Spain is set to legalize around 300,000 undocumented migrants each year starting next May and continuing until 2027, as announced by the country’s migration minister on Wednesday. This new initiative aims to bolster the nation’s aging workforce and to grant residency and work permits to foreigners residing in Spain without legal documentation. While many European countries are adopting stricter immigration controls, Spain has stayed largely open to incoming migrants.
According to Migration Minister Elma Saiz, the need for roughly 250,000 registered foreign workers annually is crucial for maintaining the country’s welfare system. She emphasized that the legalization effort goes beyond simply promoting cultural diversity and human rights; it also serves an economic purpose. “Today, we can say Spain is a better country,” she remarked during an interview with a national broadcaster.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has frequently characterized his government’s migration strategies as a response to the nation’s declining birthrate. In a bid to address irregular migration to the Canary Islands, he visited three West African countries in August. The Canary Islands are viewed as a gateway to mainland Europe for many young men from countries like Mali, Senegal, and Mauritania, who embark on perilous journeys in search of better employment opportunities, or to escape violence and political turmoil in their home regions.
The new policy, approved by Spain’s leftist coalition government on Tuesday, aims to streamline the application process for both short-term and long-term visas while enhancing labor protections for migrants. It extends the duration of a visa previously designated for job seekers from three months to a full year.
By mid-November, about 54,000 undocumented migrants had reportedly arrived in Spain through either land or maritime routes this year, as per the country’s Interior Ministry. The precise number of undocumented individuals currently residing in Spain remains uncertain. Many of these migrants contribute to the informal economy, working in roles such as fruit pickers, caretakers, and delivery drivers—positions often shunned by local workers due to their low pay.
Due to their lack of legal status, these individuals often face the risk of exploitation and mistreatment. Saiz articulated that the new legislation seeks to combat such abuses, as well as to counteract human trafficking and other forms of fraud and rights violations. Spain’s economy, which is one of the fastest-growing in the European Union this year, is partially credited to immigration and a resurgence in tourism following the pandemic.
In 2023 alone, the Spanish government issued approximately 1.3 million visas to foreign nationals, highlighting the importance of migration in the nation’s economic landscape.