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Spain Says Co-Official Languages Not Required for Initial Permits in Migrant Regularization

Regional proposals would weigh Catalan, Basque or Galician in first-year renewals during the ongoing review.

Overview

  • Catalonia’s government and ERC have filed amendments so that starting or accrediting Catalan learning counts at the first renewal of the new one‑year residence permits.
  • Ministerial sources state no language will be mandatory to obtain the initial authorization, aligning the draft with existing integration pathways under the immigration rulebook.
  • A draft seen by media allows regional integration reports to recommend a prórroga that can certify learning of the official language where the person lives.
  • Opposition escalates as Madrid’s president Isabel Díaz Ayuso vows a court challenge and regional executives in the Balearic Islands and Galicia voice objections to the language criterion.
  • The decree is still in public consultation and must receive opinions from bodies such as FISI and the Council of State before a final Cabinet decision, with an estimated reach of about 500,000 people nationwide including roughly 150,000 in Catalonia.