Spain’s coalition government confirmed on 4 February 2026 that it will move ahead with an extraordinary regularisation programme expected to grant legal residence to about half-a-million undocumented migrants. Speaking to international media in Dubai, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez argued that the measure is both “a moral imperative and an economic necessity”, pointing out that immigrants already contribute roughly 10 % of GDP while accounting for barely 1 % of public-spending outlays.
Under the draft Royal Decree, any foreign national who can prove five months of continuous residence in Spain before 31 December 2025—and who has no serious criminal record—may apply between April and June 2026 for a one-year residence–work authorisation that can later be renewed for four years. Asylum-seekers whose cases were filed before the cut-off date are also eligible, as are dependent children.
For applicants who want to minimise errors and delays, VisaHQ can provide end-to-end assistance: its Spain portal (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) offers document verification, real-time status tracking and expert guidance on everything from proof-of-residence requirements to subsequent work-permit renewals, making the regularisation process far less daunting for individuals and HR teams alike.
![Spain to Regularise 500,000 Undocumented Migrants in 2026]()
The last comparable mass-regularisation took place in 2005, when 750,000 workers obtained papers. Employers’ groups, particularly in agriculture, logistics and domestic care, have lobbied hard for the new programme, warning of acute labour shortages as Spain’s working-age population continues to shrink. The government therefore frames the initiative as a competitiveness tool: legal status will allow migrants to move from the informal economy into tax-paying jobs, bolster Social Security revenues and ease skills gaps in fast-growing sectors such as elder-care and construction.
Opposition parties on the right denounce the plan as an “amnesty” that will create a pull-factor for further irregular arrivals, but the Interior Ministry notes that irregular sea crossings fell 32 % in 2025 thanks to increased cooperation with Morocco and Senegal. Brussels, meanwhile, is watching closely; if successful, Spain could offer a template for other ageing EU economies that depend on migrant labour yet struggle with integration backlogs.
For global-mobility managers the message is clear: employees who were previously blocked from regular contracts—or whose family members lacked status—may soon be able to work, travel and access public services lawfully. Companies should start auditing shadow-payroll or cash-in-hand arrangements and prepare the documentation needed for workers to file applications as soon as electronic portals open in April.
Under the draft Royal Decree, any foreign national who can prove five months of continuous residence in Spain before 31 December 2025—and who has no serious criminal record—may apply between April and June 2026 for a one-year residence–work authorisation that can later be renewed for four years. Asylum-seekers whose cases were filed before the cut-off date are also eligible, as are dependent children.
For applicants who want to minimise errors and delays, VisaHQ can provide end-to-end assistance: its Spain portal (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) offers document verification, real-time status tracking and expert guidance on everything from proof-of-residence requirements to subsequent work-permit renewals, making the regularisation process far less daunting for individuals and HR teams alike.
The last comparable mass-regularisation took place in 2005, when 750,000 workers obtained papers. Employers’ groups, particularly in agriculture, logistics and domestic care, have lobbied hard for the new programme, warning of acute labour shortages as Spain’s working-age population continues to shrink. The government therefore frames the initiative as a competitiveness tool: legal status will allow migrants to move from the informal economy into tax-paying jobs, bolster Social Security revenues and ease skills gaps in fast-growing sectors such as elder-care and construction.
Opposition parties on the right denounce the plan as an “amnesty” that will create a pull-factor for further irregular arrivals, but the Interior Ministry notes that irregular sea crossings fell 32 % in 2025 thanks to increased cooperation with Morocco and Senegal. Brussels, meanwhile, is watching closely; if successful, Spain could offer a template for other ageing EU economies that depend on migrant labour yet struggle with integration backlogs.
For global-mobility managers the message is clear: employees who were previously blocked from regular contracts—or whose family members lacked status—may soon be able to work, travel and access public services lawfully. Companies should start auditing shadow-payroll or cash-in-hand arrangements and prepare the documentation needed for workers to file applications as soon as electronic portals open in April.
