Today, 27th January 2026, the Spanish government has announced that the Council of Ministers has approved the law for the special regularisation of foreigners who are already settled in Spain – with the objective of “guaranteeing rights and giving legal certainty to an existing social reality”.
This law is the result of an agreement with the Podemos party and is a popular, legislative initiative backed by more than 700,000 signatures, consideration of which was supported by a large parliamentary majority (310 votes in favour and 33 against – all groups except Vox), thus unblocking a response that had been stalled for months.
According to the Ministry headed by Elma Saiz, with this law Spain is “reinforcing” a migration policy model “based on human rights, integration and coexistence, compatible with economic growth and social cohesion.”
Since it has been processed as a royal decree, the Government does not require parliamentary approval for it.
The consequences will be as follows:
✔️ All persons who were in Spain before December 31st 2025, and who can prove at least five months of residence, will have legal status, or be in a legally approved situation.
✔️ They will need to prove their residence in Spain through registration or other documents such as an electricity contract, a medical report or a money transfer certificate.
✔️ Those with criminal records are not included.
✔️ At the time of submission of an application, any expulsion and the return procedures will be suspended.
✔️ This regularisation can be requested until June 30th 2026.
In Spain, initiatives of this type have been approved since the first socialist government, of Felipe González (1985-1986, with approximately 438,000 applications); also during his second term (1991, 110,000); and immediately afterwards when José María Aznar took office (1996, 21,300). Aznar repeated this process in 2000 (163,900) and then in 2001 (234,600). The last major period of regularisation came under José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.
This information is very recent and may change. We will keep you informed.
