Spain Grants Residency to 500,000 Undocumented Migrants

Spain's government announced on Tuesday a decree to grant legal residency and work permits to hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants, marking a significant expansion of migrant integration efforts amid labor shortages and demographic challenges in the country.

Migration Minister Elma Saiz detailed the measure after a cabinet meeting, stating it would apply to individuals who can prove at least five months of residence in Spain by the end of 2025 and have no significant criminal record. Those who applied for international protection before December 31, 2025, would also qualify. The initial permit offers up to one year of legal status, allowing beneficiaries to work in any sector nationwide, with a pathway to longer-term residency and eventual citizenship. Applications are set to open in April and close at the end of June, and filing would suspend any ongoing deportation proceedings. The policy extends to children of eligible migrants already in the country.

Officials estimate the decree could benefit around 500,000 people, primarily from Latin America and Africa, though some analyses suggest the number of undocumented residents may reach 840,000. Many work in essential...