Published: 08.10.2026
Spain launched a regularisation procedure for undocumented migrants who could prove that they were in the country before 1 January 2026, had lived there continuously for at least five months and had no criminal record. Successful applicants receive an initial one-year residence and work permit; applications were accepted from 16 April to 30 June 2026.
According to the sources, the measure is not a route for future arrivals but for people who were already in Spain by the specified date and could document that presence. In the longer term, it moves eligible applicants from irregular status into legal residence and employment, with the possibility of applying later for statuses provided by the immigration rules. It primarily affects undocumented migrants and international-protection applicants who meet the scheme’s criteria. For people only planning a move, it is relevant as an indication of Spain’s migration policy, but the scheme cannot be used without the required period of prior residence.