The spokesperson for the Spanish government and Minister of Social Security and Migration, Ilma Saiz, announced today, Tuesday, that the Spanish government intends to adopt a plan to regularize the status of irregular migrants, which could benefit around 500,000 people.
The minister clarified, via official television, that this measure, aimed at revitalizing the national economy, will allow for the regularization of about half a million people who have resided in Spain for at least five months and arrived in Spanish territory before December 31, 2025.
She noted that “all applications can be submitted starting from April until June 30,” highlighting that this initiative “aims to recognize existing realities, uphold dignity, provide guarantees and opportunities, as well as ensure the rights of individuals already residing in the country.”
To facilitate the implementation of this measure, the Spanish government has adopted a royal decree, which is a legal instrument provided for by the Spanish constitution, allowing for the establishment of regulatory measures without the need for prior voting in parliament, where the executive branch does not have an absolute majority.
This regulatory reform comes in response to a popular legislative initiative signed by more than 600,000 people and supported by around 900 associations, calling for the exceptional regularization of irregular migrants in Spain.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, the number of irregular migrants who entered Spain during the year 2025 was about 37,000, marking a sharp decline compared to the year 2024 (42.6% lower, equivalent to 64,000 arrivals).
