MADRID ; In a sweeping policy shift, the Spanish government announced a major initiative on Thursday to grant legal residency to an estimated 500,000 undocumented immigrants, aiming to address labor shortages and integrate a shadow population.
The bold regularization plan, announced by Minister of Migration, Almaziz, will allow eligible individuals to submit applications starting in April. To qualify, migrants must prove they have been living in Spain for a minimum of two years, a requirement set to ensure the program benefits established residents. Successful applicants will receive full legal status, granting them the right to live and work freely anywhere in the country.
“This is a measure of justice, economic rationality, and social cohesion,” stated Minister Almaziz. He emphasized that the regularization will help fill critical gaps in Spain’s workforce, particularly in key sectors like agriculture, hospitality, and caregiving, which rely heavily on migrant labor.
The program includes stringent safeguards. All applicants must provide a clean criminal record from Spain and will undergo a thorough vetting process. The regularization will also extend to the children of eligible immigrants, ensuring family unity and protecting the rights of minors who have grown up in the country.
The decision marks one of Europe’s largest legalization drives in recent years and stands in contrast to the more restrictive migration policies seen in other EU nations. The Spanish government argues that bringing a large undocumented population into the formal economy will boost tax revenues, improve workers’ rights, and undermine exploitative black-market labor practices. While welcomed by human rights and labor groups, the move is expected to face political opposition from conservative parties as Spain prepares for upcoming elections.
