Spain’s 300,000 Migrants a Year Estimate Explained

By Nodisea Legal Team·September 22, 2025·4 min read

Updated: 4 October 2026

Spain’s widely reported figure of 300,000 regularisations a year came from a government estimate announced in November 2024. It described the expected impact of an immigration reform over the following three years. The announcement did not give everyone living in Spain an automatic right to residence.

If you are assessing your options in October 2026, you need to distinguish that original estimate from the residence rules that apply to your circumstances and from the separate extraordinary regularisation procedure held in 2026.

Where the annual estimate came from

On 19 November 2024, the Spanish Government approved new Immigration Regulations under Royal Decree 1155/2024. The regulations entered into force on 20 May 2025.

The Government estimated that the reform could allow an average of approximately 300,000 people a year to regularise their status over the following three years. This was a projection about the reform’s expected effect. It was not an annual application quota, a guarantee of approval or confirmation that this number of permits had already been granted.

The ordinary residence routes under the reform

The reform established five ordinary arraigo routes: arraigo de segunda oportunidad, arraigo sociolaboral, arraigo social, arraigo socioformativo and arraigo familiar. Arraigo is a form of residence based on qualifying ties or circumstances in Spain.

Most of these routes require at least two years of continuous presence in Spain. Arraigo familiar has no minimum period of prior presence. Each route also has its own conditions, and meeting the time requirement alone does not establish eligibility.

Read our guide to the types of arraigo and their requirements to understand the differences. Check the current rules before applying, since the regulations have also been amended since their original approval.

The separate extraordinary regularisation in 2026

Spain’s 2026 extraordinary regularisation was a separate temporary procedure. Its application period ran from 16 April to 30 June 2026. That window has closed, so the earlier announcement about 300,000 regularisations a year should not be read as reopening it.

If you applied within that period, keep your filing receipt and monitor the official notifications for your case. A request for further documents or a decision must be assessed under the instructions and deadlines that apply to that notice.

Our 2026 extraordinary regularisation guide explains the deadline and the next steps for applicants and people who missed the window.

What this means for your immigration plans

If you are already in Spain without a valid residence permit, begin with your individual circumstances. Check your arrival dates and absences, previous permits and applications, family relationships, and any employment or training evidence relevant to the route you are considering.

Our overview of residence options for people without a residence permit in Spain can help you identify which procedures may need closer assessment. A headline about government policy cannot replace that assessment.

If you are planning to move to Spain from abroad, assess the appropriate entry and residence route before travelling. The 300,000-a-year estimate does not replace a visa or permit requirement, and you should not plan an irregular stay on the assumption that a future regularisation will apply to you.

The reform’s policy objectives also do not guarantee a shorter processing time for your application. The applicable legal deadline, the evidence required and the actual handling of the file depend on the procedure.

Help choosing your current residence route

At Nodisea, we can review your immigration history and supporting documents to identify which current residence routes may be available. We can also review a request for documents or a decision in an application you have already submitted.

Book a free 15-minute immigration consultation to discuss your circumstances.

Legal information by Nodisea. Responsible lawyer: Francisco Javier Theuer Carmona, immigration lawyer and member of the Granada Bar Association, ICAGR 7984.