Spain’s amnesty scheme, the country’s first mass regularisation programme in nearly twenty years, a move that reflects both political urgency and deep social divisions, has been announced. The agreement was approved on Tuesday (January 27), reported BBC News.
Regularisation will be available to foreign nationals without a criminal record who can demonstrate that they resided in Spain for at least five months before 31 December 2025.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez confirmed the initiative after reaching a last-minute agreement with his left-wing coalition partner, Podemos, a deal that reshapes not only Spain’s labour market but also its electorate and political landscape.
What Spain’s Amnesty Scheme Offers
Under Spain’s Amnesty Scheme, undocumented migrants who qualify will be granted legal recognition and a set of rights that fundamentally change their status within Spanish society.
Permit holders will receive:
- Authorisation to work legally
- Full access to Spain’s public healthcare system
- The right to register for Social Security
According to Podemos, just over 500,000 people are expected to benefit from the programme, making it one of the largest regularisation efforts in Europe in recent years.
The government has explained that the initiative is designed to address a growing underground population, estimated at 840,000 people, while also reducing labour exploitation, filling workforce shortages, and expanding the tax base.
Spain last implemented a similar programme in 2005, when approximately 580,000 residence permits were issued.
Who Is Eligible Under Spain’s Amnesty Scheme?
The government has outlined specific criteria for eligibility, focusing on residency duration and legal background.
Eligibility Criteria at a Glance
| Requirement | Details |
| Date of presence | Must have been in Spain before December 31, 2025 |
| Minimum stay | At least five continuous months in the country |
| Criminal record | No serious criminal offenses |
| Legal protection | Deportation proceedings suspended upon application |
| Permit duration | One-year residence and work permit, renewable |
Once an application is submitted, any ongoing deportation or return process will be immediately halted, offering applicants legal security while their cases are reviewed.
Political Rights and Electoral Impact
One of the most significant aspects of Spain’s Amnesty Scheme is its political consequences.
Podemos has stated that up to 500,000 people could ultimately be affected, with more than 200,000 undocumented immigrants expected to receive legal residency and political rights in the first phase alone.
This means eligible migrants will be able to register to vote and participate in Spain’s next general election, a development that directly alters the composition of the Spanish electorate and raises questions about democratic legitimacy among critics.
Labour Market and Economic Justifications
The government argues that the scheme is a practical response to labour shortages in key sectors of the economy. Furthermore, the officials say the measure will help fill persistent vacancies in:
- Hospitality
- Logistics
- Healthcare
By bringing undocumented workers into the formal economy, the administration believes Spain can stabilize these industries while reducing illegal employment practices.
Criticism and Democratic Concerns
Despite government assurances, the initiative has sparked fierce criticism.
The administration maintains that the decree simply provides legal certainty for an existing social reality, but opponents have labeled the move undemocratic, warning that it sends a dangerous signal to illegal migrants who continue to arrive in large numbers.
Critics are particularly concerned that the executive chose to implement the policy without parliamentary oversight, bypassing debate in Congress.
The scheme closely mirrors a Popular Legislative Initiative supported by more than 700,000 signatures, which has remained blocked in parliament for over a year due to insufficient political backing. Rather than negotiate amendments or withdraw the proposal, the government opted to move forward unilaterally.
A Surge in Illegal Immigration
The timing of Spain’s Amnesty Scheme coincides with a dramatic rise in illegal immigration.
According to estimates from the Funcas think tank, cited by La Gaceta, the number of undocumented immigrants in Spain has increased from approximately 107,000 in 2017 to nearly 840,000 in 2025, representing an increase of almost 685 percent.
Funcas estimates that undocumented migrants now account for 17.2 percent of the non-EU foreign population in Spain and warns that mass regularisations do not reduce illegal immigration if current entry and legalization practices remain unchanged.
A Defining Moment for Spain
Whether viewed as an overdue act of inclusion or a risky political gamble, Spain’s Amnesty Scheme represents a defining moment for the country.
It addresses immediate labour and social realities, but it also raises long-term questions about governance, border control, and the balance between compassion and rule of law, questions Spain will continue to grapple with long after the permits are issued.