MADRID: The Spanish government has finalized a major immigration policy allowing hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants to regularize their status under a new amnesty scheme.
According to international media reports, the initiative will enable eligible individuals living illegally in Spain to apply for legal residence and work permits, allowing them to formally join the country’s workforce and society.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the decision as a “justice-based approach,” stating that people already living and working in the country should be integrated into the formal system so they can contribute to taxation and the broader economy.
Under the new policy, applicants will be required to prove that they entered Spain before a specified date, have been residing in the country for a certain period, and have no criminal record. Successful applicants will initially be granted a one-year temporary residence and work permit.
Applications are scheduled to open on April 20 and will continue until June 30. Authorities estimate that around 500,000 people could benefit from the scheme, although the final number may be higher depending on eligibility and application volume.
The announcement has sparked political debate within Spain, with opposition parties and some groups criticizing the move as controversial.
Meanwhile, immigration officials have acknowledged that processing such a large number of applications in a short time will pose a significant administrative challenge.
