In a move hailed by civil-society groups as the most significant immigration reform in a decade, Spain has activated an extraordinary regularisation programme that will allow thousands of undocumented foreign nationals to obtain one-year residence and work permits. Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Europe confirmed the measure on 28 July, noting that Royal Decree 316/2026 entered into force on 16 April and that applications will be accepted until 30 June 2026. Eligible applicants must prove continuous residence in Spain prior to 1 January 2026 and may be required to submit vulnerability reports prepared by accredited NGOs. Successful candidates receive a renewable one-year autorización de residencia y trabajo, granting full labour-market access and access to the public health system. For employers, the decree creates a legal pathway to hire workers who are already in Spain but previously lacked work authorisation. Sectors facing chronic shortages—hospitality, agriculture, construction and home care—are expected to benefit most. HR teams should, however, verify authenticity of the new permits and update payroll Social-Security registrations promptly to avoid sanctions. Municipal authorities and the 14 entities of the SJM (Servicio Jesuita a Migrantes) network are running information sessions in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Seville to assist applicants with paperwork and to prevent fraud. Early demand has been strong: the Ministry of Inclusion reported more than 42,000 online pre-appointments booked within the first week of launch. The government stresses that the initiative is exceptional and will not be repeated in the near term. Companies wishing to hire regularised workers should move quickly; permits issued under the scheme can be renewed after one year provided the employee can show at least six months’ Social-Security contributions, effectively turning a precarious labour pool into a legally stable one.
Source: JRS Europe
