The Spanish Government Launches an Extraordinary Regularisation Process for Migrants

The Spanish Government has begun the processing of a Royal Decree establishing an extraordinary regularisation process aimed at foreign nationals who are already residing in the country in an irregular administrative situation. The measure seeks to address an established social reality and to provide legal certainty both for the individuals concerned and for the economic and social system as a whole.

According to official announcements, the process could benefit around 500,000 people and will remain open until 30 June. Eligible applicants must be able to prove that they were living in Spain before 31 December 2025 and demonstrate at least five months of continuous residence.

Requirements and Accepted Documentation

Proof of residence in Spain will not necessarily require registration on the municipal census (empadronamiento), although this will be accepted. Other forms of documentation may also be used, including:

• Medical reports

• Utility contracts or bills (electricity, water, etc.)

• Money transfer certificates

• Other official documents proving presence in Spanish territory

Applicants with criminal records will be excluded from the process.

Effects of the Application and Residence Permits

Once an application is formally accepted for processing, the applicant will automatically be granted a provisional residence permit, which will allow them to:

• Work legally

• Access public healthcare

• Have any administrative return procedures or expulsion orders suspended, including those related to working without authorisation

If the application is approved, a one-year residence permit will be granted. Upon its expiration, the individual may apply for an ordinary residence permit in accordance with current Spanish immigration regulations.

A Royal Decree Without Parliamentary Ratification

As this measure is being implemented through a Royal Decree rather than a Royal Decree-Law, it does not require subsequent parliamentary ratification, allowing for direct application once approved by the Council of Ministers.

Background: Regularisation Processes in Spain

Since the 1980s, Spain has implemented eight extraordinary regularisation processes, promoted by governments of different political orientations, with the aim of reducing administrative irregularity and tackling the informal economy.

Key figures include:

• 1985 and 1991 (Felipe González administrations): more than 147,000 people regularised

• 1996 (José María Aznar administration): approximately 21,000 people

• 2000: over 244,000 applications submitted, with around 163,000 approvals

• 2001: file reviews and additional processes resulted in more than 295,000 people regularised in total, including residence permits based on social ties (arraigo)

• 2005 (José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero administration): the largest process to date, with nearly 578,000 people regularised, for the first time directly linked to an employment contract

Historically, these processes have served as tools to integrate populations already living and working in Spain.

Local Context and Relevance for Areas with High Foreign Residency

In municipalities with a high concentration of foreign residents, such as Torrevieja and the Vega Baja region, measures of this nature have a direct impact on residential stability, access to rental housing, and the formalisation of contracts, as they allow more people to prove a regular administrative status.

This extraordinary regularisation is therefore presented as an administrative instrument aimed at organising an existing situation, with both social and economic effects on the labour and housing markets.