Spain approves plan to grant legal status to around 500,000 undocumented migrants

Spain’s Council of Ministers has approved a royal decree that will grant legal status to more than 500,000 undocumented migrants who currently reside in the country.

The measure, supported by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has deepened political divisions, with the People’s Party (PP) and Vox opposing the decision and confirming plans for legal action.

In an open letter posted on X, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the measure acknowledges the existence of people in Spain “who already play their parts in our day to day lives” by taking care of the elderly, working in the country’s agricultural sector and creating thriving companies.

“These are the people who build the rich, open and diverse Spain that we have today,” he wrote. “And the country we aspire to have in the future.”

“Spain, like other European countries, is growing older. If we do not take in new people to work and contribute to the social security system, our prosperity will slow, our capacity to innovate will decline, and our public services — health care, pension, education — will suffer,” he wrote, underlining that the country’s strong economic growth is partly due to the influx of foreign workers.

Under the terms of the decree, unauthorized migrants who can demonstrate continuous residence in Spain for at least five months prior to 1 January 2026 will be eligible to apply for legal status. Applicants must also provide evidence of employment or a familial link to Spain, while individuals with criminal records are excluded from the process.

The People’s Party (PP) had previously supported a parliamentary proposal in 2024 to regularise undocumented migrants, but the initiative stalled and the party has since hardened its position.

PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo argued at the European Pulse Forum in Barcelona that the policy risks “exporting a migration problem” across the EU and runs counter to “common European consensus.”

The PP has confirmed it will challenge the decree in court, with Vox, led by Santiago Abascal, also expected to pursue legal action, warning that Pedro Sánchez will be held politically accountable for the decision.

ℹ️ POLITICO