Madrid, Spain Over a million undocumented migrants and asylum seekers have applied for regularization in Spain, reflecting the nation’s economic growth and the push for a more inclusive society. NUT GRAF: The surge in applications highlights Spain’s efforts to integrate its migrant population and is part of its strategy for post-pandemic economic recovery.
In a landmark move, Spain’s government has introduced a regularization program that offers a one-year residence and work permit to individuals who can demonstrate they do not have a criminal record and have lived in Spain for at least five months, or have sought international protection, before December 31, 2025.
The program, which was initially expected to benefit about 500,000 people, has attracted over twice that number of applicants by the end of the registration period. Badr Tmairi, a 22-year-old from Morocco, is among the millions who have applied for regularization. After spending six years in Spain without legal residency, Tmairi dreams of obtaining legal status so he can work as a hairdresser and visit his family in Morocco. “.
What I want is to get my papers back so I can work as a hairdresser and travel to visit my family in Morocco, “he says. Edith Espinola, president of the Active Domestic Workers’ Service Association (SEDOAC) and spokesperson for the Regularizacion Ya (Regularisation Now) collective, notes that the high number of applications indicates a need for improved state protection for the most vulnerable. Officials commented on the matter.
The Spain Grows Fund, a €120 billion investment aimed at reformist initiatives, is seen as a strategic move by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to invest in economic growth and address the needs of the growing immigrant population.
The fund, which includes €10. 5 billion from the Recovery Plan’s NextGenerationEU funds, is expected to prioritize key sectors such as housing, energy, digitalization, AI, reindustrialization, circular economy, infrastructure, water and sanitation, and security.
The creation of the Spain Grows Fund is intended to extend the reformist drive of the Recovery Plan beyond 2026, providing financial support for the regularization process and other initiatives aimed at integrating migrants into Spanish society.
As Spain continues its economic recovery efforts, the integration of migrants into the workforce is seen as a crucial step in achieving sustainable growth.
The outcomes of these initiatives will be closely watched as Spain seeks to balance economic growth with social responsibility, with the hope that the regularization program and the Spain Grows Fund could serve as a model for other European countries facing similar challenges.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: aljazeera
Source: Patricia Macías López
