Spain to regularise half a million “illegal migrants”

The Spanish government has prepared an amnesty measure that, according to official estimates, could allow around 500,000 undocumented migrants to apply for legal status, Sky News reports.

The initiative provides for the issuance of work and residence permits valid for one year in a country with a population of around 50 million.

Applications can be submitted online starting Thursday, and in person from April 20. The application period will run until June 30. Candidates must prove that they have lived in Spain for at least five months, entered the country before January 1, and have no criminal record.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the measure “an act of justice and necessity,” stating that migrants already working in the country should be treated equally and pay taxes.

The opposition Popular Party criticised the initiative, calling it unsustainable and risky for the system.

The decision deepens divisions between Spain and several European countries that advocate for stricter migration policies.

According to data, around 840,000 undocumented migrants live in the country, while the total number of foreign-born residents is approximately 10 million — about one-fifth of the population. The main migrant flows come from Colombia, Venezuela, and Morocco.

The measure was adopted by decree, allowing the government to bypass parliament, where it does not hold a stable majority. Migration is expected to become a key issue in the upcoming political cycle.

By Vugar Khalilov