The new regulations are addressed to people who have lived in Spain continuously for at least five months by December 31, 2025, and to applicants for international protection who submitted their application before that date.
What new regulations does Spain introduce for migrants?
How many people can benefit from legalization of stay?
What are the conditions for applying for legalization of stay?
How long will a work permit for migrants be valid?
However, a person applying for regularization of his or her status cannot have a criminal record or “pose a threat to public order.” Once the application is positively considered, the foreigner will receive a work permit, which will be valid for one year. He will then be subject to the normal regulations on foreigners. The measure also covers minors; in this case the authorization will be valid for five years.
Legalization of migrants' stay. This is the situation in Spain
Approximately 500,000 people will be able to take advantage of the new regulations. people, mainly from Latin America. The left-wing Podemos party, which had previously agreed its position with the government, even talks about the number of 800,000.
According to a report by the Funcas analytical center, in 2025 there were approximately 840,000 people in Spain. people without a regulated status and the necessary documents to use basic services.
There have been several similar regulations in Spain's democratic history. The last and largest one took place in 2005 during the government of socialist Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and covered over 575,000. people. The current initiative is the first during the government of Pedro Sanchez, also a socialist, who has been prime minister since 2018.
Migrants in Spain. Political tension persists
The government in Madrid has long been open about supporting controlled immigration, which is beneficial to the dynamically developing Spanish economy. The People's Party (PP), the main opposition party in the country, criticizes the government's immigration policy.
As noted by the daily “El Pais”, the PP did not want, among other things, give the green light to the citizens' initiative on the regulation of the status of immigrants, signed by approximately 700,000 people and supported by the church hierarchy.
The rules presented on Tuesday could be adopted by the government within weeks as a royal decree without a vote in parliament.
