More Than One Million Migrants Apply for Legal Status in Spain Under Landmark Amnesty Drive
More than one million undocumented migrants and asylum seekers have applied to legalise their status in Spain under a landmark government regularisation programme. The figure is more than double the original estimate of 500,000 applicants. The scheme closed at the end of June after attracting overwhelming demand.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has defended the initiative as both an economic necessity and a matter of fairness. The programme offers eligible applicants a one year renewable residence and work permit if they meet residency and background requirements. Officials say immigration is essential to help sustain Spain's ageing population, labour market and welfare system. Authorities will now begin reviewing the applications over the coming months.
The policy has been welcomed by migrant support organisations, which worked intensively to help applicants complete their paperwork before the deadline. Many migrants faced bureaucratic delays and technical issues while submitting documents, prompting charities to encourage incomplete applications that could later be updated. Campaigners believe the scheme offers thousands of families a chance to build more secure lives.
Despite the strong response, the programme has drawn criticism from opposition parties that argue it could place greater pressure on public services and encourage further irregular migration. The government rejects those claims, insisting the measure will improve integration, strengthen the workforce and support long term economic growth. Spain has also announced a major integration plan alongside the regularisation process.
The regularisation initiative is one of the largest ever undertaken by Spain and is the country's biggest such programme since reforms introduced two decades ago. Officials say the unexpectedly high number of applications reflects both the scale of undocumented migration and the demand for legal pathways to residence and employment.
Among those expected to benefit are thousands of Bangladeshi nationals living in Spain, with earlier government estimates suggesting around 15,000 Bangladeshis could become eligible under the new rules. The outcome of the application process is likely to shape Spain's immigration policy and labour market for years to come.
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