Nearly 1.2 million migrants have applied for extraordinary regularisation in Spain. This figure is more than double the government’s initial estimate. The process closed this week, raising questions about next steps and capacity.
Spain’s extraordinary regularisation process for undocumented migrants has closed with 1,170,000 applications, according to the Ministry of Migrations. This total is more than twice the government’s original projection of around half a million, highlighting the scale of demand and the challenge now facing authorities.
The application window, which began on April 15, ended on Tuesday. By mid-June, official figures showed 900,000 requests had been received, with 360,000 already admitted for processing. Those admitted gain provisional work and residency permits while their cases are reviewed. The government has a three-month deadline to resolve each file, but many decisions have already been finalised. However, the exact number of approvals or rejections remains undisclosed.
The Ministry of Migrations is expected to release further details on Thursday. The process was launched to address the widespread issue of irregular employment among migrants already living in Spain, some for several years. The government’s aim was to bring these workers into the formal economy and grant them the rights they are entitled to. The unexpectedly high number of applications is being interpreted within the executive as a sign of success, supported by broad social consensus.
Labour unions and business groups have publicly backed the measure, citing Spain’s acute labour shortages across multiple sectors. Antonio Garamendi, president of CEOE, emphasised the need for both workers and training to fill current and future vacancies. The majority of applicants were already residing in Spain and working without contracts, which is expected to significantly boost the share of foreign workers contributing to Social Security—currently estimated at 14%.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has warned that, without migrant labour, Spain could face a 19% drop in GDP by 2050, along with the closure of 90,000 bars, 40,000 classrooms, and the loss of 220,000 agricultural businesses. The regularisation initiative has drawn support from hundreds of civil organisations and the Catholic Church, with Cáritas and a recent visit from Pope León XIV reinforcing the humanitarian backing. Only right-wing and far-right opposition parties have voiced objections to the measure.
Spain’s approach to regularisation reflects broader demographic and economic trends. The country’s population growth in recent years has relied heavily on immigration, as birth rates remain among the lowest in Europe. According to Eurostat, Spain’s foreign-born population exceeded 7.5 million in 2025, accounting for over 15% of residents. Labour market experts note that sectors such as agriculture, hospitality, and elder care are particularly dependent on migrant workers. The regularisation process is expected to help address labour shortages, improve tax revenues, and reduce the informal economy, though the administrative burden of processing such a large volume of applications may test the capacity of migration authorities in the coming months.
