Mass Regularization in Spain 2026: deadline closed, what now?

What was the Mass Regularization in Spain 2026?

Royal Decree 316/2026, published in the Official State Gazette (BOE), amended the Immigration Regulation to allow an exceptional administrative regularization. Its aim was to grant residence and work permits to foreigners already in Spain in an irregular situation who met certain criteria.

Applications could be submitted from 16 April to 30 June 2026. The period has now closed.

Who could apply? Main requirements

To apply, you had to meet these requirements:

• Entry in Spain: you must have entered Spain before 1 January 2026.
• Minimum stay: prove a continuous stay of at least 5 months before the application date.
• Criminal record: no criminal record in Spain or in the countries where you lived in the last 5 years.
• Temporary protection: the measure did not apply to people with other specific protections or active asylum applications (except as provided by the rule).

What was the benefit?

Approved applications receive a residence and work permit valid for 1 year, allowing you to work as an employee or self-employed in any sector.

After that first year, it is possible to move to the ordinary categories of the Immigration Regulation.

What now? Next steps

If you already submitted your application: watch for notifications from the administration and answer any request within the deadline. If you have not received a reply yet, talk to our team so we can check the status of your file.

If you could not apply: this extraordinary route has closed, but there may be other residence options depending on your situation. Each case needs an individual assessment. See also our guide to Spanish nationality by residence.

Unlike this regularization, Social Roots (Arraigo Social) requires 3 years of residence in Spain. For legal updates, always check the BOE and official sources.

Documents required in the application

Organised documents were decisive in every application. For anyone following an application in progress, these were the main documents:

• Full passport: copy of all pages, valid on the application date.
• Criminal record certificate: from your country of origin and any country of residence in the last 5 years, apostilled and translated by a sworn translator.
• Historical registration certificate (padrón): proof of the 5 months of continuous stay.
• Government fees: proof of payment.

Learn in 1 Minute

Watch Dra. Fernanda's video explaining the key points of this regulation: