Spain has entered the decisive public-consultation phase of its first large-scale regularisation of foreign nationals since 2005. The draft Royal Decree, published on 27 January and now open for comments until 6 February, will grant a one-year residence-and-work permit to anyone who can prove they were living in Spain before 31 December 2025, have at least five months of continuous presence and hold a clean criminal record. After the initial year, beneficiaries can transition to standard residence categories.
The Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration expects online filing to open in early April and remain available until 30 June, a window that could see 500,000–800,000 people regularised. Labour-market analysts note that legal status will allow migrants already working in construction, agriculture, hospitality and elder care to formalise contracts, boosting tax and social-security revenues by an estimated €1.8 billion in 2026 alone.
![Spain Opens Public Consultation on Historic Extraordinary Regularisation for Undocumented Migrants]()
Corporate-relocation teams should prepare for a surge in applications for family-reunification and long-term EU residence once individuals secure the initial permit. Employers eager to hire may consider job-offer letters or training contracts as supporting documents, but officials stress that proof of residence—not employment—is the core eligibility test.
The government has warned against fraudsters charging for ‘guaranteed’ approvals and urges applicants to rely on official portals or trusted NGOs. Multinationals with large non-EU workforces in Spain should communicate accurate timelines and offer legal-aid sessions to affected staff.
The Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration expects online filing to open in early April and remain available until 30 June, a window that could see 500,000–800,000 people regularised. Labour-market analysts note that legal status will allow migrants already working in construction, agriculture, hospitality and elder care to formalise contracts, boosting tax and social-security revenues by an estimated €1.8 billion in 2026 alone.
Corporate-relocation teams should prepare for a surge in applications for family-reunification and long-term EU residence once individuals secure the initial permit. Employers eager to hire may consider job-offer letters or training contracts as supporting documents, but officials stress that proof of residence—not employment—is the core eligibility test.
The government has warned against fraudsters charging for ‘guaranteed’ approvals and urges applicants to rely on official portals or trusted NGOs. Multinationals with large non-EU workforces in Spain should communicate accurate timelines and offer legal-aid sessions to affected staff.
Source: La Moncloa – Ministry Press Note
