Spain is going to open an extraordinary administrative regularization process for migrants who already live in the country. The measure was approved by the Council of Ministers on April 14, 2026, will be published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) on April 15 and takes effect on April 16.

The goal is to allow part of the foreigners in an irregular situation, as well as international protection applicants, to obtain a residence and work authorization in the country.

When the process starts

The official calendar has already been set:

  • April 16, 2026: online applications open;
  • April 16, 2026: the appointment system for in-person service opens;
  • April 20, 2026: in-person service begins;
  • June 30, 2026: final deadline to submit the application.

Digital processing will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week throughout the period.

Who can apply for regularization

The measure targets two groups:

  1. People who applied for international protection in Spain before January 1, 2026;
  2. Migrants in an irregular administrative situation who arrived in Spain before January 1, 2026.

In addition, applicants must prove that they have been in Spanish territory for at least five months without interruption at the time of applying.

Requirements

To access the extraordinary regularization, the Spanish government requires that you:

  • were in Spain before January 1, 2026;
  • can prove continuous presence of at least five months;
  • have no criminal record;
  • do not pose a threat to public order, public security or public health.

For those who are already in an irregular situation, you will also need to show at least one of these conditions:

  • having worked legally in Spain, as an employee or self-employed;
  • having a family unit with minor children, adult children with disabilities or first-degree ascendants;
  • proving a situation of vulnerability.

Which documents can serve as proof

To prove your presence in Spain, you may submit public documents, private documents or a combination of both, as long as they:

  • contain personal data;
  • help identify the applicant;
  • are dated.

In vulnerability cases, applicants can download a specific certificate from the website of the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration. That document must be validated and stamped by authorized entities or by social services.

How to apply

Applications can be made through two channels: online and in person.

Online

The digital application can be submitted in four ways:

  1. by the applicant, with an electronic certificate;
  2. by a representative whose powers are registered in the Electronic Register of Powers of Attorney;
  3. by authorized professionals, such as lawyers, social graduates or administrative agents;
  4. by entities registered in the Register of Immigration Collaborators (RECEX).

The platform will be available on the website of the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration.

In person

In-person service is by appointment only. Applications can be submitted at:

  • some offices of the National Social Security Institute and the General Treasury of Social Security, with at least one office enabled per province;
  • some Post Office (Correos) branches, in provincial capitals and in cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants;
  • some Immigration Offices, especially in Madrid, Alicante, Valencia, Almería and Murcia.

The opening hours announced by the government are:

  • Social Security and Immigration Offices: Monday to Friday, 4 pm to 7 pm;
  • Correos: Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm.

How to book an appointment

You can book an appointment in several ways:

  • through the Ministry’s website;
  • by identifying yourself with the Cl@ve system;
  • through an online form;
  • by phone, on 060.

According to the government, phone service will be provided in Spanish.

What migrants gain from regularization

The authorization granted will have an initial validity of one year and will allow you to work in any sector and anywhere in Spain.

In addition, according to the Ministry, the mere notice of the start of the administrative procedure already automatically enables the applicant to work across the whole of Spanish territory.

The government also announced that the applicant will be assigned a personal Social Security number, essential for formal employment and contributions.

What happens after approval

After receiving the final favorable decision, the beneficiary must apply for the TIE within one month.

A quick clarification:

  • TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero): the physical identity card of a foreigner resident in Spain;
  • NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero): the identification number of a foreigner in the country, used in many administrative, tax and immigration procedures.

In the case of this regularization, the TIE will be the physical document that formalizes the residence granted.

Special protection for minors

The process provides differentiated treatment for minors. In those cases, the residence authorization will be granted for five years.

Another facility is that members of the same family or cohabiting unit can submit their applications at the same appointment.

Integration into the regular immigration system

After the initial one-year period, regularized people will have to move to the ordinary routes provided for in Spain’s Immigration Regulation. In practice, this means the extraordinary authorization works as a gateway to formal, gradual integration into the Spanish immigration system.

The Spanish government said the process will be supported by:

  • lawyers specialized in immigration;
  • social graduates;
  • administrative agents;
  • unions and non-profit organizations registered in the RECEX.

These organizations will be able to guide applicants and, in some cases, act as representatives in the procedure.

What the government says

According to the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, the measure aims to guarantee rights, provide legal certainty and create an “agile, effective and hassle-free” procedure for those who meet the requirements.

The extraordinary regularization was also presented as the first step of the Spanish government’s Plan for Integration and Intercultural Coexistence.

Practical summary

In short, Spain will open an exceptional process between April 16 and June 30, 2026 to regularize part of the migrants already living in the country. People in an irregular situation and international protection applicants who were in Spain before January 1, 2026, with at least five months of continuous presence, no criminal record and no risk to public order or security, will be able to apply.

For those who live in Spain and meet these criteria, the best approach is to start gathering your proof-of-presence documents now, check whether applying online or in person suits you better and, if necessary, seek specialized professional guidance.