Spain's migrant regularisation scheme draws 1.17 million applications, with Catalonia leading demand

A total of 1.174 million people have applied for Spain's extraordinary migrant regularisation programme, according to figures reported by several media outlets and confirmed by the Catalan News Agency (ACN).

The final total is more than double the Spanish government's initial estimate of 500,000 applicants.

Catalonia received the highest number of applications, with 257,000, followed by the Madrid region, the Valencian Community and Andalusia, according to Elma Saiz, Spain's Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration.

Around 67% of applicants are from Central and South America, with Colombian nationals accounting for the largest share at 26%.

The official figures were released after the application deadline expired on Tuesday.

Saiz said 608,000 applications – almost 52% of the total – are already being processed.

She noted that once an application is formally accepted for processing, applicants receive a temporary permit allowing them to live and work in Spain.

By nationality, Colombians submitted the highest proportion of applications, at 26%, followed by Moroccans (13.4%), Venezuelans (11.7%) and Peruvians (8.8%).

Saiz said the regularisation process had been "successful" and would allow people already living in Spain "in fear and without rights" to face the future "with hope and optimism."

The high number of applications, she said, demonstrated the need for a programme of this kind.

The figures come two days after Spain's Supreme Court began proceedings to refer the scheme to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), arguing that it may conflict with EU law.

The ministry has said it is willing to address the court's concerns but maintains that the legislation is compatible with European law.

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