Spain’s recent move to regularise up to 500,000 undocumented migrants has sparked debate, with authorities emphasising that the new permits enable legal work within Spain only, not wider EU relocation, as political tensions around migration intensify across the continent.
Spain’s move to regularise the status of as many as 500,000 undocumented migrants has stirred debate far beyond Madrid, but claims that the policy would immediately allow new permit holders to relocate across Europe are misleading. The measure, approved by the Spanish government in mid-April, is designed to give people already living in Spain a lawful route into the labour market, not a passport to settle elsewhere in the EU. Euronews reported that the scheme was presented by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez as ‘an act of justice and a necessity’.
Under the programme, migrants who have lived in Spain for at least five months can apply for a one-year residence and work permit, with the application window opening on 20 April and online submissions beginning on 22 April, according to Euronews and the Associated Press. Applicants must also have no serious criminal record, and the government has described the plan as a formalisation of people who are already contributing to Spanish society. El País reported that the decree forms part of a broader effort to bring undocumented workers into the legal economy, at a time when much of Europe is tightening migration rules.
That detail matters because the legal rights attached to the permit are limited to Spain. Euronews fact-checkers said the document does not give holders the right to live or work freely in France or any other EU country, despite claims made online by Jordan Bardella, leader of France’s National Rally. AFP Factuel reached the same conclusion, noting that anyone wishing to settle in France would still need the relevant French visa or residence authorisation. In practical terms, the Spanish permit allows travel within the Schengen area for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, but not long-term relocation.
The row has also exposed the wider political sensitivity of migration in Europe, where the issue has become a flashpoint for both far-right parties and centrist governments. Reuters, via the related reporting, noted that Spain’s approach stands out against a more restrictive continental mood, while other assessments suggest the country is acting from a position of labour-market need as well as humanitarian policy. Spain’s undocumented population was estimated by the conservative think tank Funcas at about 840,000 at the start of 2025, most of them from Latin America, underscoring the scale of the challenge Sánchez’s government is trying to manage.
Source Reference Map
Inspired by headline at: [1]
Sources by paragraph:
– Paragraph 1: [2], [5]
– Paragraph 2: [2], [3], [7]
– Paragraph 3: [5], [6], [4]
– Paragraph 4: [2], [3], [5], [6]
Source: Noah Wire Services
Verification / Sources
- https://www.actualno.com/europe/ispanija-legalizira-polovin-milion-migranti-shte-mogat-li-da-dojdat-v-bylgarija-news_2587228.html – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/04/14/spain-finalises-amnesty-measures-to-give-legal-status-to-up-to-500000-immigrants – Spain’s government has finalised a migrant amnesty measure, allowing up to 500,000 undocumented immigrants to apply for legal status. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the move as ‘an act of justice and a necessity’, aiming to integrate individuals already living and working in Spain under equal conditions. The programme permits undocumented migrants who have resided in Spain for at least five months to apply for a one-year residency and work permit, with applications opening on 20 April and online submissions starting on 22 April. This initiative marks a significant departure from the stricter immigration policies prevalent in much of Europe. (euronews.com)
- https://english.elpais.com/spain/2026-04-14/spain-approves-granting-legal-status-to-around-500000-undocumented-migrants.html – Spain’s government has approved a decree facilitating the regularisation of approximately 500,000 undocumented migrants. This decision contrasts with the global trend towards stricter immigration policies. The measure aims to provide legal status to individuals already residing and working in Spain without authorisation, reflecting a progressive approach to immigration. (english.elpais.com)
- https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-04-15/es/spains-migrant-amnesty-takes-final-form-opening-legal-path-for-up-to-500000-undocumented-residents/ – Spain has formally enacted a Royal Decree activating an extraordinary regularisation programme for foreign nationals living without papers. The measure allows individuals who can prove uninterrupted residence in Spain before 1 January 2026 to apply for a one-year work-and-residence authorisation. Applicants must demonstrate at least five months’ recent presence in Spain, have no serious criminal convictions, and show either an employment relationship, family ties, or a situation of social vulnerability. (visahq.com)
- https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/04/27/fact-checking-claims-that-spains-legalised-migrants-can-move-to-other-eu-countries – Euronews fact-checked claims that Spain’s legalised migrants can move to other EU countries. Under Spain’s programme, undocumented migrants who have lived in Spain for at least five months can apply for a one-year temporary residence permit. However, these individuals cannot freely travel or settle in other EU countries without obtaining the necessary visas or permits from those nations. (euronews.com)
- https://factuel.afp.com/doc.afp.com.A86L4G3 – AFP Factuel addresses misleading statements by Jordan Bardella, leader of the French far-right National Rally party, regarding Spain’s migrant regularisation. Bardella claimed that newly documented individuals would be able to travel freely in France and settle there. However, experts clarified that even with regularisation in Spain, these individuals cannot legally settle or work in France without a French residence permit. (factuel.afp.com)
- https://apnews.com/article/255b9c28a05c496851864b60f0766008 – Spain has finalised a significant amnesty measure aimed at granting legal residency and work permits to potentially hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants. The initiative allows individuals who arrived in Spain before 1 January 2026 and have lived there for at least five months to apply for a one-year legal status starting 20 April until 30 June. Applicants must also prove they have no criminal record. (apnews.com)
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score: 8
Notes: The article was published on 28 April 2026, referencing events from mid-April 2026. The earliest known publication date of similar content is 14 April 2026, when Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the regularisation plan. The article appears to be original, with no evidence of recycling or republishing across low-quality sites. However, the narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The article includes updated data but does not recycle older material. Overall, the content is fresh and original.
Quotes check
Score: 7
Notes: The article includes direct quotes from Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and other officials. The earliest known usage of these quotes is from mid-April 2026, coinciding with the announcement of the regularisation plan. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, suggesting originality. However, some quotes are paraphrased, and the exact wording varies between sources, which could indicate potential reuse or misattribution. No online matches were found for some quotes, making independent verification challenging. Unverifiable quotes should not receive high scores.
Source reliability
Score: 6
Notes: The article originates from Actualno.com, a Bulgarian news outlet. While it is reputable within its niche, it is not a major international news organisation. The article references sources such as Euronews, El País, and the Associated Press, which are reputable. However, the lead source appears to be summarising or aggregating content from these publications, which may affect the independence of the information. The article does not mention any paywalled content.
Plausibility check
Score: 7
Notes: The article reports on Spain’s plan to regularise 500,000 undocumented migrants, a measure announced by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in mid-April 2026. The article includes specific details such as the application window opening on 20 April and online submissions beginning on 22 April, which align with information from Euronews and the Associated Press. The report also addresses claims that the regularisation would allow migrants to relocate across Europe, clarifying that the permits are limited to Spain. The language and tone are consistent with typical news reporting. No excessive or off-topic detail unrelated to the claim is present. The tone is neutral and factual.