Spain reveals 609,000 undocumented migrants have been given work permits as their application for legal status is processed under socialist PM's plan

By PERKIN AMALARAJ, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 16:36, 2 July 2026 | Updated: 16:37, 2 July 2026 The Spanish government has revealed that more than 609,000 undocumented migrants have been granted temporary work permits under plans made by socialist leader Pedro Sanchez.  The government of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, a standard bearer of more open immigration policies, launched the vast plan in April while European neighbours toughen measures in response to pressure from ascendant far-right parties. A total of 1,174,978 applications were submitted between mid-April and June 30 when the window closed, with more than 600,000 already being processed, secretary of state for migration Pilar Cancela told a press conference in Madrid. Of the 609,737 people granted temporary work permits so far, about 160,000 had secured formal employment by June 30, officials said, adding that around 11,000 people have already been granted their one-year residence permit.  Latin America accounted for 67 percent of the submissions, with Colombia alone representing 25.9 percent of the total. African nationalities followed with 22.9 percent. After Colombia, the most represented countries were Morocco at 13.3 percent, Venezuela with 11.8 percent and Peru at 8.8 percent. An overwhelming majority of applicants were young, with eight out of 10 younger than 45 years old, while 57 percent of the total were males against 43 percent for females.  The application total does not necessarily indicate how many people will normalise their situation, with initial predictions forecasting the regularisation of 500,000. People line up in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona as they seek assistance with migrant regularization documents and procedures promoted by the Spanish government on April 24, 2026 A total of 1,174,978 applications were submitted between mid-April and June 30 when the window closed (Pictured: migrants climbing over walls to get into a government building to supply their documents)  Applicants must prove they have a clean criminal record and spent at least five consecutive months in Spain before January 1. The authorities have three months to process their paperwork and decide whether to issue a work and residence permit only valid in Spain. Sanchez has touted the benefits of immigration and the vast regularisation scheme for sectors such as construction that need to boost their workforce. The government is partnering with businesses in construction, tourism, transport and care sectors to help match migrants with jobs.  Spanish business leaders have welcomed the move, but the conservative and far-right opposition are furious about a policy they say will encourage more irregular immigration.  The expected number of approvals for Spain's latest amnesty will surpass the half a million who were regularised in the country in 2005. It is also larger than a similar amnesty in Italy in 2002, in which 634,700 undocumented migrant workers moved into the formal economy in the region's biggest regularisation so far. The move from the Spanish government is a massive contrast from the rest of Europe, where mostly conservative leaders have been clamping down on illegal immigration.  People wait overnight in line in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter ahead of the opening of citizen service offices on April 26, 2026 People queue to receive documentation as Spain's mass migrants regularisation process is set to start, in Hospitalet de Llobregat, near Barcelona, Spain, April 20, 2026 Sanchez has reportedly clashed with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during this month's European Council summit over the amnesty. Meloni, who has called for tougher EU migration rules, fears the amnesty could impact the Schengen zone. The amnesty was opposed by Spain’s main opposition centre-right party, Partido Popular (PP), and the hard-Right Vox, with both arguing it would attract more illegal immigration. The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.