Moroccans Rank 2nd in Spain’s Historic Immigration Regularization

Marrakech – As expected, Moroccans emerged as the second-largest national group in Spain’s extraordinary immigration regularization process. The Spanish government on Thursday released the first official figures from the program, revealing a total of 1,174,978 applications – more than double its initial estimate of 500,000.

Moroccans accounted for 13.3% of all submissions, trailing only Colombians, who led with nearly 26%. Venezuelans followed at 11.8%, Peruvians at 8.8%, and Hondurans at 4.9%. Two out of every three applicants came from Central and South America, while 22.9% originated from Africa and 8.3% from Asia.

The application window ran from April 16 to June 30. Applicants had to prove at least five months of presence in Spain before January 1, 2026 and demonstrate a clean criminal record.

Secretary of State for Migration Pilar Cancela confirmed that 608,000 applications – roughly 52% – have already been admitted for processing. Admission alone grants applicants a provisional residence and work permit. Around 11,000 cases have received final approval. The government now has three months to resolve the remaining backlog.

The program offered two tracks: regularization through arraigo, or roots-based residency, and international protection. The government initially projected an even split of 250,000 applicants per track. That projection missed the mark. A commanding 79.6% of applicants opted for arraigo, while only 20.4% sought international protection.

The typical applicant is male and under 45. Men made up 57% of submissions, women 43%. Some 81% of applicants are younger than 45, with 31.3% falling between 25 and 34 years old. Six in ten are under 34.

Catalonia registered the most applications at 257,602, followed by Madrid with 202,424, the Valencia region with 167,286, and Andalusia with 161,557. Some 83% of submissions came through digital channels.

The labor market impact is already measurable. As of June 30, the process generated 159,097 new Social Security affiliations. Hospitality led with 38,776 registrations, followed by commerce at 20,195, administrative services at 19,327, and construction at 18,310. Among those registered, 77.3% hold indefinite contracts. The government noted that 85% of applicants have full competence in Spanish.

A voluntary survey of 36,187 respondents showed that 43% held secondary or vocational qualifications, while 24% reported higher education.

The process drew broad support from employers’ organizations, trade unions, and humanitarian groups. Spain’s main business federation, the CEOE, backed the measure amid persistent labor shortages. But the opposition Popular Party called the policy “unsustainable,” while far-right Vox branded it a “migratory invasion.”

A legal challenge also looms. Spain’s Supreme Court raised doubts about the procedure’s compatibility with EU regulations. The government responded by pledging to accelerate processing to shield applicants from a potential freeze should the court refer the matter to the EU Court of Justice.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended the program, arguing that without immigration, Spain would lose 19% of its GDP by 2050.