Work permits for at least 500,000 illegal migrants

The approval is initially valid a year and can then be converted into one regular residence permit be transferred. Applications should from April be possible once the decree is in force.

Criticism comes from the right: PP and Vox warn about “Suction effects” and additional burdens for Labor market and Social systems. The government counters that legalization Shadow work contained, Posts in the Social funds brings and one reality that has long been part of the economy.

The dimensions of migration

They show how big this reality is Population data: Beginning 2025 lived 49.1 million people in Spain; 19.3 percent were born abroad. In autumn 2025 That corresponded roughly 9.8 million those born abroad.

Political detour and external pressure

The measure is also a political detour: A similar legislative initiative is stuck in parliament – the government lacks partners for a majority. The trigger was also the pressure from Migrant organizations and church groupswhich already 2024 one Citizens’ initiative brought to Congress.

In terms of content Madrid on Integration into the labor market – and on the Stabilization of the welfare state. Spain needs Workforce in tourism, agriculture, Care and Services. Reuters quotes analysts, according to which Migration Closes gaps that would otherwise close quickly bottlenecks would lead.

Good economic data: tailwind for the decree

The timing plays into the government’s hands: Spain’s Unemployment rate fell in fourth quarter of 2025 on 9.93 percent – the lowest value since Financial crisis 2008. Those too Youth unemployment is up according to the quarterly data 23 percent decreased but remains high.

Beginning January the government also reported that at the end of December 176,852 unemployed people under 25 years old were registered – the lowest level in a long time – a decrease of 10% compared to November 11.470 (-6.09 percent). The Spanish one Gross domestic product is according to the forecast OECD last year around 2.9 percent grown.

Tourism boom as a growth driver

He contributes to this booming tourism at: Spain has so many last year foreign visitors attracted like never before. Overall be 97 million guests came into the country and with it 3.5 percent more than 2024.

Origin & international comparison

To the big ones Origin groups count people, for example Morocco, Romania, Colombia and Venezuela. Internationally, Spain is bucking the trend tougher migration policy – also in the USAwhere President Donald Trump a sharp crackdown on irregular migration propagated.