Madrid has announced a landmark decision to legalise undocumented immigrants, a move expected to benefit at least half a million people and ease pressure on Spain’s labour market while reshaping its migration policy.

The Spanish government has announced a plan to legalise the status of undocumented migrants living in the country. Officials say the measure could benefit more than 500,000 people, making it the largest such initiative in Spain in 20 years.

“This is a historic day for our country,” said Spain’s Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz, describing the move as a shift toward a rights-based migration model.

Who qualifies under new policy

According to the plan, foreign nationals without a criminal record who can prove they lived in Spain for at least five months before December 31, 2025, will be eligible for regularisation. Applicants must also apply for legal residency before 2026.

Successful applicants will receive an initial one-year residence permit, which can later be extended. Requests for legalisation are expected to open in April and will remain open until the end of June.

To obtain legal residency, applicants must submit valid passports and police clearance certificates. This requirement has led to long queues outside foreign embassies and consulates, as thousands rush to secure the necessary documents.

Pakistani embassies and consulates have also seen days-long lines, with hundreds of Pakistani citizens expected to benefit from the new Spanish policy.

Embassies overwhelmed, demand surges

Foreign missions across Spain have reported heavy crowds as undocumented migrants scramble to complete paperwork. Citizens from multiple countries have been waiting for several days to obtain passports and other official records required for residency applications.

Foreign media report that the surge reflects both the scale of the policy and the urgency among migrants to secure legal status.

Spain has experienced a sharp rise in undocumented migration in recent years, largely driven by arrivals from Latin America. A study by the conservative think tank Funcas found that the number of undocumented migrants rose from 107,409 in 2017 to 837,938 in 2025, an eight-fold increase.

The largest groups currently living in Spain are believed to be from Colombia, Peru, and Honduras.

Govt links migration to economic growth

Spain’s socialist-led coalition government has consistently argued that migrants are essential to the economy. The country has outperformed other major EU economies in recent years, with expected growth close to 3% in 2025.

Unemployment, long a weakness of Spain’s economy, has dropped below 10% for the first time since 2008, according to figures released this week.

Prime Minister Sánchez has described immigrants as a source of “wealth, development and prosperity,” highlighting their contributions to the social security system. Left-wing parties have also stressed the need for humane treatment of migrants.

“Providing rights is the answer to racism,” said Irene Montero of the far-left Podemos party, which helped push the initiative forward after a civic proposal supporting mass regularisation gained around 700,000 signatures.

Opposition voices concern

The policy has drawn criticism from conservative and far-right parties. Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the conservative People’s Party, warned the move could “increase the pull effect and overwhelm our public services.”

Vox party spokeswoman Pepa Millán said the initiative “attacks our identity” and confirmed the party would appeal to Spain’s Supreme Court in an attempt to block it.

The measure will be approved by royal decree, meaning it does not require parliamentary approval. It is Spain’s first large-scale migrant regularisation since 2005.

Between 1986 and 2005, governments led by both the Socialists and the People’s Party legalised the status of roughly half a million migrants, setting a precedent for the current move.