In a bold policy shift that breaks with hardening European Union migration norms, Spain’s left-wing government has enacted a sweeping decree to grant legal status to approximately half a million undocumented migrants. Approved during Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, the measure establishes one of Europe’s most extensive regularization programs in recent years.
Migration Minister Elma Saiz championed the initiative as a reinforcement of a rights-based migration model, emphasizing its compatibility with economic growth and social cohesion. Beneficiaries, who must have resided in Spain for a minimum of five months and applied for international protection before December 31, 2025, will gain full access to the labor market across all sectors and regions. A clean criminal record is mandatory, and the regularization extends to applicants’ children already living in the country.
The application window is scheduled to open in April and run through June 2025. Notably, the government is implementing this via decree, bypassing parliamentary approval—a tactical move given the ruling Socialist coalition’s lack of a majority.
The policy has ignited fierce opposition from conservative and far-right parties. Alberto Nunez Feijoo, leader of the Popular Party, condemned the move as ‘ludicrous’ on social media platform X, warning it would overwhelm public services and reward illegality. He pledged a comprehensive overhaul of migration policy if elected.
Conversely, the Spanish Catholic Church lauded the decree as ‘an act of social justice and recognition.’ Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s administration justifies the policy on demographic and economic grounds, citing migration as critical for filling workforce gaps and counteracting an aging population that threatens pension sustainability. Official data released Tuesday underscored this contribution: foreigners accounted for 52,500 of the 76,200 new jobs in Q4 2024, helping drive unemployment to its lowest level since 2008.
This humanitarian approach starkly contrasts with the broader EU trend toward stricter border controls and deterrence policies, often influenced by rising far-right influence. Spain remains a primary entry point for migrants fleeing poverty and conflict, with tens of thousands arriving annually via the Canary Islands. Recent estimates from the Funcas think-tank indicate approximately 840,000 undocumented migrants resided in Spain at the start of 2025, predominantly from Latin America. Foreigners now constitute over seven million of Spain’s 49.4 million population, highlighting the profound demographic impact of migration.