On 26 January 2026, the Spanish government announced an extraordinary regularisation of migrants in irregular administrative situations, a measure widely recognised as unprecedented in both scope and social impact. Approximately 500,000 people, including migrants in the informal labour market, families with precarious housing, and asylum seekers with denied or pending claims, stand to benefit. The legal text is scheduled for publication in the Boletín Oficial del Estado at the end of May 2026, establishing the framework for implementation between April and June 2026.

While the measure itself is extraordinary, its genesis is equally significant. This regularisation emerged from a citizen-driven initiative, the Popular Legislative Initiative (ILP), which gathered over 700,000 signatures and secured the support of more than 900 social and ecclesial organisations, including key contributions from the Spanish Bishops’ Conference. The policy’s origins underscore the capacity of organised civil society to influence governance, illustrating a form of “sinodal civil engagement” where ethical and social imperatives shape public policy.

Living in administrative irregularity in Spain and beyond

Migrants in irregular administrative situations occupy a position of structural vulnerability in virtually all contemporary societies. The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development emphasised in 2020 that irregular migrants are frequently overrepresented among the most vulnerable populations, exposed to precarious employment, exclusion from public services, and social marginalisation.

The COVID-19 pandemic amplified these vulnerabilities. Migrant workers without documentation faced sudden unemployment, loss of income, and exclusion from public aid, while their families abroad endured diminished remittances. These circumstances not only accentuate personal and familial precarity but also reveal the broader social consequences of irregular status, highlighting a structural inequity that affects both origin and host societies.

In Spain, irregular administrative status has historically facilitated labour exploitation, particularly in agriculture, construction, domestic work, and other sectors of the informal economy. The 2026 regularisation addresses this longstanding structural injustice by recognising migrants’ civil existence and enabling access to formal employment.

Historical and political backgorund: a citizen-driven initiative

The ILP behind the 2026 measure demonstrates the power of civic mobilisation. Initiated in 2021 by the political organisation Por un Mundo más Justo and supported by local churches, the initiative gathered unprecedented social momentum. Over 700,000 formal signatures and the mobilisation of more than 17,000 volunteers reflected a broad consensus that transcended ideological divides. In April 2024, the Spanish Congress supported the initiative with 317 votes in favour and only 17 against, evidencing extraordinary political and social alignment.

Despite this consensus, the government opted for a Royal Decree-Law rather than a full parliamentary law, invoking urgency and bypassing some procedural channels. While politically expedient, this choice raises questions about legitimacy, public debate, and the role of civil society in shaping law, highlighting the tension between rapid humanitarian action and parliamentary process.

Ethical foundations: The Integral Human Development

From the perspective of Catholic Social Teaching (CST), the ethical justification for extraordinary regularisation rests on the recognition of human dignity, restorative justice, and integral human development. The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church asserts: “The primary commitment of each person towards others, and particularly of political and social institutions, must be for the promotion and integral development of the person.”

Administrative irregularity constitutes a violation of this principle. It exposes individuals to exploitation, insecurity, and social exclusion, undermining their capacity for flourishing. Regularisation, therefore, is not a mere administrative act, it is an act of moral and social restoration, aligning state policy with ethical imperatives.

The 2020 Dicastery document underscores that political and utilitarian arguments, such as labour shortages or difficulties in deportation, are insufficient to justify action alone. While they may support practical implementation, the moral imperative derives from the obligation to protect the integral development of every person, including those in irregular situations.

Theological dimensions: Wounds, treasures, and the culture of encounter

The measure resonates profoundly with contemporary magisterial teaching. Dilexit nos (2024) frames administrative irregularity as a “wound in the social body” that must be repaired through acts of justice. Dilexit te (2025) characterises the vulnerable as “treasures of the Church,” such that engagement with them constitutes an encounter with Christ himself.

This vision is closely aligned with Fratelli Tutti (2020) which critiques the “culture of discard,” and calls for a for a culture of encounter, as well as Laudato Si’ (2015), which links precarity, migration, and environmental degradation, insisting that dignified work is essential for human flourishing.

The Spanish regularisation is therefore both administrative and theological, restoring rights while embodying the Church’s vision of a culture of encounter and human solidarity.

The challenge of implementation

The regularisation is expected to come into force at the beginning of April, and those wishing to participate will have until 30 June to submit their applications. Once authorisation is granted, it will initially be valid for one year and will allow them to work anywhere in the country, in any sector.

The decree allows migrants to obtain residence and work authorisation for one year, renewable, provided they have no criminal record and can prove at least five months of residence or prior asylum application. The policy features flexible criteria for proof of integration, including empadronamiento, social ties, school or medical records, and historical employment, mitigating barriers that hindered previous regularisations.

The Dicastery emphasises that regularisation must be accompanied by complementary measures. These include labour market inclusion programs; Social integration initiatives; Protection of family integrity; Community preparation for two-way integration; Combating irregular employment or expanding legal migration channels.

These safeguards are essential to prevent the rapid re-creation of irregularity and to ensure that the measure translates into durable social inclusion.

Implications for social cohesion and security

Critics often invoke a “pull effect,” claiming regularisation will increase irregular arrivals. Evidence, however, consistently shows otherwise: previous regularisations did not produce significant new flows, but did reduce exploitation and increase formal economic participation.

In a European context dominated by securitisation and externalisation of borders, this measure offers a counter-narrative, demonstrating that ethical migration governance is compatible with social stability and security.

Lights and shadows

The measure has undeniable strengths. It recognises the dignity of migrants who were previously invisible under the law. It restores fundamental rights. It reduces labour inequalities and strengthens social cohesion. And, above all, it conveys a strong moral message: it is unacceptable for half a million people to live in a state of legal limbo. However, there are also shadows. The initial oneyear validity of the permit creates uncertainty. The cutoff dates inevitably exclude some people. And there remains the risk that the measure may be interpreted through utilitarian criteria, thereby contradicting its deeper ethical foundations.

Beyond an extraordinary measure

The 2026 regularisation must be understood as an extraordinary intervention, not a permanent solution to structural irregularity. Its strengths lie in its immediate recognition of dignity, restoration of justice, and facilitation of economic inclusion. It has been a great practice of civil society mobilisation, political pragmatism, and theological insight. It restores rights, fosters cohesion, and embodies the Church’s principles of human dignity, justice, and integral human development.

Yet it also challenges policymakers, civil society, and the Church to move beyond extraordinary measures toward systemic reforms: the creation of accessible legal migration pathways, long-term integration programmes, and labour market protections. Only then can Spain, and Europe, fully realise a vision of inclusive, humane, and ethical migration governance, where no one is left behind. Only through sustained commitment to human rights, social cohesion, and ethical governance can irregularity be addressed in a manner consistent with both social justice and the principles of the Church.“Regularisation is an extraordinary measure to quickly restore dignity, while creating conditions for stable, inclusive, and humane migration governance.”