The Spanish government’s large-scale legalization plan for undocumented immigrants is facing a much greater influx of applications than expected. So far, approximately 900,000 undocumented immigrants have submitted applications, nearly double the government’s initial estimate, and it is likely to surpass 1 million within the next two weeks.
The plan, spearheaded by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s left-wing minority government, aims to integrate undocumented immigrants who have been living in Spain for an extended period into the formal labor market, providing them with legal residence and work rights. Sánchez has said that this move can help alleviate the country’s aging population and labor shortages.
According to a report by Reuters on June 15th, the Spanish Immigration Office stated on Monday that the government has received around 900,000 legal identity applications from undocumented immigrants. Under the plan announced by the Spanish government at the beginning of 2026, eligible undocumented immigrants who can prove they have resided in Spain for a certain period and have no criminal record can apply for a maximum of 1-year legal residency and work permit, with the possibility of extension based on subsequent regulations.
The application period was from early April to June 30, 2026. The plan initially expected to receive 500,000 applications. The non-profit refugee aid organization CEAR predicts that the number of applications will exceed 1 million by the end of the two-week period of the plan.
Since the 1980s, Spain has implemented several large-scale legalization programs to address the significant underground labor market and demographic pressures.
In recent years, the Spanish economy has shown strong performance, with economic growth far surpassing most European countries in the past two years. In this context, sectors such as agriculture, hospitality, tourism, and elderly care have been severely understaffed, prompting policies to support filling the labor gap. However, concerns have been raised in other industries regarding whether the skills of undocumented immigrants match market demand and if their legalization would depress wages in certain sectors.
The Spanish Immigration Office added that since April, Spain has issued 360,000 temporary work permits, accounting for about 40% of all applications. Once applicants’ requests are accepted, they can begin working. Spanish Immigration Secretary Pilar Cancela told Reuters that Spain is capable of processing up to 1 million applications from April to June and noted that the number of applicants will exceed the approved permits.
Since the refugee crisis in 2015, the EU has been tightening asylum rules continuously. In recent years, many European countries have faced financial pressures and social tensions due to high numbers of irregular migrants. The issue of illegal immigration has become a key topic in elections in countries like Sweden, Italy, and Germany, leading several governments to gradually shift focus from acceptance to strengthening deportation and border control policies.
Contrary to the overall tightening trend in the EU, the Spanish government announced at the end of January that it would provide one-year residency and work permits to around 500,000 undocumented immigrants. The government stated that this policy would help economic development and regulate labor market order.
European news channel Euronews cited multiple EU officials who expressed strong reservations about the European Commission’s potential conflict with the current EU policies. EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, stated that there would be discussions on this issue in the European Parliament but emphasized that the legalization of immigrants falls within the member states’ powers.
Brussels, in particular, is concerned that individuals granted legal status could stay a maximum of 90 days every 180 days in other member states under Schengen rules, potentially increasing cross-border mobility pressures.
This plan has sparked controversy within Spain as well. Conservative People’s Party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo criticized the initiative as a “scandal,” while the right-wing populist party Vox announced plans to launch counteractions.