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In Barcelona, migrants described arriving late in the evening and waiting more than 15 hours to be seen.
08:48, Tue, Apr 21, 2026 Updated: 08:49, Tue, Apr 21, 2026
Migrants queue to have their documents processed in Spain (Image: Enric Fontcuberta/EPA/Shutterstock)
Chaos has erupted across Spain as thousands of undocumented migrants queued overnight in a desperate bid to secure legal status under the Government’s sweeping new amnesty scheme. Scenes of disorder unfolded at more than 400 registration points nationwide as the programme—designed to regularise the status of up to 500,000 people—formally opened for applications. Long lines stretched through city streets in regions including Catalonia, Andalucia and Asturias, with some applicants camping outside offices for hours, or even overnight, to avoid missing out.
In Barcelona, migrants described arriving late in the evening and waiting more than 15 hours to be seen. Others reported dangerous overcrowding, with one applicant claiming they were nearly trampled in the crush. In Seville, local officials were forced to close registry offices early due to overwhelming demand.
The deadline for migrants to begin the regularisation process in person has begun (Image: Enric Fontcuberta/EPA/Shutterstock)
The scale of the rollout has placed significant logistical strain on local authorities, who are struggling to cope despite weeks of preparation. Immigration officers had warned of insufficient staffing and resources ahead of the launch, even threatening strike action before last-minute talks with the Government averted disruption.
The controversial policy, approved by royal decree, allows undocumented migrants already living in Spain to apply for temporary residency permits, granting them the legal right to work.
To qualify, applicants must prove they have been in the country since before the end of 2025, demonstrate at least five months of continuous residence, and show a clean criminal record.
The initial permits will last one year, with the option to renew. While the scheme does not offer citizenship or automatic permanent residency, ministers argue it will bring hundreds of thousands of workers out of the shadow economy and into formal employment.
??????????????????Footage from Spain's Zaragoza as thousands of migrants rush to be legalized.
The VOX party: "Total collapse of the City Council in the face of the avalanche of illegal immigrants who want to take advantage of Sánchez's regularization."pic.twitter.com/OISJ1gsyXs
The government has framed the move as both an economic necessity and a demographic imperative. With an ageing population and labour shortages in key sectors such as agriculture, construction and tourism, officials say the country cannot afford to leave such a large workforce unregulated.
However, the policy has triggered fierce political backlash. Opposition parties have condemned the amnesty as reckless, warning it could place additional strain on housing and public services.
Critics have also raised concerns that the measure may act as a pull factor, encouraging further migration into Spain from other parts of Europe.
A recent police report suggested the policy could lead to significant “secondary movements” of migrants from other Schengen countries in the coming years, potentially adding further pressure.
Legal challenges are already looming. Opponents have questioned the government’s use of a royal decree to fast-track the measure without a full parliamentary vote, and court action is expected.
Despite the criticism, the government insists the scheme is tightly controlled and applies only to those already in Spain. Officials stress that it does not alter border rules or create new pathways for migrants arriving from outside the European Union.
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For those waiting in line, however, the political debate feels distant. Many have spent years living and working in Spain without legal protection, and see the amnesty as a rare chance to secure stability.
As the application window remains open until mid-2027, the chaotic first days may just be a glimpse of what lies ahead.
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