Spain Approves Major Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants
On Tuesday, Spain’s socialist government officially began the process to grant amnesty to around 500,000 undocumented immigrants residing in the country.
This move comes nearly three months after Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez first unveiled the plan. The Council of Ministers has now signed a decree, which was published in the Government Gazette and will take effect on Thursday.
As Sánchez promised, the amnesty was enacted by royal decree, allowing the government to sidestep the need for parliamentary approval. This decision comes despite the fact that nearly 70% of Spaniards oppose it, even with the ruling party holding a majority in parliament.
The Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Immigration announced that applications will open on Thursday, April 16th. Hundreds of thousands of individuals will be able to apply online, with in-person services starting on April 20th. The application period will close on June 30th.
To qualify, undocumented immigrants must show they were living in Spain before January 1, 2026, and have continuously resided there for at least five months before applying. They also need to prove they have no criminal record and do not pose any threat to public order, safety, or health.
According to Spain’s El Mundo newspaper, those who do not submit the required documentation after starting the application will not be expelled from the country, as confirmed by a ministry official.
“Today marks a significant day. Spain, already a wonderful country, takes another step forward by acknowledging rights rather than limiting them,” stated Inclusion Minister Elma Sais.
Saiz highlighted that the aim of this process is to safeguard the rights of immigrants while ensuring legal certainty. She emphasized that the amnesty approach would be “streamlined, efficient, and accommodating” for all who meet the criteria.
Successful applicants will receive a full work permit valid throughout Spain and will be assigned a personal social security number. After receiving amnesty, immigrants must apply for a foreign ID card within a month. Minors will have access to a five-year residence permit, and family members can apply simultaneously.
Prime Minister Sánchez, currently on an official visit to China, described the mass amnesty as “an act of justice and a necessity” in social media posts.
“Once again, I feel proud to be Spanish,” he expressed.
Speaking from Beijing, Sánchez remarked that the amnesty aligns with a broader support framework driven by the Catholic Church and local employers, emphasizing the need for a capable workforce for continued growth. He added that this move not only serves justice for immigrants but is also beneficial for Spain as a whole, including the welfare of current and future retirees.
However, last week, European Commissioner for Refugees and Migration Magnus Brunner reportedly warned that Spain’s amnesty plan might have “consequences” for the European Union.
Data from Spain’s National Institute of Statistics (INE) indicates that about 20% of the country’s population was born abroad, totaling around 10 million foreign-born residents.
According to reports, immigration authorities have threatened to strike next week in protest of Sánchez’s amnesty plan, citing concerns that the immigration system is ill-equipped to handle 500,000 applications.
