The Spanish government has unveiled plans to regularise undocumented migrants, a move set to help at least 500,000 people.
Eligibility will apply to foreign nationals without a criminal record who can demonstrate they were living in Spain for a minimum of five months before 31 December 2025.
“This is a historic day for our country,” said Elma Saiz, Spain’s minister of inclusion, social security and migration.
Those who qualify will receive an initial one-year residence permit, with the option to renew. Applications are expected to open in April, with the process running through to the end of June.
“We are reinforcing a migratory model based on human rights, integration, co-existence and which is compatible with economic growth and social cohesion,” Saiz said.
Spain has experienced a significant rise in migration in recent years, largely driven by arrivals from Latin America.
Research by the conservative think-tank Funcas shows the number of undocumented migrants increased from 107,409 in 2017 to 837,938 in 2025 — nearly eight times higher.
The largest groups of undocumented migrants currently in Spain are thought to originate from Colombia, Peru and Honduras.
Among Europe’s major nations, Spain’s socialist-led coalition government has taken a distinct stance, highlighting migrants’ role in supporting the economy.
In recent years, Spain has outperformed other leading EU economies, with growth forecast to approach 3% in 2025.
Figures released on Tuesday show unemployment — historically a weak point for Spain — has fallen below 10% for the first time since 2008.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has described immigrants as representing “wealth, development and prosperity” for Spain, citing their contributions to the social security system.
The government and left-wing parties have also stressed the importance of ensuring migrants are treated humanely.
“Providing rights is the answer to racism,” said Irene Montero, of the far-left Podemos party and a former minister in a coalition government with the Socialists.
Montero has long advocated for the policy, which followed an agreement between her party and the government. A civic legislative proposal calling for large-scale migrant regularisation gained the backing of around 700,000 people but stalled in parliament.
The measure will be enacted by royal decree, meaning parliamentary approval is not required.
It marks Spain’s first large-scale migrant regularisation in 20 years.
Previous initiatives under both Socialist and conservative People’s Party (PP) governments legalised the status of roughly half a million migrants between 1986 and 2005.
However, PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo warned the new mass legalisation would “increase the pull effect and overwhelm our public services”.
Pepa Millán, spokesperson for the far-right Vox party, said the move “attacks our identity”, adding that the party would challenge it before the Supreme Court in an effort to block it.
