Barcelona's municipal citizen services offices have been overwhelmed as migrants queue for hours to begin regularisation procedures following the scheme's launch on Thursday. At the office located on Plaça de Sant Miquel, images of undocumented migrants waiting patiently for their turn surprised residents, workers and tourists, according to Tot Barcelona.

Some applicants waited up to five hours without prior appointments to access services, the Catalan News Agency (ACN) reported. The municipal offices, which normally host citizens seeking various administrative services, became congested as large numbers of people arrived early morning seeking clarification on procedures and to complete necessary paperwork.

Documentation requirements delay applications

Applicants must obtain several documents to proceed with regularisation, including vulnerability reports, updated municipal registry records, certificates of cohabitation and criminal record certificates. The Barcelona council acknowledged delays in providing guidance, stating it remains "attentive" to the publication of procedural instructions from the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration.

Currently, only the Service for Attention to Immigrants, Emigrants and Refugees (SAIER) has enabled applicants to register through a form and receive initial information. The city administration indicated that once official information becomes available, interested parties will receive an email with necessary guidance, recommendations for submitting applications, and instructions for accessing legal advice through SAIER and booking prior appointments.

The Spanish National Court rejected an emergency suspension request for the government's decree authorising the extraordinary regularisation programme on Thursday afternoon, according to Tot Barcelona. The Association for Reconciliation and Historical Truth had sought to annul the decree. The court found no special urgency circumstances warranting suspension without prior hearing from the affected party, identified as Pedro Sanchez's administration.

The regularisation scheme marks a significant policy shift for migrant documentation in Catalonia, with municipal authorities preparing for sustained high demand in coming weeks.