On Tuesday, the Spanish government finalised a migrant amnesty measure first announced earlier this year. This initiative provides an opportunity for hundreds of thousands of immigrants who are currently living and working without authorisation in Spain to apply for legal status. This approach stands in marked contrast to the prevailing attitudes on immigration observed in many other European countries, where governments are focusing on reducing the number of incoming migrants and increasing deportations.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez characterised the measure as “an act of justice and a necessity,” underscoring the government’s stance that individuals residing and working within the country, home to 50 million people, should “do so under equal conditions” and comply with tax obligations. He stated, “We recognise rights, but we also demand obligations.”
Under the new policy, individuals who meet certain criteria can apply for a one-year residency and work permit. Migration Minister Elma Saiz announced that migrants can begin submitting applications in person starting 20 April and online from the following Thursday, with the application period concluding on 30 June. Applicants must have arrived in Spain before 1 January and provide evidence of residence in the country for at least 5 months. This can be validated through either public or private documents. Additionally, applicants must confirm that they have no criminal record, as confirmed by the government.
After a year of granted temporary status, those individuals will be eligible to apply for other work or residency permits. The government estimates that approximately 500,000 people living without authorisation in Spain may qualify, though some analysts suggest that the actual number could be even higher. The Spanish think tank Funcas estimates that there are around 840,000 unauthorised migrants currently residing in Spain.
The Spanish population has expanded significantly in recent years, now comprising approximately 10 million individuals born outside the country, or one in every five residents. Many of these immigrants come from Colombia, Venezuela, and Morocco, seeking refuge from poverty, violence, or political instability. Immigrants from Latin America and Africa contribute significantly to key sectors of the Spanish economy, including agriculture, tourism, and services.
Concerns remain regarding the government’s capacity to manage the anticipated application volume within the specified time frame. A Spanish union representing immigration officers has called for additional resources, cautioning that the government may not be adequately prepared to meet this challenge. Migrants will be able to submit applications in person at 60 social security offices, 371 post offices, and five immigration offices across the country.
This amnesty initiative is not the first of its kind in Spain; the country has previously enacted similar measures six times between 1986 and 2005, including during conservative administrations. The opposition Popular Party has criticised the current measure, with party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo calling it unsustainable, despite his party’s previous implementation of two mass legalisations in the early 2000s.
The Sánchez administration expedited this measure through a decree that amends existing immigration laws, thereby allowing the government to bypass parliamentary approval where it does not hold a majority. Minister Saiz praised the initiative as a means for Spain, which has been among the fastest-growing economies in the European Union for the past two years, to sustain its expansion.
Saiz stated, “Our prosperity is demonstrably linked to our management of migration and the contributions of foreign workers,” noting that their involvement is crucial for enabling Spain to “grow economically, generate employment and wealth, and maintain our welfare system.”
This article used information from The Associated Press.
