Spain Ends Largest European Migrant Amnesty With Over One Million Applications

Spain closed its migrant regularisation program on Tuesday after more than one million undocumented migrants submitted applications. The government announced the total on the final day for submissions. The program allowed undocumented migrants already living in the country to apply for legal status.

Officials said the scheme operated independently of wider European policies on irregular immigration.

More than one million people filed applications before the cutoff. Government statements placed the figure above one million by the close of submissions. The deadline fell on Tuesday, prompting a final rush of filings in the hours before the window closed. Reports described applicants gathering documents and visiting offices to complete their submissions.

Spain's approach differed from measures adopted elsewhere in Europe that tightened rules on irregular immigration. France 24 reported that the program represented the largest migrant amnesty in recent European history. The outlet noted the scale of applications received before the deadline.

“A vast migrant regularisation launched by Spain's leftist government in defiance of a growing European crackdown on irregular immigration ends on Tuesday, with the final hopefuls scrambling to secure their legal status." The same report added that the government had already stated more than one million people had applied. No further official updates on processing or approval rates were released on the closing day.”