More than 1.1 million undocumented migrants applied for Spain’s extraordinary regularisation programme by the 30 June deadline, according to preliminary government data, a figure that more than doubles the initial estimate of 500,000. The government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez simultaneously presented a €500 million integration and citizenship plan, which includes language instruction in co-official languages, job placement schemes, and anti-discrimination measures. The residence and work permits issued under the scheme are valid for one year and, according to the Ministry of Migration, confer rights exclusively on Spanish territory.

Viewed from Madrid, the initiative is framed as a response to demographic decline and labour shortages. Sánchez cited Bank of Spain calculations that immigration accounted for roughly half of GDP growth between 2022 and 2025, and warned that without it, the country would lose 19% of its GDP by 2050, forcing the closure of 90,000 bars and 220,000 farms. The programme originated from a citizens’ initiative that gathered over 700,000 signatures and is backed by trade unions, business confederations, and the Catholic Church. The conservative Partido Popular and far-right Vox, by contrast, argue the amnesty will act as a pull factor for irregular migration. Several regional governments led by these parties have filed legal challenges, and EU member states including Italy, Denmark, Hungary, and Belgium have voiced concerns in the European Council that the regularisation could have spillover effects across the Schengen area.

The Spanish Supreme Court is examining whether the decree conflicts with EU law and may refer a preliminary question to the Court of Justice of the European Union. The government has until 3 July to submit arguments defending the measure’s compatibility with the recently enacted EU Migration and Asylum Pact. Government lawyers maintain that the permit is strictly national and does not grant EU-wide mobility rights. The court had previously declined to impose interim measures to halt the process, but a referral to Luxembourg could still suspend the regularisation while the case is pending.

Applicants had to prove continuous residence in Spain since before 31 December 2025 and a clean criminal record. The majority are from Latin American countries, with Colombians, Venezuelans, and Moroccans among the largest groups, according to officials familiar with the data. Authorities now have three months to process the files, though the civil service union CSIF has warned that half a million applications have yet to be entered into the digital platform, and the government has sought volunteer civil servants to clear the backlog at €10 per file, pending finance ministry approval. The Supreme Court’s next procedural step is expected after the 3 July deadline for government submissions.