Spain will finally begin accepting applications for the regularization process from 16 April 2026. The EU country has taken a serious and structured step in managing migration.
As per the latest details, the Council of Ministers has approved a Royal Decree on 14 April 2026 that begins an extraordinary administrative regularization process for migrants already living in the country without proper legal status. The official announcement can be viewed here in the Spanish language.
Furthermore, the decree gets published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) on April 15, 2026, and will officially come into force on April 16, 2026. From that moment, the process begins.
Regularization Applications Key Dates
For the submission of regularization applications, the Spanish Government has announced the following timeline and dates:
- Online applications open: April 16, 2026
- Appointment system for in-person applications opens: April 16, 2026
- In-person application services begin: April 20, 2026
- Final deadline to apply: June 30, 2026
This gives applicants a limited window, so timing will matter.
Who is Regularization for?
This regularization is designed for:
- Migrants living in Spain in an irregular administrative situation
- Individuals who have applied for international protection (asylum seekers)
The goal is to give these individuals a legal pathway to live and work in Spain, provided they meet certain conditions.
Main Requirements to Qualify
To apply, individuals must meet all of the following:
- Must have been in Spain before January 1, 2026
- Must prove continuous residence of at least 5 months before applying
- Must have no criminal record
- Must not pose a risk to public safety, public order, or public health
In addition, applicants must also meet at least one of these conditions:
- Have worked in Spain (as an employee or self-employed)
- Have family ties (children, dependent relatives, or parents)
- Be in a vulnerable situation (with official certification)
How to Prove Residence
Applicants must provide documents showing they have been living in Spain. These can include:
- Public or private documents
- Documents containing personal identification data
- Official records with dates
For those claiming vulnerability, a vulnerability certificate must be obtained and officially validated by:
- Social services, or
- Authorized organizations registered in the system
Residence and Work Permit Details
If the application is accepted for processing, the applicant is automatically allowed to live and work in Spain. The work is permitted in any sector and anywhere in the country, and a “Social Security Number” is also assigned. If the final decision is approved:
- The applicant receives a residence and work permit valid for 1 year
- Within one month, they must apply for the Foreigner Identity Card (TIE)
After one year, they must transition to a standard residence permit, allowing full integration into Spain’s immigration system.
Required Documents for Spain Regularization Process
| Category | Details |
| Application Form | Completed application using the official model (available on the Regularization portal). |
| Identity Documents | Full copy of passport, registration certificate, or valid travel document recognized in Spain. |
| Proof of Entry Date | Documents showing you were in Spain before January 1, 2026. |
| Proof of Continuous Stay | Evidence showing you have lived in Spain for at least 5 months before applying. Must include personal identification details. |
| Criminal Record Certificate | Required from: • Spain • Country of origin • Any country you lived in during the last 5 years before entering Spain |
| Document Validity Requirement | All documents must: • Be in your name (nominative) • Include clear dates |
Examples of Proof of Stay in Spain
| Example Type | Description |
| Passport Entry Stamp | Official stamp showing entry into Spain |
| Travel Tickets | Airline tickets or domestic transport tickets |
| Bank Records | Transactions made in Spain (with your name) |
| Rental Agreements | Signed housing contracts in your name |
| Training Certificates | Official proof of completed courses in Spain |
Special Protection Measures
Minors will receive residence permits valid for 5 years, and families living in the same household can apply together in a single appointment. This is clearly designed to simplify the process for families.
Where and How to Apply
1- Online Application (Available 24/7)
Applications can be submitted through the Ministry’s website using:
- Personal electronic certificate
- Authorized representatives (lawyers, managers, etc.)
- Individuals registered in the Electronic Registry of Powers of Attorney
- More than 150 registered immigration support organizations
2- In-Person Application
Appointments are required and can be booked via:
- The Ministry website (Cl@ve system)
- Online forms
- Phone line 060 (Spanish language service)
In-person applications will be processed at Immigration Offices in:
- Madrid
- Alicante
- Valencia
- Almería
- Murcia
Working hours:
- Immigration Offices → 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Additional support is available at:
- Social Security offices (at least one per province)
- Post Offices in major cities
Post Office hours:
- Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Support and Legal Assistance
Applicants are not expected to go through this alone. Support is available from:
- Immigration lawyers
- Social graduates and administrative professionals
- Non-profit organizations registered under RECEX (Registry of Immigration Collaborators)
These organizations:
- Must have at least 2 years of experience
- Can act as official representatives
- Provide assistance free of charge
The government will also hold technical sessions with legal institutions to ensure the process is handled properly and consistently.
Government Position and Purpose
Minister Elma Saiz described the process as a way to guarantee migrant rights, a method to bring legal certainty to the system, and a process that will be fast, efficient, and accessible.
This initiative is also part of Spain’s broader Integration and Intercultural Coexistence Plan, which focuses on human rights, social integration, economic contribution, and social cohesion.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez emphasized that this is about recognizing reality:
Hundreds of thousands of migrants are already part of daily life in Spain, working, caring for families, contributing to the economy, and building the country’s future.
Explanation of Myths
The Spanish government is not only running the regularization process, but also clears and explains the myths and allegations on this process as follows:
| Claims / Concerns | Reality / Explanation |
| Is this a Pull factor for migrants in other EU countries? | False. The process is only for people already in Spain before the announcement, not for new arrivals. |
| No criminal record check required? | False. Having no criminal record is a mandatory requirement, as in all immigration procedures. |
| Offices will be overwhelmed (Post Office, Social Security)? | False. Special schedules and extended hours are in place, and in-person visits require appointments to avoid overload. |
| Migrants will abuse public services? | False. Data shows foreign residents use healthcare services less. Also, these individuals are already living in Spain. |
| Ukrainians are excluded? | False. Ukrainians are not irregular residents and have a separate process with no application deadline. |
| Europe is against this process? | False. The EU allows each country to decide on the legal status of people within its borders. Similar processes have been done in other countries (such as Italy). |
| Migrants increase housing problems? | False. Migrants are more affected by housing issues. Around 23% of non-EU foreigners live in overcrowded homes vs 6% of Spaniards. |
| Migrants will leave for other EU countries? | Misleading. The permit only allows living and working in Spain, not free movement for settlement in other EU countries. |
| This must be approved by Parliament? | False. The Council of State has confirmed it can be done through regulation within the constitutional framework. |
Expert Opinion
We contacted a Germany-based immigration expert, “Umer Rasib” and he said on this occasion:
“This is not just a policy change; it is a structured attempt to bring order, fairness, and clarity to a complex situation. Spain is acknowledging that many migrants are already deeply connected to society. Now, it is offering them a legal path forward, but with clear rules, deadlines, and responsibilities.
Important to remember is that regularization of undocumented migrants is not a solo flight of the Spanish Prime Minister; instead, politically, the consideration of this Initiative received 310 votes in favor in the Congress of Deputies. All parliamentary groups voted in favor except Vox. The economic impact of this decision also has effects. Due to the clear support of social partners and vital productive sectors such as construction, agriculture and livestock, and transport, which have been publicly requesting this measure for some time.
Where many EU countries are introducing new rules to reduce net migrationa dn specially deportation programs, Spain has taken a 180-degree stance. This initially seemed to be just an announcement, but now, even the application submission dates have been announced.
There are many reasons why Spain is focusing on new workers in the labor market, even if they have to regularize the undocumented migrants. The report from the National Office for Foresight and Strategy presents an economic and demographic scenario for 2075, showing that if Spain were to reduce migration by 30%, GDP would fall by 22%, more than 90,000 bars would close, and the country would lose 15 million inhabitants.
The prosperity of the current economy in Spain is linked to migration management and the contribution of foreign workers. This is because 43% of the jobs created since the implementation of the labor reform are held by foreign workers.
Foreign workers represent more than 14% of the total workforce, and there are sectors where their presence is even more significant. As proof, in the hospitality sector, 1 in 3 registered workers are foreign, in agriculture and construction, 1 in 4, and in transportation, almost 1 in 5. Furthermore, 1 in 3 self-employed individuals working in telecommunications, programming, and IT are from another country.
Additionally, the leading institutions such as the Economic and Social Council (CES), the European Commission, the IMF, and the Independent Authority for Fiscal Responsibility (AIReF) agree that Spain needs between 200,000 and 250,000 migrants per year until 2050 to maintain our welfare state.
The Spanish government has worked really hard to bring this process this far. The seriousness can be measured from the response capacity of this program, which includes reinforcement of processing and dedicated customer service staff for more than 550 people. This also includes more than 150 collaborating entities, and qualified professionals such as the Spanish Bar Association and social graduates.
Finally, the Spanish government may have to face some issues in the future during the regularization process, such as tackling fake documents. Many migrants have rushed from other EU countries to Spain to apply for this scheme. They definitely will try to produce fake entry and stay documents to be eligible for the amnesty scheme. The relevant authorities will have to tackle these issues with utmost seriousness and keenness. After regularization gets pass first phase successfully, the migrants with a residence permit might travel to other EU countries to work there even without permission. This regularization scheme would indeed be the biggest case study and lesson (either negative or positive) of the modern age”. PM Sánchez is willing to do something big for his nation, till will tell if his efforts count.
Files and sources: Umer Rasib, Ministry of Interior Spain, Democrata.es