Spain grants 1-year permits to undocumented foreigners under Royal Decree 316/2026

Headline: Spain offers 1-year permits to undocumented foreigners

How the regularization works

Spain’s Royal Decree 316/2026 opens an extraordinary regularization path for undocumented foreigners and some asylum seekers who were already in the country before Jan. 1, 2026. Applicants who can prove five months of continuous stay can receive a one-year residence and work permit, renewable under standard rules.

The decree was published in the BOE on April 15 and applies nationwide. Beneficiaries get provisional work rights once their application is admitted, along with access to healthcare through a Número de Seguridad Social.

Who it affects

The measure covers people in irregular status before the cutoff date, including overstayed tourists, rejected visa applicants and some pre-2026 asylum seekers. Spain said the program is meant to help labor integration, increase social security contributions and reduce exploitation.

It can also apply to some remote workers and digital nomads stuck in limbo after expired or denied visas, if they can document their stay. Tourists still within a valid 90-day Schengen stay aren't affected because they aren't in irregular status.

What applicants need to do

Applications opened online on April 16 and in person on April 20. The deadline is June 30 with no extension. Processing can take up to three months and silence means denial.

Applicants must be 18 or older, hold a valid or expired passport, have no valid residence permit and show a clean criminal record, with some cancellable Spanish offenses allowed. The fee is €38.28 ($41), paid after admission. More than 130,000 applications were filed in the first week and free NGO and legal help is available through the ministry portal, Cl@ve, Social Security offices, Correos and extranjería offices.

Read our full Spain guide for the complete picture.