Overview
- The government opened the regularization by Real Decreto 316/2026 for people present in Spain before January 1, 2026 who can prove at least five months’ residence, with an application window from April 16 to June 30.
- State legal services told the Supreme Court on May 22 that 549,596 applications had been received in the first 35–36 days and that 91,505 cases were already admitted and being processed.
- Regional governments and groups including the Comunidad de Madrid, the Govern de les Illes Balears, Vox and several associations have filed appeals asking the court to suspend the decree on grounds of lack of planning, pressure on public services and the bypassing of parliamentary debate.
- The national government argues the measure fills real labor gaps and will expand taxation and social-security contributions, citing a ministry figure that foreign workers filled 42.9% of newly created jobs.
- Local officials report strain on services — the Balearic delegation says about 6,500 people applied in the first two weeks and child protection and social networks are under pressure — and the Supreme Court’s pending ruling could pause admissions while the legal case proceeds.