Spain announces the regularization of hundreds of thousands of migrants by granting them simplified legal residency permits.
Many immigrants without official residency documents are unable to access many banking services and are deprived of several housing options, at a time when Spain is experiencing a severe real estate rental crisis due to the continuous rise in prices.
The lack of official documentation is a major obstacle for anyone trying to rent a house or deal with landlords.
But the recent announcement by the Spanish government of a plan to legalize the status of at least half a million migrants has given Diana, and many others, a glimmer of hope.
This government plan includes granting foreigners a renewable one-year residency visa, with applications open from the beginning of April until the end of June. Applicants must prove they have resided in the country for at least five months and have no criminal record.
Estimates of the number of migrants expected to apply for the scheme vary. Government figures suggest around 500,000 migrants may apply, while estimates from the police's National Immigration and Border Protection Centre – which were leaked to the media – suggest the true number is between 750,000 and 1.1 million migrants.
The Socialist-led coalition government bases this initiative on humanitarian considerations, with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez describing the migrants as having “participated with us in the progress of this country.”.
But the government also sees this measure as largely in the country's best interest, given that the unemployment rate is at its lowest level in 18 years and the economy grew by 3.0% last year, a rate equivalent to the combined growth rates of the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy.
Elma Saiz, the Minister of Integration, Social Security and Immigration, told the BBC: “Foreign workers play a very important role in the success of the Spanish economy; they contribute to the growth of GDP, and the strength and flexibility of the labor market,” confirming that 4.1 percent of the 22 million registered workers in the country are foreigners.
Saiz added: “Since 2022, half of Spain’s economic growth has been achieved through foreign labor. This initiative is about values and human rights, and it is driven by a full awareness that we face different challenges, and that our good management of the economy is beginning to pay off.”
A report issued by the Bank of Spain for 2024 came to support the government’s position, concluding that Spain would need about 25 million immigrants over the next three decades in order to maintain the stability of its economy and social security system.
Migrants, both officially registered and unregistered, have a significant presence in the elderly care and hospitality sectors. A large number also work in agriculture, with government data indicating that over 250,000 foreign workers are officially employed in this sector, in addition to thousands of undocumented migrants. The majority of these workers come from North Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America.
Source: BBC Arabic
