The window for applying for extraordinary regularization opens in early April and closes on June 30. That is the timeline set by the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration, after the Council of Ministers authorized the urgent processing of the royal decree. So you have that timeframe. Not a day more, not a day less.
Who is eligible to apply? Anyone who can prove they lived in Spain for at least five months prior to December 31, 2025, and has no criminal record. Those who applied for international protection before that date and are still awaiting a response are also eligible. Note: What counts is December 31, 2025—not the day you submit your paperwork.
A one-year permit, immediate work authorization, and five years for minors
The initial residence permit is valid for one year. Once that period expires, you’ll be eligible for the categories already outlined in the Regulations of the Immigration Law. In practice, you’ll transition from an extraordinary pathway to the standard procedures. That said, once your application is approved, you’ll be able to work as an employee in any sector and anywhere in the country. Minister Elma Saiz summed it up this way: workers gain rights, and companies gain legal certainty.
There is one detail that affects you if you are traveling with children. The minor children of applicants who are in Spain will have their status regularized at the same time, and, where applicable, their permit is extended to five years. If you have children in your care, submit all applications together. That way, they won’t be left out of the process.
The measure builds on the substance of the popular legislative initiative that gathered more than 700,000 signatures and was considered by Congress. The government is incorporating it into the future Plan for Integration and Intercultural Coexistence. And remember that Spain has carried out extraordinary regularizations since 1986, under governments of various political stripes. Saiz herself argued at the press conference following the Council of Ministers meeting that, when reality outpaces bureaucracy, it’s time to get things in order.
My advice: don’t wait until April to get started. Start organizing now any documentation you might need to prove your stay in the country and to show that you have no outstanding legal issues. Make sure you have your children’s papers on hand, if you have any. And don’t trust anyone who promises to resolve your situation in two days in exchange for money. The process has a publicly established deadline and specific requirements. Get moving.
If you’re having trouble with your appointment or the application process, message us on Telegram: https://t.me/cita_extranjeria
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