Spain’s government has announced plans to grant legal residency to around 500,000 undocumented migrants and asylum seekers, a move officials say is aimed at boosting economic growth and social cohesion but which has drawn sharp criticism from conservative and far-right parties.
The proposal, unveiled this week by the government led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, would allow undocumented migrants who meet specific criteria to regularize their status, enabling them to work legally and access public services.
Opposition leaders condemned the plan, arguing it would encourage irregular migration and place added strain on public resources. Conservative party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo said the measure rewarded unlawful entry and risked overwhelming Spain’s social services. Far-right Vox leader Santiago Abascal described the proposal as an effort to replace Spanish citizens with foreign workers.
For many undocumented migrants, however, the announcement was met with relief and hope.
A young Bangladeshi man living in Madrid said the plan could allow him to leave informal street work and find stable employment. He arrived in Spain more than a year ago and supports family members still abroad. Without legal residency, he said, he has been unable to secure formal work, access healthcare, or apply for public housing.
He said the government’s announcement offered the possibility of stability after months of uncertainty and financial hardship.
Advocates who work with migrant communities also welcomed the decision, saying it reflects the reality of Spain’s labor market. Leaders of migrant support organizations noted that undocumented workers play a critical role in agriculture, hospitality, domestic work, and caregiving — sectors that struggle to attract sufficient local labor.
One community organizer said migrants frequently fill jobs that others are unwilling to take, adding that regularization would protect workers from exploitation and benefit employers and the broader economy.
Many migrants already work informally despite lacking legal status. A Colombian woman who has lived in Spain for nearly two years said she and many others work as cleaners, cooks, and caregivers, often for low pay and without labor protections.
She said some employers intentionally hire undocumented workers to avoid paying social security contributions or legal wages. Regularization, she said, would allow her to earn a living wage and access worker protections.
Spain has carried out similar legalization programs in the past. Between 1986 and 2005, both conservative and socialist governments approved measures granting legal status to undocumented migrants. Studies of a large regularization effort in 2005 found that legalized workers contributed significantly to tax revenues and that the policy did not lead to increased migration flows.
Labor economists have found that migrants who gained legal status were more likely to move into better-paying jobs and transition from informal household work to employment with larger companies.
The Sánchez government has repeatedly argued that immigration is essential to Spain’s economic future, citing an aging population and low birthrate. Officials have said that managed migration supports growth and helps sustain public services.
The proposal has also sparked widespread debate online, including false claims that it would grant migrants citizenship or voting rights. The government has clarified that the measure would provide residency status only and would not confer citizenship or voting eligibility in national elections.
Despite the political controversy, faith groups and migrant rights organizations have described the measure as a step toward restoring dignity and legal recognition to people who have lived and worked in Spain for years.
Advocates say regularization allows migrants to work legally, access education and healthcare, and assert their rights.
“It means being recognized as a person with rights,” one campaign spokesperson said. “Legal status allows people to live with dignity and fully participate in society.”