Almost 1.2 million undocumented migrants have applied for legal status in Spain under a new immigration scheme, which closed on June 30, 2026. The initiative, launched by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in April, aims to regularize migrants amid a tightening immigration climate across Europe.
Details of the Immigration Scheme
According to Pilar Cancela, Secretary of State for Migration, a total of 1,174,978 applications were submitted within the two-and-a-half-month window. More than 600,000 of these applications are currently being processed. The majority of applicants are from Latin America, accounting for 67 percent of the submissions, with Colombia alone making up 25.9 percent.
Following Colombia, the most represented countries are Morocco (13.3 percent), Venezuela (11.8 percent), and Peru (8.8 percent). Notably, the applicant demographic skews young, with 80 percent under the age of 45 and 57 percent male.
Government's Perspective on Immigration
Prime Minister Sanchez has emphasized the economic benefits of immigration, arguing that without it, Spain could see a 19 percent decline in GDP by 2050. During a presentation on migration, he stated, "Without immigration, Spain would lose 19 percent of its GDP by 2050. This means, for example, that 90,000 bars would have to close, and 220,000 farms would disappear."
