Ziggy Ojiegbe

Spain is moving to grant legal residency to hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants, including many Nigerians and other African nationals, in a sweeping policy shift aimed at recognizing their role in the country’s economy.

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The measure, finalized this week by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government, will allow eligible migrants already living and working in Spain to apply for temporary legal status. Officials estimate that up to 500,000 people could benefit.

For many Nigerians and other immigrants who have managed to establish themselves despite lacking legal status, the decision marks a turning point. Thousands have been working for years in sectors such as agriculture, construction, tourism, and domestic services, often without formal protection.

Under the new policy, applicants must prove they were in Spain before January 1 and show evidence of having lived in the country for at least several months. They must also have no criminal record. Those who qualify will receive a one-year residency and work permit, opening the door to formal employment and access to public services.

Sánchez described the move as both fair and necessary, saying people already contributing to Spain’s economy should be allowed to do so legally and pay taxes. His government argues that integrating undocumented workers will strengthen economic growth and help sustain social services.

The approach sets Spain apart from many countries in the European Union, where governments are increasingly focused on tightening immigration controls and increasing deportations.

Migration Minister Elma Saiz said the contributions of foreign workers, including Nigerians and other African migrants, have been key to Spain’s recent economic expansion. She added that regularizing their status would help maintain that momentum.

Spain has carried out similar legalization programs in the past, but the scale of this latest effort reflects the growing importance of migrant labor in the country’s workforce.

For many who made the journey and built lives in Spain against the odds, the policy offers a long-awaited chance to step out of the shadows and into the formal economy.