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🇸🇪 Sweden /Culture & Society

Spain's Migrant Amnesty Sees Over One Million Applications, Doubling Initial Estimates

From Svenska Dagbladet · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Spain's controversial migration amnesty, offering one-year residency permits to undocumented migrants, has seen over one million applications, more than double the initial estimate.
  • Migrants need to have resided in Spain for at least five months and possess a clean criminal record to apply.
  • While the amnesty is welcomed by some businesses and the government for its potential economic benefits, it faces criticism from conservative parties and concerns within the EU.

Spain's groundbreaking migration amnesty program has exceeded all expectations, with over one million undocumented migrants submitting applications for a one-year residency permit. This figure more than doubles the initial government estimate of 500,000, highlighting the significant number of individuals living and working without legal status in the country.

We are processing 640 applications per day.

— Elizabeth Sánchez OrtizDescribing the workload at a service office outside Madrid.

The program requires applicants to have resided in Spain continuously for at least five months prior to the end of the year and to provide documentation for each month of residency. A clean criminal record is also a prerequisite for eligibility. For many, like Marian Villasmil from Venezuela, the permit represents a crucial opportunity to escape exploitative 'black market' labor conditions, where she reported earning as little as 20 euros for an eight-hour workday.

It is not easy to work on the black market without papers.

— Marian VillasmilExplaining the difficulties of undocumented work.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has championed the amnesty, emphasizing the benefits of integrating migrants into the workforce to fill labor shortages in sectors such as construction. Business leaders have also expressed support for the initiative, anticipating increased tax revenue as more individuals gain legal employment status. The government views the overwhelming response as a testament to the importance of recognizing migrants' rights and responsibilities.

For example, I worked in a bar. They gave me 20 euros for eight hours of work, and even for twelve hours of work.

— Marian VillasmilIllustrating the low wages in the informal labor market.

However, the amnesty has not been without its critics. Domestically, the conservative Popular Party (PP) and the far-right Vox party have voiced strong opposition, arguing that the program will encourage further irregular migration. Concerns have also been raised within the European Union, with some member states worried that Spain's approach deviates from the bloc's common migration policies. Sánchez acknowledged the challenges associated with immigration and integration but accused the right-wing opposition of inciting fear and xenophobia.

The more than one million submitted applications... show how important this recognition of rights and obligations is.

— Pedro SánchezCommenting on the high number of applications received.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Svenska Dagbladet in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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