Barcelona City Council has estimated that at least 24,000 foreign nationals in the city will benefit from the extraordinary regularisation programme approved by the Spanish government this week. This Barcelona immigrant regularisation initiative is a critical step for social dignity and economic growth. Mayor Jaume Collboni announced the figures on Friday following a strategic meeting with government officials. The announcement follows a recent police operation dismantling an immigration fraud network in Barcelona.
A Pathway to Dignity and Employment
Following discussions with the Government’s delegate in Catalonia, Carlos Prieto, and Deputy Mayor for Economic Promotion, Raquel Gil, Mayor Collboni welcomed the initiative. “It is a very great opportunity to dignify the living conditions of people who were in irregular situations,” he stated. Therefore, this Barcelona immigrant regularisation offers a clear humanitarian benefit.
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Social services in Barcelona have already identified 24,000 individuals who are immediately eligible for legal status under the new royal decree. However, Collboni noted that the actual figure is likely higher, suggesting that “there are more” who may eventually qualify as the process unfolds.
Beyond the humanitarian aspect, the City Council views the decree as a pragmatic solution to local labour market challenges. The administration described the regularisation as an opportunity to “facilitate those job positions that are currently unfilled.” According to Collboni, business leaders and employer associations have actively requested swift implementation to address staffing shortages. Consequently, this measure directly supports the local economy.
Streamlining the Regularisation Process
To ensure the Barcelona immigrant regularisation is handled efficiently, the City Council and the Government Delegation have agreed to establish a dedicated working group. Scheduled to activate next Monday, this group will focus on facilitating and expediting administrative procedures.
Officials are currently awaiting the final official calendar and technical instructions from the ministry to finalise their agenda. Meanwhile, Collboni emphasised that the city is well-prepared, citing “accumulated experience of many years” in managing similar extraordinary regularisation processes carried out by previous administrations.
Political Support and National Context
The announcement coincides with a vote in the Barcelona City Council plenary session, where the PSC (Socialists’ Party of Catalonia) presented a motion supporting the central government’s decree. The text, which describes the measure as a tool to “guarantee rights, reduce social and labour vulnerability, and reinforce a migration policy centred on human dignity,” was approved with support from the Commons and ERC, while Junts abstained, and the PP and Vox voted against.
Nationwide, the extraordinary regularisation—agreed upon by the coalition government—is expected to benefit more than 500,000 people. Eligibility criteria require applicants to have been accredited in Spain before 31 December 2025, to have resided in the country for at least five months at the time of application, and to have a clean criminal record. In addition, the process aims to integrate individuals into society formally.
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