Published: 10.09.2026
From 16 April to 30 June 2026, people who had been in Spain before 1 January 2026 and had lived there continuously for at least five months could apply for an initial one-year residence and work permit. Applicants had to have no criminal record and provide dated documents proving their presence; minors could receive a five-year residence authorisation.
According to the sources, the measure created a separate temporary route to legal status for people already in Spain without valid residence permission or awaiting an international-protection decision. Once an application was admitted, the applicant could reside and work anywhere in the country, followed by a transition to the ordinary immigration routes. In practice, this mainly affects people who could prove presence before the specified dates, rather than new applicants planning to enter Spain from abroad. It is therefore important for people already in Spain and their families, but it does not replace a visa or standard residence route for a planned move from another country.