Spain: More than one million undocumented migrants apply for amnesty scheme
Key takeaways
- Over one million undocumented migrants in Spain have applied for legal status under a vast regularisation scheme launched in April that grants those eligible the right to live and work in the country.
- By: FRANCE 24 Migrants queue at a public service office to obtain paperwork needed to apply for Spain's immigration amnesty near Barcelona on April 21, 2026.
- The vast scheme was predicted to benefit around 500,000 people, most from Latin America, when the left-wing government launched it in April.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Over one million undocumented migrants in Spain have applied for legal status under a vast regularisation scheme launched in April that grants those eligible the right to live and work in the country. The window to apply for the programme closes Tuesday.
By: FRANCE 24 Migrants queue at a public service office to obtain paperwork needed to apply for Spain's immigration amnesty near Barcelona on April 21, 2026. © Emilio Morenatti, AP More than one million undocumented migrants in Spain have sought legal status under a scheme that has defied a wider European crackdown on irregular immigration, the government said on Tuesday, the final day for submissions.
The vast scheme was predicted to benefit around 500,000 people, most from Latin America, when the left-wing government launched it in April.