Spain’s Council of Ministers has given the green light to a Royal Decree that will open an extraordinary, fast-track pathway to residence and work permits for an estimated half-million people currently living in the country without status.
Who qualifies and how it will work
Eligibility is limited to foreign nationals who can prove they had been living in Spain for at least five consecutive months on or before 31 December 2025, or who lodged an asylum claim before that date. Applicants must have a clean criminal record in Spain and internationally. Evidence of presence may include padrón registration, medical records, utility bills or money-transfer receipts—a nod to the fact that many undocumented migrants work informally and lack standard paperwork. Once an application is filed, any pending expulsion orders will be suspended and the applicant will receive a provisional authorisation that allows immediate access to the labour market and public health care. Successful applicants will obtain a one-year residence permit that can later be converted into the normal residence categories under Spain’s Immigration Regulations.
Why the government is using a decree
The coalition has opted for a Royal Decree to bypass the risk of parliamentary gridlock after previous regularisation attempts stalled. The move answers a citizens’ initiative backed by more than 700,000 signatures and supported by every party except the far-right Vox. Migration Minister Elma Saiz called the day “historic,” arguing that the measure “breaks bureaucratic barriers and dignifies people who are already contributing to our economy.” Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stressed that demographic pressures and record employment levels mean “Spain needs migration that is safe, orderly and legal.”
![Spain Approves Historic Decree to Regularise Up to 500,000 Undocumented Migrants]()
Political reactions and business impact
Employers’ associations have largely welcomed the decree, pointing to chronic labour shortages in agriculture, hospitality, logistics and elder-care. Regularisation will enlarge the formal workforce, expand the Social Security base and reduce reputational risk for multinationals operating in Spain. Conservative opposition parties, by contrast, warned of a “pull factor” that could strain public services and said they would appeal to the Constitutional Court.
For organisations or individuals exploring Spain’s wider immigration landscape—be it standard work permits, family reunification or the popular digital-nomad visa—VisaHQ can streamline the process. Its Spain portal (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) provides real-time checklists, document translations and submission tracking, offering a convenient complement to legal counsel when navigating routine applications and exceptional measures like this extraordinary regularisation.
Practical implications for global mobility teams
Multinational companies should audit their Spanish workforces for potential beneficiaries—particularly long-term contractors or family dependants who lack permits. Legalisation will require submitting applications between early April and 30 June 2026, so HR teams should begin gathering proof of residence now. Companies employing irregular workers will have a legal avenue to bring them onto formal payrolls without facing fines for previous non-compliance. The decree also reinforces Spain’s image as a migrant-friendly destination at a time when several EU states are tightening rules, which may boost talent-attraction strategies centred on the Iberian Peninsula.
Who qualifies and how it will work
Eligibility is limited to foreign nationals who can prove they had been living in Spain for at least five consecutive months on or before 31 December 2025, or who lodged an asylum claim before that date. Applicants must have a clean criminal record in Spain and internationally. Evidence of presence may include padrón registration, medical records, utility bills or money-transfer receipts—a nod to the fact that many undocumented migrants work informally and lack standard paperwork. Once an application is filed, any pending expulsion orders will be suspended and the applicant will receive a provisional authorisation that allows immediate access to the labour market and public health care. Successful applicants will obtain a one-year residence permit that can later be converted into the normal residence categories under Spain’s Immigration Regulations.
Why the government is using a decree
The coalition has opted for a Royal Decree to bypass the risk of parliamentary gridlock after previous regularisation attempts stalled. The move answers a citizens’ initiative backed by more than 700,000 signatures and supported by every party except the far-right Vox. Migration Minister Elma Saiz called the day “historic,” arguing that the measure “breaks bureaucratic barriers and dignifies people who are already contributing to our economy.” Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stressed that demographic pressures and record employment levels mean “Spain needs migration that is safe, orderly and legal.”
Political reactions and business impact
Employers’ associations have largely welcomed the decree, pointing to chronic labour shortages in agriculture, hospitality, logistics and elder-care. Regularisation will enlarge the formal workforce, expand the Social Security base and reduce reputational risk for multinationals operating in Spain. Conservative opposition parties, by contrast, warned of a “pull factor” that could strain public services and said they would appeal to the Constitutional Court.
For organisations or individuals exploring Spain’s wider immigration landscape—be it standard work permits, family reunification or the popular digital-nomad visa—VisaHQ can streamline the process. Its Spain portal (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) provides real-time checklists, document translations and submission tracking, offering a convenient complement to legal counsel when navigating routine applications and exceptional measures like this extraordinary regularisation.
Practical implications for global mobility teams
Multinational companies should audit their Spanish workforces for potential beneficiaries—particularly long-term contractors or family dependants who lack permits. Legalisation will require submitting applications between early April and 30 June 2026, so HR teams should begin gathering proof of residence now. Companies employing irregular workers will have a legal avenue to bring them onto formal payrolls without facing fines for previous non-compliance. The decree also reinforces Spain’s image as a migrant-friendly destination at a time when several EU states are tightening rules, which may boost talent-attraction strategies centred on the Iberian Peninsula.
