The Council of Ministers has approved the Royal Decree that will begin the process of extraordinary administrative regularization for thousands of irregular migrants who already reside in Spain. The rule is published in the Official State Gazette on April 15, 2026, and will enter into force the day after its publication, on April 16, 2026.
What to Expect
The application period will run from April 16, 2026, until June 30, 2026.
- From 16 April 2026, the application can be submitted electronically. The appointment system for in-person submission of applications will also be opened that same day, although face-to-face attention is scheduled to begin on April 20, 2026.
- The regularization process grants special protection to minors, granting a residence permit for five years. In addition, applications for members of the same household can be managed at the same appointment and simultaneously.
- Acknowledgement of the start of the procedure automatically permits work throughout Spain and in any sector of activity. The applicant will be provided with a personal Social Security number. Within one month of having received the final favourable resolution, the beneficiary must submit their application to obtain the Foreigner Identification Card (TIE).
Qualifications
The Royal Decree enables people with an irregular immigration status and those requesting international protection to access a legal residence and work authorization, valid for one year, if they meet the requirements.
- To qualify, applicants will have to prove that they have been in Spain since before January 1, 2026, and have stayed in Spain continuously for at least five months before the time of submission of the application.
- In addition, it will be an essential requirement to have no criminal record and not to pose a threat to public order, public safety or public health.
To justify the stay in Spain, both applicants for international protection and people with an irregular immigration status may present public or private documents or a combination of both that contain personal data that can prove their identity and that are dated.
People with an irregular immigration status must also prove one of the following:
- having worked with a legal contract as an employee or self-employed in Spain;
- having a family unit composed of minor children, adults with disabilities or first-degree ascendants; or
- a situation of vulnerability. For this, applicants will be able to download a vulnerability certificate hosted on the website of the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration. For its presentation, this document must be accredited and stamped by the competent authorities, either the Entities registered in the Electronic Registry of Foreign Collaborators (RECEX) or the social services.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue monitoring developments and sharing updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or if you have case-specific questions.