What is Spain’s Extraordinary Regularization Process for Migrants (2026) on how you can apply

On 27 January 2026, the Spanish Government announced a new Extraordinary Regularization Process aimed at migrants who are currently living in Spain without legal status.

This exceptional measure is designed to address an urgent social and legal reality by offering eligible individuals a pathway to legal residence, stability, and integration in Spain.

The immigrant regularization process in Spain is an exceptional measure introduced by the Spanish government in 2026 to help people who are living in Spain without legal status obtain a residence permit. It is aimed at migrants who were already in Spain before 31 December 2025.

This process offers a pathway to legal residence and work authorization, allowing successful applicants to lie and work legally in Spain. It also enables them to register with Social Security, pay taxes, and access essential public services such as healthcare and education, supporting their full integration into Spanish society.

The process is open to people who were physically present in Spain before 31 December 2025, regardless of their current administrative status.

Importantly, the measure also allows for the simultaneous regularization of minor children who already live in Spain. These children may receive a five-year residence permit, strengthening family unity and long-term legal certainty.

To qualify for this extraordinary regularization, applicants must generally meet the following conditions:

• Prove at least five months of continuous residence in Spain, using public or private documentary evidence
• Have no criminal record, either in Spain or in their country of origin

For asylum seekers, the requirement is different. Instead of proving five months of residence, it is sufficient that the application for international protection was filed before 31 December 2025.

On 28 January 2026, the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration published a draft Royal Decree that will amend the current Immigration Regulation and formally introduce this extraordinary regularization procedure.

The draft is currently open for public consultation until 6 February 2026, meaning the final version may still change.

Applications are expected to open in early April 2026 and the deadline to apply is 30 June 2026.

1. Measures affecting applicants for international protection
2. A new residence permit for exceptional circumstances (unique)

Although the regulation is not yet final, the draft introduces these two main legal pathways.

Individuals who applied for international protection in Spain before 31 December 2025 may apply for a residence permit based on social integration (arraigo). Under the draft:

• Minor children, or adult children with disabilities, may apply at the same time for a temporary residence permit as accompanying family members, without having to meet the usual residence deadlines.
• Certain family members — including spouses, registered partners, and parents — may also apply simultaneously for a social integration permit, with some standard requirements waived.

This new permit is intended for people who were in Spain before 31 December 2025, and have lived continuously in Spain for at least five months. Applicants must prove their stay with public or private documents and meet at least one of the following criteria:

• They have worked or can present a job offer
• They live in Spain with their family unit (for example, school-age children or children with disabilities)
• They are in a certified situation of vulnerability

The draft presumes that people in an irregular administrative situation are vulnerable, which in practice reduces the importance of the other criteria.

If the applicant is living in Spain with family members:

• Children may apply simultaneously for temporary residence as accompanying minors
• Parents (ascendants) may also apply for the residence permit for exceptional circumstances

• Are valid for one year
• Allow the holder to work legally in Spain, either as an employee or self-employed, in any sector
• Contribute to Social Security,
• Pay taxes
• Access public healthcare and education in Spain.
• May be extended, if the conditions remain and no other permit can be requested under current regulations

Other aspects common to both types of applications include: priority processing, suspension of any previously submitted applications until a decision is made, provisional authorization to reside and work, and suspension of return procedures based on irregularity.

Additionally, exceptionally, if the criminal record certificate is not received within a month, the Administration may obtain it directly or accept a self-declaration of no criminal record.

This Royal Decree responds to an urgent social and legal need. Its main objectives are to: guarantee fundamental rights, strengthen legal certainty and promote social and economic integration.

People who obtain residence through this process will be able to work legally, contribute to Social Security, pay taxes, and access public healthcare and education in Spain.

Much will depend on the final wording of the Royal Decree and how the Administration manages what is expected to be a high volume of applications.

Because the application window is expected to be short, anyone interested should seek specialized legal advice as soon as possible and begin preparing their documentation in advance.

For updates on the extraordinary regularization process in Spain, you can consult our regularly updated news or follow us on LinkedIn.

At Klev&Vera Law Firm, we are a specialized legal consultancy with extensive experience in immigration and residency matters in Spain. We assist individuals and families throughout the entire immigration process, offering clear, practical and personalized legal advice tailored to each situation.

If you require guidance on your eligibility, documentation or next steps, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our team will be happy to help you navigate the process with confidence and clarity at every stage.