Spain to Grant Legal Status to 500,000 Undocumented Migrants

Spain will soon regularise about 500,000 undocumented migrants under a new policy aimed at bringing them out of the shadows. The government hopes this move will let many live and work legally, boosting tax contributions and improving working conditions. Under the plan, migrants who can prove at least five months’ residency and a clean criminal record will receive a one-year residence permit. The application window opens April 16 and closes at the end of June, with renewals available for those who continue to meet the criteria. Officials cite labour shortages and an ageing population as key drivers. They argue that recognising migrants already contributing to sectors like agriculture and healthcare will strengthen public services and the wider economy. A similar 2005 programme regularised some 577,000 people. The policy has split opinion. Supporters, including civil society groups and the Catholic Church, call it humane and practical. The opposition warns it could fuel further irregular migration. For many migrants, though, it represents hope for stable employment, access to basic services and protection from deportation.

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