Madrid – At the end of january 2026, the Spanish government adopted an extraordinary decree aimed at granting legal residence and work permits to hundreds of thousands of migrants living irregularly in Spain. The measure is considered one of the largest regularization initiatives in Europe in recent years and has sparked political debate both domestically and internationally.

The decree aims to bring 500,000 people out of the shadow economy, improve their social security, and alleviate the labor shortage. Image: Joseph Molieri/Bread of the World

According to the government, the decree applies to people who can prove that they were living in Spain no later than 31 december 2025, can demonstrate several months of residence, and have no serious criminal record. The application process is expected to begin in spring 2026 and will be limited in time.

Up to 500,000 people could benefit

Media outlets and research institutes estimate that around 500,000 migrants could benefit from the measure. At the beginning of 2025, approximately 840,000 people without regular residence status were estimated to be living in Spain. During the application process, ongoing deportation procedures are to be suspended.

Successful applicants will initially receive a one-year residence permit along with an unrestricted work permit valid across all regions and sectors of Spain. The aim is to bring people out of the shadow economy, improve their social protection, and address acute labor shortages in several sectors of the economy.

Origin: predominantly from Latin America

A central feature of irregular migration in Spain is its origin. According to estimates, around nine out of ten affected migrants come from Latin America. The largest groups originate from Colombia, Peru, and Honduras, alongside migrants from other South and Central American countries. Shared language, historical ties, and established social networks are key factors.

Migrants from Africa, such as from Morocco or Algeria, as well as from Asia and Europe, represent a significantly smaller share. The decree explicitly does not apply to newly arriving migrants but to people who have already been living in Spain for an extended period.

Political controversy

The government defends the measure as humane, economically necessary, and politically pragmatic. Spain faces demographic challenges and urgently needs workers, particularly in care services, construction, agriculture, and the service sector. The decree also follows pressure from a civil-society initiative that collected more than 700,000 signatures in favor of regularization.

Criticism has come primarily from conservative and right-wing parties, which accuse the government of bypassing parliament and creating a potential “pull factor” for migration. The government rejects these claims, emphasizing that the decree is clearly limited and tied to strict cut-off dates.

European context

With this move, Spain is taking a different path from many European neighbors, which have recently tightened their migration policies. Observers see the decree as a political signal: integration instead of permanent irregularity, combined with an attempt to manage migration through regulation rather than treating it solely as a security issue.

Conclusion

Spain’s decree to legalize irregular migrants marks a significant shift in European migration policy. Whether it will be remembered as a pragmatic model for integration or as a political risk will only become clear in the years to come.

By Okay Altinisik | 28-1-2026, 11:45:34