Catalan cities issued 60,000 documents for migrant legalization. Catalonia has seen a sharp increase in demand for documents needed to legalize migrants. Municipalities have stepped up their efforts to handle the influx of applicants, with temporary centers opened in major cities.
In Catalonia, more than 60,000 people have applied to municipalities in three weeks for certificates required to participate in the migrant legalization process. This surge in applicants forced local authorities in the region's largest cities to urgently reinforce service operations and open additional reception points to manage queues and prevent disruptions.
According to data from the seven largest cities in Catalonia, including Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Badalona, Tarragona, Sabadell, Terrassa, and Mataró, demand centered mainly on two documents: the volant de empadronamiento (certificate of residence registration) and the vulnerability certificate. These are the documents required to apply for the legalization program that began on April 20. As EL PAÍS notes, in Barcelona and L'Hospitalet alone, more than 40,000 certificates have been issued.
Emergency measures in major cities
Authorities in Barcelona and L'Hospitalet were forced to open temporary centers in exhibition halls to relieve pressure on main offices and speed up document issuance. In L'Hospitalet, the La Farga hall was used for this, welcoming up to 5,000 people in its first hours of operation. In Barcelona, a dedicated point was opened at the La Fira exhibition complex. In other cities such as Terrassa, Sabadell, and Badalona, staff was increased, opening hours extended, and special information sessions for migrants were organized.
In Terrassa, almost 2,800 people were served in three weeks, and from May 11, the issuance of certificates will be integrated into the regular work of municipal services, while maintaining separate points at the Montserrat Roig and President Macià centers. In Sabadell, more than 5,200 registration certificate requests have already been processed, and another 2,600 vulnerability certificates are being prepared. In Badalona, 5,700 registration certificates have been issued, with the processing of certificates continuing at the central El Viver office and local branches.
Declining rush and new rules
In Mataró and Tarragona, officials note that after the initial days, the rush is gradually subsiding. At the start of the process in Mataró, up to 500 people applied daily; now it is about 200. A total of 3,200 applicants have been received in the city. In Tarragona, 3,000 people were served, 38% of whom have already received vulnerability certificates. On average, about 74 new applications are processed daily in the city.
The legalization process will end on June 30, and the authorities do not plan to extend the deadline. The government's representative in Catalonia, Carlos Prieto, assured that everyone who applies will receive the necessary support, and the absence of certain documents will not be a reason for refusal—they can be submitted later without putting the case at risk.
The role of public organizations
Part of the burden of issuing vulnerability certificates was shouldered not only by municipalities but also by public organizations. In the first weeks, the process was supported by small NGOs, and later larger organizations such as Càritas, which have greater resources to receive applicants, got involved. Final data on the number of legalization applications submitted in Catalonia have not yet been published—the authorities are still working on software to ensure accurate regional statistics.
