Full Breakdown
Spain's Migration Amnesty Grants Temporary Work Permits to Over 600,000 Applicants
7/3/2026, 12:45:30 AM
Amnesty Drive Issues Temporary Work Permits to 609,737 Migrants
On 2 July 2026 the Spanish government reported that 609,737 of the 1.17 million undocumented migrants who submitted applications under the recent regularisation scheme have received temporary work permits. The permits allow holders to work in the formal economy while their requests for a one-year renewable residence permit are examined. The amnesty was open for applications from 16 April to 30 June 2026 and applies to migrants who have lived in Spain for at least five months before the end of 2025 and who have no criminal record.
Background, Eligibility and Government Officials
The scheme was introduced to regularise Spain’s large undocumented population and to channel migrant labour into regulated sectors such as construction, tourism, transport and care. The government initially projected 500,000 applications; the actual number more than doubled that forecast. Eligibility requires a minimum five-month residence period before 31 December 2025 and a clean criminal record. The details were presented by Secretary of State for Migration Pilar Cancela and Secretary of State for Social Security Borja Suárez, who noted that most applicants come from Latin American countries, that 81 % are under 45 years old and that 57 % are men.
Data Summary
- Total undocumented migrants in Spain: 1.17 million.
- Applications received: >1.17 million (all eligible migrants applied).
- Temporary work permits issued: 609,737.
- Formal-sector jobs secured (by 30 June): ~160,000.
- Residence permits granted so far: 11,000.
- Targeted sectors for job matching: construction, tourism, transport, care.
- Age profile: 81 % under 45; gender profile: 57 % male.
Economic Impact
Integrating more than 600,000 migrants into the formal economy is intended to ease labour shortages in construction, tourism, transport and care services. Temporary permits also extend social-security coverage and tax contributions to workers previously in the informal sector. The placement of roughly 160,000 migrants in formal jobs by the end of June suggests an immediate boost to productivity, while the government-business partnership aims to streamline job matching and reduce informal employment.
Official Statements
Cancela and Suárez said the amnesty’s uptake exceeded expectations and described the temporary work permits as a practical bridge for migrants awaiting full regularisation. They highlighted the collaboration with private-sector partners to facilitate employment and reaffirmed the commitment to process applications efficiently. Both officials pointed to the 11,000 residence permits already issued as an initial step toward longer-term integration.
Future Steps
Application reviews will continue throughout the remainder of 2026, with residence permits renewable annually. The government plans to broaden job-matching initiatives, monitor the impact of migrant labour on sectoral productivity, and publish an assessment before year-end to decide whether further regularisation measures are needed.
