Spain is entering the final stage of the process to approve the special regularisation of migrants
The Spanish Government is at a decisive stage in the process of approving the long-awaited extraordinary regularisation of migrants, a measure that could benefit hundreds of thousands of people in an irregular administrative situation.
The text, currently in the form of a draft Royal Decree, has already passed through the initial stages of public consultation and is awaiting the final technical and legal reports, including that of the Council of State. Sources close to the process indicate that the government intends to speed up the process for final approval in the coming weeks.
The proposal provides for the creation of a residence and work permit on exceptional grounds, aimed at people who can prove they were in Spain before 1 January 2026, have no criminal record and meet certain requirements regarding roots in the country or social integration.
In addition, the draft includes a specific route for asylum seekers who are on Spanish territory without a final decision, as well as measures to facilitate the regularisation of entire families.
The government argues that the initiative will bring the informal economy into the open, improve labour market integration and strengthen social cohesion. However, the measure continues to spark intense political debate, with criticism from the opposition, which is calling for stricter controls and restrictions.
If approved in its current form, the process could begin in April 2026, with a limited window for submitting applications.
Pending its publication in the Official State Gazette (BOE), the extraordinary regularisation is shaping up to be one of the most significant reforms in the field of migration in Spain in recent years.
| Borrador Febrero 2026 Regularización extraordinaria | 428 KB | ||
| REGULARIZACIÓN EXTRAORDINARIA 2026 | 12639 KB |
