Spain to legalise 5,00,000 migrants, including Bangladeshis

Spain has approved a major regularisation programme that could grant legal status to around 5,00,000 undocumented migrants, including a significant number of Bangladeshis living in the country.

The initiative, approved on Tuesday (April 14) by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government, aims to provide eligible migrants with legal residence and work permits in Spain.

According to Migration Minister Elma Saiz, the application process will open online on Thursday (April 16), with in-person submissions beginning April 20. The deadline for applications is June 30.

Under the programme, undocumented migrants who meet specific conditions will be eligible for a one-year residence and work permit. Applicants must prove entry into Spain before January 1, 2026, demonstrate at least five months of residence, and have no criminal record.

Successful applicants will later be eligible to apply for long-term residency and additional work permits after one year.

The Spanish government said the move is intended to address labour shortages while improving social protection for undocumented migrants.

Rights groups and civil society organisations have long called for such reforms, and experts have described the decision as a humanitarian and migrant-friendly step within Europe.

Authorities said full details of the application process and eligibility criteria will be published soon.