By Emmanuel Nduka
Nearly 1.2 million undocumented migrants have applied for legal residency in Spain under a one-off government regularization programme that closed at the end of June, marking one of the country’s largest immigration initiatives in recent years.
The scheme, introduced by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s Socialist government in April, allows eligible undocumented migrants to obtain legal residence and work permits, even as several other European countries continue to tighten immigration policies amid mounting pressure from anti-immigration and far-right political groups.
According to official figures, migrants from Latin America accounted for 67 per cent of all applications, while African nationals made up 22.9 per cent, making them the second-largest group seeking legal status under the programme.
The majority of applicants were relatively young, with eight out of every 10 under the age of 45. Men represented 57 per cent of the total applications.
Sánchez has consistently defended his government’s immigration policy, arguing that migrants are essential to Spain’s long-term economic growth and demographic stability as the country’s population continues to age.
“Without immigration, Spain would lose 19 per cent of its GDP by 2050,” the Spanish Prime Minister said, highlighting the economic importance of foreign workers.
The mass regularization programme has, however, attracted sharp criticism from Spain’s conservative and far-right opposition parties, which argue that granting legal status to undocumented migrants could encourage more irregular migration into the country.
To qualify, applicants were required to demonstrate that they had no criminal record and had lived continuously in Spain for at least five months before January 1 this year.
Spanish immigration authorities now have up to three months to review the applications and determine whether successful applicants will receive residence and work permits. The permits, if approved, will be valid only within Spain.
