Spain’s migrant legalisation program draws 130,000 applications in one week

Spain’s emergency migrant regularisation programme launched by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has drawn more than 130,000 applications in its first week, according to Euronews.

The initiative targets individuals who can prove continuous residence in the country up to 2026 and meet a set of conditions, including having no criminal record. Applications will remain open until the end of June and can be submitted either online or in person.

The rollout, however, has been marked by administrative disruptions. Authorities in several cities reported long queues, difficulties with appointment systems, and delays in processing documents. Organisations working with migrants have warned of a potential overload of the system and are calling for additional resources to be allocated.

Meanwhile, several regional administrations have expressed concerns about the possible impact of the measure on public services, particularly amid already strained conditions in areas such as healthcare and social services.

The government maintains that the programme represents a key step toward integration and the fight against the shadow economy. It argues that legalisation will allow thousands of workers to pay taxes and gain access to labour rights. According to estimates, the measure could affect around 500,000 people.

By Jeyhun Aghazada