In Spain, the issue of so-called “invisible” children—underage migrants who remain without legal status for years—continues to grow. Even if their parents have already obtained residency, the children themselves are often unable to get documents, forcing them to live in legal limbo.
One such case is the story of an eight-year-old boy who moved with his family from Lima to Salamanca. Despite his parents and younger brother already having Spanish documents, the boy still does not have the right to reside legally. This not only deprives him of access to essential medical care but also puts his health and development at risk.
The family came to Spain as tourists, taking advantage of visa-free entry for citizens of most Latin American countries. They moved due to safety concerns back home. After the birth of their second child in Spain, the parents were able to obtain residency, but the older son was left without documents because of complications with the family reunification process.
This situation is common for many migrant families. While media coverage often focuses on unaccompanied minors arriving in the country, most migrant children come with their parents and remain in the shadows due to bureaucratic barriers. Even after adults secure legal status, children are forced to wait years to receive their own documents.
According to estimates by human rights organizations, there are around 147,000 underage migrants without legal status in Spain, with three quarters of them coming from Latin American countries. There are no official statistics for these children, which further complicates resolving the issue.
Experts note that the legalization process for adults and children differs. Parents can obtain residence permits through the so-called ‘arraigo,’ but children require a separate family reunification procedure, which involves meeting a number of economic and housing requirements. As a result, children are forced to remain undocumented even after their parents have already received legal papers.
In recent years, the legalization process for adults has become faster, but for children, the situation has hardly changed. Many spend most of their lives in Spain but remain without rights and lack access to basic services.
The problem affects not only Latin American families. For example, a woman from Colombia who came to Spain in search of work eventually managed to obtain a residence permit, but her son still has no documents other than his country’s passport. This limits his educational and social opportunities and creates constant tension within the family.
Even with formally universal access to healthcare and education, in practice the lack of documents often becomes an obstacle to receiving medical care, participating in extracurricular activities, or obtaining scholarships. Children face discrimination and a sense of isolation, as they are unable to fully participate in society.
A significant portion of undocumented migrants are originally from Colombia, as well as from African countries. Some families have lived in Spain for many years, yet their children have been unable to legalize their status. As a result, teenagers who finish school or enter university are unable to receive diplomas due to the absence of official status.
Psychologists and social workers note that such children struggle with self-identification. They grow up in Spain but do not feel like full members of society, while in their parents’ homeland they are already considered outsiders. This affects their motivation, future plans, and psychological well-being.
The Spanish authorities acknowledge the problem. In 2024, the ombudsman recommended simplifying family reunification procedures and allowing children to obtain an independent residence permit after two years of their parents’ legal stay. However, these measures are being implemented slowly, and thousands of children continue to live in a state of legal uncertainty.
Until systemic solutions are implemented, the problem of ‘invisible’ children in Spain will persist, depriving an entire generation of migrants of the chance for full integration and a decent future.
