Spain's migrant amnesty draws over 1.2 million applications

Spain's government set a June 30 deadline for undocumented migrants to apply for temporary residence and work permits. Initially expecting about 500,000 applicants, the programme saw far higher demand. One report noted roughly 900,000 applications before the deadline, while another said the total had risen to more than 1.2 million, "Det faktiska antalet ansökningar har nu blivit över 1,2 miljoner".

The surge has sparked criticism from the political right, who warn of pressure on welfare services, and concerns from EU officials about the impact on Schengen mobility. The Sánchez administration defends the amnesty as a way to address Spain's ageing population and labor shortages, but migrants' organisations warn that many lack full documentation and face long processing times.

Authorities and unions have flagged resource strains at immigration offices, with some staff threatening strikes over the workload. The case is being watched across the EU as one of the continent’s largest regularisations of undocumented migrants.