2026 Special Regularisation Scheme: application deadline closed, rectification phase begins
The deadline for submitting applications under the extraordinary regularisation process for foreign nationals – approved by Royal Decree and published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) on 15 April 2026 – expired on 30 June 2026. The procedure, which has been open since 16 April, is now entering a new phase that you should be fully aware of, whether you submitted your application yourself or are a company that has offered employment to an applicant.
Current status of the process
From 1 July until 30 September 2026, the period for rectifying documentation is open. This is aimed at those who submitted their application within the deadline and need to provide additional documentation, either on their own initiative (to provide further information) or in response to a request from the authorities regarding documentation that has not been provided, or is incorrect or incomplete.
It is important to emphasise that new applications can no longer be submitted. Anyone who did not apply within the deadline is excluded from this extraordinary procedure, without prejudice to the ordinary regularisation channels provided for in the Immigration Regulations (ties to Spain and other authorisations due to exceptional circumstances), which remain fully operational.
Reminder: who was eligible and what were the requirements
The process was aimed at two main groups: foreign nationals in an irregular situation who arrived in Spain before 1 January 2026, and applicants for international protection who submitted their application before that same date. The general requirements were to prove an uninterrupted stay of at least five months at the time of application, to have no criminal record in Spain or in the countries of residence over the past five years, and not to pose a threat to public order, security or public health.
In addition, applicants had to demonstrate one of the following three circumstances: having worked or intending to work (by means of a job offer as an employee for a period of more than 90 days or a sworn statement regarding self-employment); living with minor children, adult children with disabilities or first-degree ascendants; or a situation of vulnerability substantiated by a report.
What happens to applications submitted
- Applications are given priority processing, and notification that processing has begun provisionally authorises the applicant to reside and work.
- The general timeframe for a decision is three months.
- The authorisation granted is for residence and work, initially valid for one year, and is valid only for Spain (it does not authorise residence or work in other EU Member States).
- The TIE (Foreigners’ Identity Card) is issued within one month of approval; asylum seekers must provide proof that they have withdrawn their application for international protection in order to obtain it.
- Minor children of applicants who are in Spain may have their immigration status regularised at the same time, with a five-year permit, in order to protect family unity.
If you have received a request to rectify deficiencies
Requests must be complied with within the specified timeframe and in the manner indicated, providing personalised and dated documentation. Failure to comply with a request may lead to the application being shelved or rejected, even if it materially met the requirements. We recommend checking in detail which specific document is being requested (full passport, proof of residence, criminal record duly legalised and translated, proof of the job offer) before responding.
Implications for companies and employers
For companies that have made contract offers to applicants, the granting of authorisation will enable them to formalise registration with Social Security with full legal certainty. It is advisable to have the employment documentation (contract, applicable collective agreement, registration) ready to activate the employment relationship as soon as the decision is notified, and to allow for the time required to issue the TIE for the purposes of identifying the worker.
And if the application is refused
Decisions to refuse an application may be appealed through administrative channels and, where appropriate, through the administrative courts. Furthermore, depending on each individual’s circumstances (length of stay, family ties, job offer), it may be possible to resolve the situation through the standard grounds for residence set out in the Immigration Regulations. Each case requires an individual assessment.
Have you submitted your application and received a notice to appear? Has your company hired, or does it wish to hire, someone who is in the process of regularisation?
At SF Abogados, we provide personalised advice. Contact us at www.sfabogados.com or call us, and we will assess your case.
Information note prepared by SF Abogados on 2 July 2026 based on published regulations and official information (Royal Decree on Extraordinary Regularisation, BOE 15/04/2026; Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration). This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice on a specific case.
