The Spanish government has issued temporary work permits to more than 609,000 undocumented migrants as part of an initiative launched by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's administration. This plan, which began in April, stands in contrast to the stricter immigration measures being adopted by many European neighbors in response to the rise of far-right political movements.
Between mid-April and June 30, a total of 1,174,978 applications were submitted for regularization. Of these, over 600,000 were in processing, according to Pilar Cancela, the Secretary of State for Migration. As of June 30, 609,737 individuals had received temporary work permits, and approximately 160,000 had secured formal employment. Around 11,000 individuals had already been granted one-year residence permits.
Submissions were largely from Latin America, accounting for 67 percent of the total, with Colombia alone representing 25.9 percent. Moroccan nationals followed with 13.3 percent, Venezuelans with 11.8 percent, and Peruvians with 8.8 percent. African nationalities collectively made up 22.9 percent of applications. The demographic profile of applicants indicates a young population, with 80 percent under 45 years old, and a slight majority of males (57 percent) compared to females (43 percent).
Initial government projections anticipated the regularization of 500,000 individuals, a figure now expected to be surpassed. Applicants are required to demonstrate a clean criminal record and proof of having resided in Spain for at least five consecutive months prior to January 1. Authorities have a three-month period to process each application.
Prime Minister Sanchez has emphasized the potential benefits of immigration, particularly for sectors like construction, which face labor shortages. The government is collaborating with businesses in construction, tourism, transport, and care industries to facilitate job placements for migrants.
While Spanish business leaders have generally welcomed the initiative, opposition parties, including the conservative People's Party (PP) and the far-right Vox, have expressed strong disapproval, arguing that the policy could encourage further irregular immigration. This regularization effort is projected to exceed the number of migrants regularized in Spain in 2005 and is also larger than a similar 2002 amnesty in Italy, which integrated 634,700 undocumented workers.
Sanchez reportedly had a disagreement with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at a recent European Council summit regarding Spain's amnesty policy. Meloni, a proponent of stricter EU migration rules, has voiced concerns that such measures could affect the Schengen Area.
