Overview
- Spain’s cabinet approved the decree Tuesday, with online applications opening Thursday, April 16, in‑person filings starting Monday, April 20, and a June 30 deadline.
- Applicants must have been in Spain before January 1, 2026 with at least five months of continuous stay and must show no criminal convictions in countries lived in over the prior five years; successful cases get a one‑year residence and work permit, with provisional work permission once the file is admitted.
- After the Council of State rejected self‑declarations for background checks, the final text requires criminal‑record certificates and empowers the Presidency Ministry to seek them via diplomatic requests, with cases paused and then closed if proof does not arrive on schedule.
- The rollout will use about 450 Social Security and Correos offices and retains public firm Tragsa for material and technical support, while police units and the Jupol union warn of unclear guidance and too few staff to manage the surge.
- PP, Vox, and regional leaders including Isabel Díaz Ayuso plan legal and parliamentary challenges, and debate has focused on a rule that police reports alone do not automatically block approval even as criminal convictions remain a firm bar.