The government in Madrid is launching an extraordinary procedure that will allow migrants who previously lived illegally in the country to obtain legal residence rights.
Spain’s left-wing government plans to legalize the residence status of hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants. The decision was approved by the cabinet, announced Migration Minister Elma Saiz.
“We are strengthening a migration model based on human rights,” Saiz emphasized, also speaking as the government’s spokesperson. Migrants will be offered “guarantees, opportunities, and rights.” The minister highlighted the “positive effects” of migration in this context.
Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has justified his coalition’s pro-migration policy by pointing to threats to the welfare state and pension security caused by labor shortages and an aging population.
A Counter-Model to the United States
Spain is thus pursuing a different course from many other Western countries—most notably the United States under President Donald Trump, who has sought to deport all foreigners without legal residency status. Most European Union member states have also supported stricter migration policies.
Alongside Italy and Greece, Spain is one of the main entry points for migrants into Europe. According to the latest data from the National Statistics Institute (INE), around 9.8 million people born abroad were living in Spain in 2025—nearly 20% of the total population.
A Train Ticket as Proof
All migrants who arrived in Spain before 31 December 2025 may now benefit from the extraordinary procedure. Applicants must have no criminal record and must have lived in the country for at least five months at the time of application.
Proof of residence can be provided through documents such as medical certificates, rental agreements, bank transfer receipts, or even purchased train tickets. Applications for legalization may be submitted until 30 June of this year.
The initiative will be implemented through a royal decree, a legal instrument that does not require parliamentary ratification in Madrid, where Sánchez’s coalition lacks a majority. A previous legislative initiative by the government had stalled in the parliamentary process. /DW/
