Spanish Government Approves Extraordinary Amnesty

MADRID,Spain—The Spanish government has approved an extraordinary migrant regularization (amnesty) by Royal Decree, following a decision by the Council of Ministers on Tuesday. The measure, promoted by the government led by Pedro Sánchez, is expected to benefit around 500,000 immigrants.

“This involves the urgent processing of a Royal Decree through which we are launching an extraordinary regularization process for thousands of foreign nationals in our country,” said Elma Saiz, Spain’s Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration.

“We have spent the entire legislature working to find common ground that improves people’s lives. This process represents giving people equal rights and opportunities.”

Based on the approved framework, the decree creates a fast-track path to temporary residence and work authorization for foreign nationals who can prove presence in Spain before 31 December 2025, demonstrate a minimum continuous stay of five months, and have no serious criminal record.

Applications may be submitted between April and June, and regularization requests are expected to be processed within 15 days, according to government guidance. The measure will enter into force only after publication in the Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE), when the application window and procedural details become official.

The amnesty will operate alongside existing arraigo pathways—including social, labor, family, and training-based mechanisms—which remain in force under Spanish immigration law. Spain last carried out a large-scale regularization in 2005, which legalized hundreds of thousands of migrants.

The decision has drawn criticism from opposition parties citing potential impacts on migration flows and public services. The government says the measure is intended to address long-term irregularity, respond to labor market needs, and promote social integration.

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