Thousands of African migrants flock to Spanish embassies hoping to profit from mass regularisation

Key Points:

• Large crowds of migrants, particularly from African countries, have gathered outside Spanish consulates and embassies as Spain launches a six-month mass regularisation programme for undocumented migrants to apply for residence and work permits.
• The programme, approved on April 14, allows migrants who have lived in Spain continuously for at least five months before January 1, 2026, and have no criminal record, to apply for a one-year renewable permit, with applications open online from April 20 to June 30.
• There has been a surge in illegal entries through Algeria's southern border, with thousands of sub-Saharan migrants traveling to northern Algeria to attempt sea crossings to Spain, facilitated by people-smuggling networks, according to Algerian officials.
• The Spanish government estimates the regularisation could benefit around 500,000 people, though police analyses suggest the actual number may be three times higher, with significant participation from African nationals alongside Latin American migrants.
• The initiative aims to recognize the economic contributions of long-term irregular migrants and address labour shortages, but it has drawn criticism from the political right and contrasts with the broader European Union trend toward stricter migration controls and faster returns.