Mass regularisation for foreigners in irregular situations in Spain
If approved, a new initiative could give legal status, work and residency rights to approximately 500,000 people living in Spain irregularly
The Congress of Deputies has recently approved the initiation of the legislative process for a possible mass regularisation of foreigners, which would give legal status to roughly 500,000 people residing in the country illegally.
Broadly speaking, if approved, the new law will allow these individuals to legally reside and work in Spain.
This initiative, widely referred to as the ‘2024 mass regularisation proposal’, has broad parliamentary and social support and is currently being considered by the Spanish Congress. A final decision will be made after September 2024.
Although it’s still just a proposal at the moment and is open to certain amendments, similar initiatives in the past can give us an idea what to expect – back in 2005, more than 600,000 were regularised by the Spanish government.
Who will it benefit?
It bears repeating that a lot could change in the coming months, but it’s likely that the mass regularisation would benefit anyone who entered Spain in an irregular situation before November 1, 2021. As has happened previously, anyone wishing to apply for a visa under the new regime will probably be required to have a job offer (not an employment contract) in place from a company in Spain.
As is the case with most immigration procedures for residence permits, applicants will more than likely need to present a certificate proving that they don’t have a criminal record.
What’s going to happen next?
The legislative process includes discussing the proposal in committee, presenting amendments, and finally, voting in the full Congress. This process could take several months but if you believe you could benefit from the 2024 mass regularisation process, now is the time to get some professional advice.
Heniam & Associates offer legal and administrative services to help with all of your needs in Spain, and the expert team is keeping abreast of any and all developments regarding this major milestone in Spain’s immigration policy.
Their legal team is ready to assist anyone seeking guidance through the regularisation process, ensuring they meet all requirements and benefit from this historic opportunity which promises to integrate thousands of foreigners into Spanish society.
Image: Freepik
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