Spain will grant residency and work permits to about 300,000 undocumented migrants annually for the next three years, the country’s migration minister announced Wednesday.
The new policy, set to take effect in May, aims to address the country’s aging workforce. While many European nations are tightening borders, Spain has remained relatively open to migrants.
Migration Minister Elma Saiz said Spain needs approximately 250,000 registered foreign workers each year to maintain its welfare state. She emphasized that the legalization policy is not just about “cultural wealth and respect for human rights, but also prosperity.”
“Today, we can say Spain is a better country,” Saiz told national broadcaster Radio Nacional de España.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has frequently described his government’s migration policies as a response to Spain’s low birthrate.
Approved by Sánchez’s leftist minority coalition government on Tuesday, the new policy simplifies visa processes for both short- and long-term permits and provides migrants with additional labor protections. It extends a job-seeker visa from three months to one year.
In August, Sánchez visited three West African nations to address irregular migration to Spain’s Canary Islands. The archipelago, off the coast of Africa, serves as a stepping stone to Europe for many migrants from countries like Mali, Senegal, and Mauritania, who risk dangerous sea voyages seeking work or fleeing instability.
By mid-November, around 54,000 migrants had reached Spain by sea or land, according to the Interior Ministry. The exact number of undocumented migrants in the country is unclear.
Many such migrants work in Spain’s underground economy in essential, low-wage jobs, such as fruit pickers, caretakers, and delivery drivers. Without legal protections, they are often vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. Saiz said the new policy would help protect workers and combat trafficking, fraud, and rights violations.
Spain’s economy is one of the fastest-growing in the European Union, partly due to a strong rebound in tourism post-pandemic. In 2023, Spain issued 1.3 million visas to foreign nationals, according to the government.
