Spain’s government has approved a plan to grant legal status to nearly 500,000 undocumented migrants, a move Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described as both a matter of justice and a national necessity.

In a letter addressed to the Spanish public on social media, Sánchez said the decision aims to recognize the reality of around half a million people who are already part of everyday life in Spain. He added that these migrants have contributed to building a more prosperous, open, and diverse Spain.

The prime minister also emphasized that migrants are essential for sustaining the country’s economy and public services, especially as Spain faces a rapidly aging population. He noted that Spain itself has historically been a country of emigration, with many citizens once seeking better opportunities abroad.

However, the conservative opposition People’s Party has opposed the legislation, saying it will attempt to block the plan, arguing it could encourage more irregular migration to Spain.

According to British media reports, the government’s proposal would grant undocumented migrants a one-year renewable residence permit, allowing them to live and work anywhere in the country and in any sector, provided they can prove they have been living in Spain for at least five months and have a clean criminal record.

Applicants will be able to apply between April 16 and the end of June. The Bureau of Immigration and Overseas Employment stated that individuals who were already in Spain before December 31, 2025, would be eligible under the scheme.

The policy comes at a time when several European countries are tightening immigration controls. Think tank Funcas estimates that at the beginning of 2025, around 840,000 undocumented migrants were living in Spain, most of them from Latin America. Spain’s National Institute of Statistics reports that out of a total population of about 49.4 million, more than 7 million residents are foreign-born migrants.