Overview
- Online applications opened Thursday after the decree took effect in the state bulletin for people who were in Spain before January 1, 2026 with at least five months of recent continuous stay.
- The Moroccan Consulate in Seville saw long lines as people sought documents needed to file under the new process.
- Zaragoza’s city hall reported hours-long waits and overcrowding, which local officials described as a collapse of services.
- PP and Vox figures in Zaragoza criticized the rollout for poor planning and no clear budget analysis, and police unions warned of weaker checks and a higher risk of fraud.
- The measure grants a one-year residence-and-work permit for adults and five-year residence for minors, and estimates suggest up to 500,000 people could benefit nationwide, including about 60,000 in Andalusia and 15,000–17,000 in Aragón.