Spain is embarking on a landmark initiative to grant legal residency to hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants, a move driven by both economic necessity and humanitarian principles. The program, which opens for applications in April, offers a one-year renewable residency visa to foreign nationals who can prove at least five months of residence and a clean criminal record.
The decision emerges against a backdrop of severe challenges faced by an estimated 500,000 to over one million undocumented individuals. Migrants like Diana from Peru, who spoke to the BBC, describe a precarious existence marked by exploitation, underpayment, and restricted access to housing and banking services. ‘Employers can tell you one thing and then get you to do something else. Sometimes they pay you less than what you’ve agreed to,’ she recounted, highlighting the vulnerability of those without papers.
However, the government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s Socialist coalition, frames the policy as a pragmatic solution to Spain’s economic realities. With unemployment at an 18-year low and the economy growing by nearly 3% last year, foreign labor is indispensable. Elma Saiz, Minister for Inclusion, Social Security and Immigration, revealed that foreign workers constitute 14.1% of the 22 million registered workforce and have driven half of Spain’s economic growth since 2022. A 2024 central bank report further underscored this dependency, projecting a need for 25 million migrants over the next three decades to sustain the economy and social security system.
The initiative has garnered support from key business sectors. Farmers’ association ASAJA and the main employers’ federation, CEOE, have expressed broad approval, citing the critical role migrants play in agriculture, elderly care, and hospitality. Yet, they urge careful implementation to ensure workers secure long-term contracts.
The policy faces fierce opposition in Spain’s polarized political landscape. The conservative People’s Party (PP) leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo condemned it as ‘the confirmation of the lack of an immigration policy,’ while the far-right Vox party warned of a ‘pull effect’ that would overwhelm public services. The European Commission has also urged caution, emphasizing that residency permits must not facilitate unlawful movement to other EU nations.
Despite the controversy, the move is seen as a lifeline for countless individuals. In Madrid, organizations like Aculco are preparing workshops to guide applicants like Manuel, a Peruvian caregiver, through the process. ‘This will change the lives of a lot of people,’ said immigration lawyer Pilar Rodríguez, noting that regularization will allow migrants to work legally, pay taxes, and contribute fully to the society they help sustain.