The Council of Ministers has approved an extraordinary regularization process aimed at foreign nationals who are currently in an irregular administrative situation in Spain.
This is an exceptional measure, intended to provide an orderly response with legal certainty to an existing social reality. However, it is important to stress that, as of today, the legal text regulating this regularization has not yet been published.
⏺️ Pending regulatory development
Although the extraordinary regularization has already been approved by the Council of Ministers, its practical implementation still requires several formal steps within the legislative drafting process.
First, a Public Consultation Procedure should be opened, during which the relevant Ministries will issue their reports. Subsequently, the Council of State must issue its mandatory opinion.
Only once these stages have been completed will the formal processing of the procedure begin, culminating in the final approval and publication of the Royal Decree in the Official State Gazette (BOE). Until that moment, it is not possible to submit applications or to know with certainty all the requirements and legal effects of the regularization.
⏺️ Requirements to access this regularization known so far
Although we are still awaiting the publication of the Royal Decree that will regulate the procedure, the information provided following the Council of Ministers meeting allows us to outline the general criteria known so far for accessing this extraordinary regularization process.
According to what has been announced, the procedure:
- May be submitted between April and 30 June 2026.
- Will be aimed at foreign nationals who arrived in Spain before 31 December 2025.
- Will require proof of at least five months of continuous residence in Spain at the time of application.
- Applicants must not have relevant criminal records.
- The initiation of the procedure would grant a provisional residence and work authorization, allowing applicants to work legally from the moment the application is admitted for processing. With such admission, employment would be permitted anywhere in Spanish territory.
- The initial authorization would have a one-year validity, with the possibility of later modification to an ordinary authorization in accordance with the Immigration Regulations.
- Minor children may apply for their authorizations in parallel, with a foreseen duration of five years.
Applicants for international protection
It is now an official confirmation that applicants for asylum or international protection may access this extraordinary regularization process, provided that their application for protection was submitted before 31 December 2025.
In any case, it will be necessary to wait for the publication of the final legal text in order to know precisely the scope of the measure, the final requirements and the applicable procedure.
⏺️ Caution against misinformation and false claims
In recent hours, unverified information and fake news, alleged lists of requirements and promises of immediate processing have been circulating on social media and other channels. From ARC Legal, we recommend maximum caution.
At this stage, no professional, agency or law firm can initiate applications or guarantee access to this regularization process in the absence of a published legal framework.
⏺️ Official and up-to-date information
We will closely monitor the development of this measure and will publish only information based on official sources as soon as the final content of the Royal Decree becomes available.
ARC Legal provides legal advice in various areas of immigration law. For general inquiries or to assess any administrative situation, you may contact us.
Related publications
- A turning point in Spain’s Immigration Policy: Extraordinary Regularization back on the table
- Breaking news in Spanish Immigration Law: possible extraordinary regularization process in 2026
- Spain’s international protection system closes 2025 with record figures
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The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Although we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, immigration regulations are subject to change and interpretation by the competent authorities. For personalized and current legal advice, we recommend consulting a specialized immigration lawyer.