Key facts
- Spanish NGOs are making a final push to help undocumented migrants apply for a regularisation process before the June 30 deadline.
- The program has already received nearly 1.3 million applications, significantly exceeding the government's initial expectation of 500,000.
- NGOs are advising applicants to submit their forms even if they lack all required documentation, as additional time may be granted.
- Migrants face bureaucratic hurdles in obtaining necessary documents from their home countries or Spanish consulates.
- The Migration Ministry has indicated no plans to extend the application deadline.
Non-governmental organizations in Spain are intensifying their efforts to assist undocumented migrants in applying for a special mass regularisation process before the deadline on Tuesday. The initiative, which allows for a one-year residence permit, has seen an unexpectedly high demand, with nearly 1.3 million applications submitted by Friday, far exceeding the government's initial projection of 500,000.
NGOs like CEAR and Cepaim are advising migrants to submit their applications even if they are still awaiting necessary documents from their home countries, such as Mali, Iran, or Venezuela. They are working to complete checks and submit applications before the June 30 cutoff, aiming to prevent migrants from missing this opportunity. Experts note that obtaining documents, including apostilles for criminal records, has been complex for migrants from certain countries, and recent policy changes have further complicated the process for some, like Venezuelans.
Despite the high number of applications, concerns remain about potential rejections. NGOs estimate that up to 20% of applications might be rejected due to missing documentation or a lack of administrative flexibility. Some migrants, like Jose Luis Quiroga from Colombia, arrived just after the eligibility cutoff but were still advised by NGOs to submit their applications, highlighting the anxiety and uncertainty surrounding the process. The Migration Ministry has stated that it does not intend to extend the deadline, and groups like CEAR are advocating for a more permanent solution to avoid migrants spending extended periods in irregular status.