Weekly update on June 30, 2026: Spain's regularization program closes with 1 million applications — double the forecast

Spain's extraordinary regularization scheme shut its registration window on June 30, 2026, drawing over 1 million applications against an official estimate of 500,000. The one-year renewable permit covers undocumented migrants who lived in Spain for at least five months before De

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Key takeaways

Registration closed June 30, 2026: more than 1 million applications received, versus the government's initial estimate of 500,000.

The permit grants one year of residence and work authorization, renewable, for applicants with no criminal record who can prove at least five months of residence in Spain before December 31, 2025.

Colombians are the largest applicant group (30%), followed by Moroccans (14%) and Venezuelans (10%).

A Spanish court is considering referring the regularization decree to the European Court of Justice over potential conflicts with EU law — a ruling could affect the validity of permits already issued.

A separate citizenship pathway under Spain's Democratic Memory Law has received over 2.4 million applications, with more than 544,000 already approved; Prime Minister Sánchez also announced a €500 million integration plan on June 30.

What happened: a million-applicant milestone

Spain's socialist-led government launched the regularization program in January 2026, originally sizing it for roughly 500,000 beneficiaries. By the time the registration window closed on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, more than 1 million undocumented migrants and asylum seekers had submitted applications — more than double the projection.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez framed the oversubscription as evidence of unmet need: 'The fact that more than 1 million people submitted applications shows just how necessary this recognition of rights and responsibilities was,' he said at a Madrid press conference on June 30.

Eligibility conditions: what applicants must prove

The scheme offers a residence and work permit, initially valid for one year, to applicants who meet two core conditions: no criminal record, and documented presence in Spain for at least five months before December 31, 2025 — or a prior application for international protection.

The largest national groups applying were Colombians (30%), Moroccans (14%), and Venezuelans (10%), according to figures reported by The Guardian on June 30.

Legal risk: court may refer decree to the European Court of Justice

The program faces active legal challenges. The PP-governed regional administrations of Valencia and Aragón have lodged formal appeals against the regularization decree. As of June 30, a Spanish court stated it was considering asking the European Court of Justice whether aspects of the decree conflict with EU law.

If the ECJ referral proceeds and the court finds incompatibility with EU rules, it could create uncertainty around permits already issued under the scheme. Applicants and their advisers should monitor court developments closely, as no final ruling has been issued.

Parallel pathway: Democratic Memory Law citizenship

Separately, Spain's Democratic Memory Law — which offers citizenship to descendants of Spaniards exiled during the Civil War and the Franco dictatorship — has attracted more than 2.4 million applications, with over 544,000 already approved, according to The Guardian's June 30 report.

PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo has publicly criticized both programs, accusing Sánchez of 'electoral engineering.' The government dismissed the accusations, with Migration Minister Elma Saiz calling them 'incredibly irresponsible.'

What comes next: €500 million integration plan

On June 30, Sánchez unveiled a €500 million 'integration and citizenship' plan designed to manage the inflow and support migrant integration. The plan sets expectations for both sides: the state must 'guarantee equal treatment and combat discrimination,' while arrivals must 'respect our laws, learn our official languages, and share the democratic values that define us,' Sánchez said.

The government's economic case for the program: without immigration, Spain's GDP would be 19% lower by 2050, Sánchez argued, adding that 90,000 bars, 50,000 classrooms, and around 220,000 farms would disappear without migrant labor and population.