On Monday, in-person application submission for the legalization of foreigners opened throughout Spain — more than 400 offices began accepting applicants who had scheduled appointments in advance. According to El Pais, in the very first day of online submissions, 13,500 applications were received, and by the beginning of the week, demand for in-person visits was so high that long lines formed early in the morning in Valencia.
The government claims the system is prepared for the influx. According to government spokesperson Elma Saiz, the procedure is designed to handle large volumes and will not cause disruptions. To receive applications, the authorities engaged 371 Correos branches in major cities and provincial capitals, 30 Social Security offices, as well as five specialized foreigner offices in Madrid, Alicante, Valencia, Almería, and Murcia. Working hours are Monday through Friday, depending on the office type, from 8:30 to 17:30 or from 16:00 to 19:00.
To apply for legalization, a foreign national must be of legal age, have entered Spain before January 1, 2026, and prove they have lived in the country for at least five consecutive months. In addition, a clean criminal record is required. The application window is limited — submissions will close on June 31. According to El Pais, nearly 20,000 appointment slots were booked on the first day of pre-registration alone.
The authorities emphasize that the new measure will allow those who meet the criteria to obtain a residence and work permit. It is expected that thousands of foreigners will take the opportunity to legalize their status. Similar mass document registration campaigns have repeatedly caused a rush in major cities, as was the case during recent events when transport companies changed routes due to crowds of people — you can learn more about this in the article on unscheduled Real Sociedad bus routes.
According to El Pais, the decision to launch in-person appointments is due to the need to provide access to the procedure for those unable to use electronic services. Authorities believe that distributing the workload among different types of offices will help prevent serious delays and conflicts on site.
