Barcelona City Council estimates that a minimum of 24,000 immigrants in the city will benefit from the extraordinary immigrant regularisation programme. This initiative, recently approved by the Spanish government, represents a major policy shift. A recent immigration fraud network was dismantled in Barcelona.
Mayor Jaume Collboni announced the figures on Friday. He met with Carlos Prieto, the Government Delegate in Catalonia, and Raquel Gil, the Deputy Mayor for Economic Promotion. Collboni described the initiative as a significant step forward for social cohesion in the Catalan capital. “It is a very great opportunity to dignify the living conditions of people who were in irregular situations,” Collboni stated.
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Addressing Labour Shortages in Barcelona
According to municipal social services, at least 24,000 individuals are immediately eligible for immigrant regularisation. The Mayor noted that the actual figure is likely higher. Therefore, the Council views the Royal Decree as a pragmatic solution to economic challenges. Officials highlighted that the scheme will help “facilitate those job positions that are currently unfilled.”
The urgency of the process reflects demands from business leaders. Employer associations have long called for a more agile system to address workforce gaps. In addition, the City Council and the Government Delegation have agreed to establish a joint working group. This group, set to activate on Monday, will coordinate the processing procedure.
Political Consensus and National Impact of Regularisation
During Friday’s plenary session, the Barcelona City Council voted to formally support the state government’s measure. The text, proposed by the PSC, framed the immigrant regularisation as a tool to guarantee rights and reduce vulnerability. Meanwhile, it aims to reinforce a migration policy centred on human dignity.
The motion passed with support from the Comuns and ERC. However, Junts abstained, and both the PP and Vox voted against it. The approved text explicitly recognises the “social, economic, and cultural contribution of migrant people to the city of Barcelona.”
Nationally, the extraordinary regularisation is expected to benefit more than 500,000 people across Spain. To qualify, applicants must have been accredited in the country before 31 December 2025. Furthermore, they must have resided in Spain for at least five months at the time of application and possess a clean criminal record. For more information on national immigration policy, visit the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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