The Spanish government on Tuesday approved a Royal Decree that will allow around half a million migrants living in Spain without legal status to apply for residence permits and work authorization, reported Xinhua.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Tuesday that the move shows his government is recognizing the rights of people already living in Spain.
"We recognize rights, but we also demand obligations," Sanchez was quoted by the Spanish media as saying, adding that the move is supported by employers because labor is needed to sustain economic growth.
Having an additional half a million people contributing to Spain's Social Security system will benefit both the country's economy and its pension system, Sanchez said.
According to the decree, the measure applies to people who were already in Spain before Jan. 1, 2026, and have lived in the country continuously for at least five months, with no criminal record or security-related concerns.
The Spanish government has said that foreigners account for around 14.1 percent of Social Security contributors by the end of 2025, and immigration has been a key driver of Spain's economic growth in recent years.
Institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, the European Commission and Spain's Independent Authority for Fiscal Responsibility have said Spain needs between 200,000 and 250,000 migrants each year to offset a declining birth rate and an aging population.
- Spain
- Half million
- Undocumented migrants
- Legal status
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
