Approximately 1 million immigrants in Spain have pursued the legalisation of their status following the introduction of a significant measure earlier this year, aimed at integrating foreign nationals who reside and work in the country without authorisation. The application period for this programme, announced in January and launched in April, was scheduled to close on Tuesday. This initiative provides immigrants without legal status the opportunity to obtain a one-year, renewable residence permit, contingent upon their having resided in the country for at least five months and maintaining a clean criminal record.
As of 12 June, the Spanish government had received about 1 million applications from individuals seeking work and residency permits under this temporary programme. Initially, the government estimated that approximately 500,000 foreigners living in Spain without authorisation could benefit from this opportunity. However, think tanks and law enforcement agencies have indicated that the actual number may be closer to 1 million, with immigration experts and analysts anticipating that the final count will exceed this figure.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez characterised this measure as “an act of justice and a necessity,” asserting that individuals already living and contributing to the workforce in Spain should be granted equal conditions and the ability to pay taxes. This approach represents a notable contrast to the heightened deportation efforts observed in various regions of the European Union and the United States.
By mid-June, the government had successfully processed a substantial number of applications, with applicants set to receive temporary residence and work permits. The final figures are expected to increase, as the government has a three-month period to process all applications submitted by 30 June.
Among the applicants, Colombian nationals represent a significant proportion. Colombians are among the largest immigrant groups in Spain, with an estimated 980,000 Colombian-born individuals residing in the country, according to the National Statistics Institute. Furthermore, Moroccan nationals accounted for 14% of the applicants, while Venezuelans and Peruvians accounted for 10% and 9%, respectively, according to the government.
Key sectors of the Spanish economy, including agriculture, tourism, and services, heavily rely on immigrants from Latin America and Africa. Over recent decades, Spain’s population has grown considerably, with around 10 million individuals—out of a total population of 50 million—born abroad. Many of these immigrants have come from Colombia, Venezuela, and Morocco, often escaping violence or political instability, or seeking improved economic opportunities.
This initiative marks the most recent effort towards the mass legalisation of immigrants living and working illegally in Spain. Previous measures were undertaken three times under Socialist Party Prime Minister Felipe González, beginning in 1986, and two additional measures were implemented during the government of conservative leader José Aznar in the 2000s. However, this current initiative has seen a much higher volume of applications. In the previous largest legalisation effort in 2005, 576,500 immigrants successfully regularised their status, a process that generated significant public discussion and scrutiny.
This article used information from The Associated Press.
