Spain’s government says more than one million undocumented migrants apply for legal status through a large-scale regularisation programme, as the application period ends. The scheme, introduced by Spain’s left-wing government and launched earlier in the year, is intended to allow eligible people to regularise their situation after a period in which many irregular immigration policies have tightened across Europe.
Sources report that the programme was originally expected to benefit around 500,000 people. By the time submissions close, applications have exceeded that estimate by a wide margin, with figures described as more than twice the original expectation. The majority of applicants are reported to be from Latin America, though the exact breakdown of nationalities and eligibility categories is not detailed in the accounts.
The regularisation effort is presented as a counterpoint to broader European trends restricting irregular immigration, while the government frames it as a way to manage migration and enable people to access legal rights and pathways. The final day for applications is reported as Tuesday, marking the end of the registration phase.
