In a cabinet meeting held the afternoon of 31 January 2026, the Spanish Council of Ministers gave the green-light to a fast-tracked Royal-Decree that will open an extraordinary, time-limited pathway to residence for hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals who are already living in Spain without papers.
Under the draft decree, anyone who can prove that they have been physically present in Spain for at least five consecutive months prior to 31 December 2025 and who has no criminal record will be able to apply for a one-year residence card. During that first year they will enjoy full labour-market access; at renewal, they will transition to the standard immigration categories laid down in Spain’s recently modernised Immigration Regulation. Dependants may apply simultaneously, avoiding costly family-reunification procedures.
![Spain launches extraordinary regularization to grant legal status to undocumented migrants]()
In announcing the measure, Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration Elma Saiz framed the policy as “a pragmatic response to a social reality that benefits both people and the economy.” The decree draws heavily on the grassroots “Regularización Ya” campaign that gathered more than 700,000 signatures in 2024. Officials estimate that roughly half a million people could benefit, with applications expected to open in early April and close on 30 June 2026.
For multinationals and Spanish employers, the scheme represents a unique opportunity to tap into a large pool of workers who are already settled, speak the language and often possess skills acquired in the informal economy. HR departments are being advised to map current and future talent needs against the new route and to prepare documentation so that eligible workers can file as soon as the online platform goes live.
Legal experts caution, however, that demand will be intense and appointments at immigration offices are likely to sell out within minutes—mirroring past experience with Spain’s humanitarian regularisations. Companies that rely on subcontractors are being urged to insert compliance clauses into contracts, as labour inspectors are expected to step up checks once the grace period ends.
Under the draft decree, anyone who can prove that they have been physically present in Spain for at least five consecutive months prior to 31 December 2025 and who has no criminal record will be able to apply for a one-year residence card. During that first year they will enjoy full labour-market access; at renewal, they will transition to the standard immigration categories laid down in Spain’s recently modernised Immigration Regulation. Dependants may apply simultaneously, avoiding costly family-reunification procedures.
In announcing the measure, Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration Elma Saiz framed the policy as “a pragmatic response to a social reality that benefits both people and the economy.” The decree draws heavily on the grassroots “Regularización Ya” campaign that gathered more than 700,000 signatures in 2024. Officials estimate that roughly half a million people could benefit, with applications expected to open in early April and close on 30 June 2026.
For multinationals and Spanish employers, the scheme represents a unique opportunity to tap into a large pool of workers who are already settled, speak the language and often possess skills acquired in the informal economy. HR departments are being advised to map current and future talent needs against the new route and to prepare documentation so that eligible workers can file as soon as the online platform goes live.
Legal experts caution, however, that demand will be intense and appointments at immigration offices are likely to sell out within minutes—mirroring past experience with Spain’s humanitarian regularisations. Companies that rely on subcontractors are being urged to insert compliance clauses into contracts, as labour inspectors are expected to step up checks once the grace period ends.
Source: RTVC (Radio Televisión Canaria)
