The Spanish government approved a decree to regularize approximately 500,000 irregular immigrants during a series of Council of Ministers meetings in April 2026 [1].
These measures address critical socioeconomic pressures in Spain, ranging from labor market shortages to a growing housing crisis, and workplace safety concerns.
President Pedro Sánchez presided over the meetings at Moncloa, the official government residence in Madrid. Minister of Finance and Government spokesperson María Jesús Montero and other ministers led the subsequent press conferences to detail the legislative updates.
On April 14, 2026, the Council approved the extraordinary regularization decree [1]. Government officials said the measure could potentially grant legal status to about 500,000 people [1].
The government continued its legislative push on April 21, 2026, by approving the State Housing Plan 2026–2030 [2]. This plan is funded with up to 7,000 million euros [2]. The initiative aims to expand affordable housing options and stabilize the residential market over the next four years.
Finally, on April 28, 2026, the Council gave its first approval to a draft law on occupational risk prevention [3]. This legislation is designed to reduce the rate of workplace accidents and improve general labor safety standards across the country [3].
While some initial reports suggested the meetings focused on the economic impact of conflict in Iran, official records and press reports confirm the primary focus remained on these domestic social and labor reforms [1].
“Approximately 500,000 irregular immigrants could be regularised under the new decree”
This coordinated legislative effort represents a strategic attempt by the Sánchez administration to stabilize the Spanish labor market and social infrastructure. By regularizing a large volume of migrants and investing heavily in housing, the government is attempting to integrate a vulnerable workforce while simultaneously addressing the cost-of-living crisis affecting the general population.
