Spain to Legalize 500,000 Immigrants in Landmark Move

The Largest Regularization Process in Decades

The Spanish government of Pedro Sánchez has given the green light to the largest mass regularization of immigrants in Spain since 2005. Through a Royal Decree approved on January 27, 2026, up to 500,000 people in an irregular situation will be able to access a legal residence permit, provided they meet a series of conditions established by the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration.

Who Can Apply for Regularization?

To be eligible for the extraordinary process, applicants must have resided in Spain before December 31, 2025 and be able to prove at least five months of continuous stay in the country. In addition, they must not have a criminal record or represent a threat to public order. Asylum seekers with open files before that same date may also benefit from the measure.

Applications will be accepted between April and June 30, 2026. Those who submit them will receive a provisional residence permit valid for one year; after that period, they may join the ordinary categories of the Immigration Regulations. The minor children of the beneficiaries will also be covered and will receive a five-year permit.

A Predominantly Latin American Profile

The most benefited group will be Latin American citizens. According to data handled by the Government, more than 760,000 people in an irregular situation come from Latin America, with Colombia leading the way—nearly 290,000 cases—followed by Peru (110,000) and Honduras (90,000). The Funcas economic think tank also estimates that the total number of people in an irregular situation in Spain could reach 840,000, so the real impact of the measure could exceed official projections.

Political Debate: Support and Intense Opposition

The measure has unleashed intense controversy. The Government argues that Spain needs labor to fill job vacancies and sustain the pension system in the face of the aging population. The Spanish Catholic Church has also supported the initiative, considering it an act of humanity and common sense in an international context increasingly hostile to migration.

On the contrary, the People's Party (PP) has branded the plan a folly and has warned that it could overwhelm public services. Its leader, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, escalated his criticism to the European level, taking the matter directly to Ursula von der Leyen at the European People's Party summit held in Zagreb.

Brussels Expresses Reservations

The European Commission has expressed significant reservations about the measure. The Commissioner for Home Affairs, Magnus Brunner, appeared before the European Parliament to analyze the impact of the process on the Schengen area and the common migration policy. The main concern is that regularized migrants could circulate freely through other EU countries for up to 90 days per 180-day period, generating tensions with other Member States.

A Historical Precedent

This is not the first time that Spain has resorted to mass regularization. In 2005, the government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero regularized more than 570,000 undocumented people, a process that remains the most direct precedent for the current measure. Researchers point out that these initiatives are neither extreme nor unprecedented in the European context. With this decree, Spain is breaking away from the restrictive trend prevailing in much of the European Union, opting for a migration policy that, according to its defenders, combines humanity with economic pragmatism.