While many nations tighten migration controls, Spain is forging a strikingly different path. In January 2026, the Spanish cabinet approved a decree offering legal residency to hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants already living in the country. This move sharply contrasts with global trends of increased deportations and exclusion.
This isn’t a top-down initiative; its roots lie in a “popular legislative initiative.” Over 700,000 citizens backed a proposal demanding regularization for an estimated 500,000 people without legal status. Though stalled in parliament, the government revived this citizen-led call via decree.
Spain has positive past experience. A 2005 regularization of over 570,000 migrants significantly boosted tax revenues and social security contributions, improving their labor market outcomes without creating a “welfare magnet” effect often cited by critics.
The new scheme allows those in Spain before December 31, 2025, with five months of continuous residency and no criminal record, to apply. Asylum seekers are also eligible. Successful applicants get a one-year permit, enabling them to join the legal workforce, pay taxes, and contribute formally. Family unity is a cornerstone, extending permits to minors.
Despite political debate around its timing, the decree’s core objective is formalization. Spain is choosing integration over exclusion, recognizing that bringing existing residents into the legal system strengthens public finances and social cohesion. It’s a powerful statement for valuing the contributions of all who call Spain home.
