impact
This process was initiated by Royal Decree because a previous popular legislative initiative, backed by 700,000 signatures for a similar regularization, was stalled in Parliament. The ruling coalition of the Socialist Party (PSOE) and Sumar opted for this route to expedite the process. The move has sparked political controversy, with the People’s Party (PP) and Vox expressing their opposition.
The government, citing estimates from social organizations, believes this regularization could benefit around 500,000 people. However, according to a recent report from the Spanish foundation Funcas, as of January 2025, the number of undocumented immigrants in Spain could be as high as 840,000. The vast majority (around 91%) come from Latin America, with Colombians being the largest group. Historically, between 1986 and 2005, Spain has already regularized the status of over a million immigrants through nine similar processes.
