Barely 24 hours after approving Spain’s largest regularisation since 2005, the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration has published the draft implementing order for public comment. The text, uploaded to the ministry’s website on 28 January 2026, invites citizens, NGOs and business federations to submit feedback over the next 15 days before final rules are adopted in March.
The draft clarifies documentation standards: proof of presence before 31 December 2025 may include municipal padrón certificates, utility bills, remittance receipts or medical records. It also sets a 90-day target for decisions and outlines a fast-track for applicants who can present an employment contract in shortage occupations such as elder-care and construction.
For corporate mobility teams, the consultation reveals that employers will be able to initiate applications on behalf of workers via Spain’s Mercurio online platform, provided they upload signed contracts and commit to enrolling staff in social security within ten days of approval. The draft further exempts applicants from paying the €38 residency-card fee if their monthly income is below the minimum wage, a concession aimed at low-income households.
![Government opens public consultation on details of migrant regularisation scheme]()
Eager to turn the draft provisions into approved residence cards, many employers and individuals will need specialised logistical help. VisaHQ offers end-to-end assistance with Spanish visa and residence applications, from compiling evidence of continuous stay to booking fingerprint appointments, and its online portal (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) keeps applicants and HR teams aligned on every outstanding requirement.
Stakeholders have welcomed the transparency but call for a longer feedback window. Migrant-rights platform Regularización Ya urged the government to allow 30 days, arguing that “grass-root collectives need time to analyse 120 pages of legal text.” Business lobby CEOE, meanwhile, says it will request clearer guidance on how the scheme interacts with existing arraigo and highly-skilled permit categories.
Once the consultation closes, the ministry will integrate comments and publish a final order in the Official Gazette, paving the way for applications to open in early April. Employers planning spring hires should monitor the final text for any last-minute changes to documentary or salary thresholds.
The draft clarifies documentation standards: proof of presence before 31 December 2025 may include municipal padrón certificates, utility bills, remittance receipts or medical records. It also sets a 90-day target for decisions and outlines a fast-track for applicants who can present an employment contract in shortage occupations such as elder-care and construction.
For corporate mobility teams, the consultation reveals that employers will be able to initiate applications on behalf of workers via Spain’s Mercurio online platform, provided they upload signed contracts and commit to enrolling staff in social security within ten days of approval. The draft further exempts applicants from paying the €38 residency-card fee if their monthly income is below the minimum wage, a concession aimed at low-income households.
Eager to turn the draft provisions into approved residence cards, many employers and individuals will need specialised logistical help. VisaHQ offers end-to-end assistance with Spanish visa and residence applications, from compiling evidence of continuous stay to booking fingerprint appointments, and its online portal (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) keeps applicants and HR teams aligned on every outstanding requirement.
Stakeholders have welcomed the transparency but call for a longer feedback window. Migrant-rights platform Regularización Ya urged the government to allow 30 days, arguing that “grass-root collectives need time to analyse 120 pages of legal text.” Business lobby CEOE, meanwhile, says it will request clearer guidance on how the scheme interacts with existing arraigo and highly-skilled permit categories.
Once the consultation closes, the ministry will integrate comments and publish a final order in the Official Gazette, paving the way for applications to open in early April. Employers planning spring hires should monitor the final text for any last-minute changes to documentary or salary thresholds.
