The government of Spain has finalised a major immigration policy introducing a broad amnesty programme for undocumented migrants, potentially benefiting hundreds of thousands of individuals.
Under the new plan, migrants residing in Spain without legal status will have the opportunity to obtain official residency and work permits, allowing them to live and work in the country legally.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez described the move as a measure rooted in fairness, stating that individuals already living and working in the country should be integrated into society and the tax system to support economic growth.
According to government guidelines, applicants must demonstrate that they arrived in Spain before a specified date, have been residing in the country for a certain period, and possess no criminal record.
Eligible individuals will initially be granted a one-year temporary residence and work permit. The application process is set to begin on April 20 and will continue until June 30.
Authorities estimate that around 500,000 people could benefit from the scheme, though the final number may be higher.
Read also: Spain’s new regularization policy: Key clarification for immigrants
The Bureau of immigration and overseas employment has made an important clarification in relation to the newly introduced regularization program by the Spanish government for undocumented immigrants.
As per the notification, the Spanish government has decided to legalize the stay of illegal immigrants, provided that such immigrants have been living in Spain before December 31, 2025.
It has also been stated clearly that there are no plans to launch new programs for regularizing immigrants at this point in time. Therefore, any immigrants who come into Spain after this period will not be covered by the policy mentioned above.
The Bureau also advised the public to be cautious and not fall prey to agents offering illegal immigration services. The statement reminded that the last such scheme was introduced in 2005 and warned against taking risks with one’s life and savings in an attempt to illegally enter Spain.
