Spain's Migrant Legalization Drive Closes with 1.3 Million Applications

On June 30, Spain closes its window for applications for the legalisation of migrants. The program, which launched on April 15, has exceeded all expectations. According to the Mercurio platform, through which applications were registered, around 1.3 million submissions came into the system — almost triple the 500,000 the government had forecast.

According to the latest official figures as of mid-June, of the 900,000 registered applications, 360,000 have already been accepted for review. This automatically grants those who applied a temporary permit to work and reside in the country. Three months are allotted for the review of each case, and some applications have already been finally approved, though the authorities have not yet disclosed the exact figures.

The program applied to migrants who entered Spain before January 1, 2026, and lived in the country for at least five consecutive months. It was necessary to prove the presence of children or a commitment under an employment contract, and to provide a certificate of no criminal record from the country of origin. This document became the main bureaucratic obstacle — many waited months for it, and others are still waiting. Nevertheless, the law allows an application to be submitted without the certificate, provided it can be proven that it was requested but not yet received.

El País writes about 71-year-old Cuban journalist and translator Mónica Olivera from Madrid as one of those waiting for approval of her application. The organisation Cobijo Cubano provides her with a place to sleep and food. Olivera received a grant, but before that, she cleaned apartments and cared for the elderly. After obtaining her residence permit, she plans to apply for Spanish citizenship as the widow of a Spaniard. Despite considering herself a right-winger, she calls Sánchez's initiative "smart and pragmatic": "No one can say 'no' to legalisation; it's a lifeline for all of us."

The program grew out of a 2024 popular legislative initiative that gathered more than 700,000 signatures. It was supported by trade unions, business associations, hundreds of NGOs, and the Catholic Church through Caritas. The People's Party initially supported the initiative, but after the decree was adopted (without a parliamentary vote), it switched to harsh criticism.

In recent days, the Sumar movement demanded an extension of the application deadline, pointing to thousands of people stuck in bureaucratic procedures and falling victim to fraud. "Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry continues to deport people who are about to submit their applications," said the party's spokeswoman in Congress, Aina Vidal.