The process of extraordinary regularization of immigrants in Spain could reach its crucial phase in the coming weeks. The lawyer Vicente Marín, one of the most well-known legal experts in the country regarding immigration and nationality, revealed in a video shared on social media what the key dates for the final approval of the procedure and the beginning of applications might be.
In a video published on Facebook, Marín stated: “Mark these dates on your calendar, March 24 or March 31, possible dates when the regularization process could reach the Council of Ministers.”
According to what was explained, if the text is approved in any of those Council of Ministers meetings, the process could begin in a matter of days. "And if that happens, we could say that at the beginning of April, we might already be making applications for the regularization of foreigners, around April 6 or 7, or possibly even on the 1st. Those seem like likely dates for the beginning of the regularization procedure, which could extend until the end of June 2026."
The lawyer insisted that these are only tentative dates, but he urged potential beneficiaries to prepare in advance: “Have you already prepared your documents? Do you know the requirements you need to meet to regularize your status through this process? No? Then what are you waiting for?”
The Spanish Government has already approved the urgent processing of a royal decree to activate an extraordinary regularization aimed at foreign individuals in an irregular situation who entered Spain before December 31, 2025, and have been in the country for at least five months at the time of application, as detailed in the official information on how Spain approved the mass regularization of undocumented immigrants. Those who have applied for international protection before that date will also be eligible, provided they have no criminal record.
The procedure will allow for the issuance of a residency and work permit initially valid for one year. From the moment the application is accepted—which must occur within fifteen days—applicants will be able to work legally and access public healthcare. The Administration will have a maximum of three months to resolve each case, and the deadline for submitting applications will remain open until June 30, 2026.
Official estimates suggest that the process could benefit around 500,000 people, although some calculations raise the potential number of irregular immigrants in Spain to approximately 840,000.
In previous interventions, Marín has warned that not everyone will be able to take advantage of this pathway and explained who is excluded from the mass regularization, including those who have entered Spain after December 31, 2025, or those with a criminal record. He also clarified in another analysis regarding extraordinary regularization or residence through ties in Spain that it is possible to submit this new application even if there is an ongoing residence application, without the need to withdraw from the previous procedure.
Pending the arrival of the final text to the Council of Ministers, the dates indicated by the lawyer suggest that the possible start of the process could be in the early days of April, marking the beginning of one of the largest regularizations carried out in Spain since 2005.
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