Spain has received around 900,000 applications from undocumented migrants seeking legal status under a government regularisation programme. The influx has far exceeded initial expectations, the Migration Ministry said on Monday.
The scheme, which aims to bring undocumented migrants into the formal labour market, was originally expected to attract around 500,000 applications. With two weeks remaining before the programme closes, aid groups believe the final figure could surpass one million.
The initiative comes as Spain continues to take a more open approach to migration than many of its European neighbours, despite growing political debate over immigration across the continent.
The Migration Ministry said about 360,000 temporary work permits have been granted since April, representing roughly 40% of applications received so far.
Applicants are allowed to start working as soon as their requests are accepted for processing.
Pilar Cancela, Spain's secretary of state for migration, told Reuters that authorities have the capacity to process up to one million applications between April and June, although not all requests are expected to be approved.
Spain's economy has outperformed many of its European peers over the past two years, with migrants helping to fill labour shortages in sectors such as hospitality, construction, agriculture and elderly care.
Their contribution has also boosted social security revenues at a time when many European countries face ageing populations and workforce shortages.
Rights groups welcomed the programme, but argued that broader reforms are needed to prevent migrants from falling into legal limbo.
Spain's asylum and immigration systems have long faced backlogs, leaving many applicants waiting years for decisions.
According to think tank Funcas, around 840,000 undocumented migrants have been living and working in Spain while awaiting residency permits.
"This is an extraordinary programme, but there should be a structural measure to facilitate access to work and residence permits, in order to avoid creating groups of people living on the margins of society," said Monica Lopez, director of refugee aid organisation CEAR.
CEAR expects the number of applications to exceed one million before the programme closes later this month.
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