Thousands of undocumented and irregular Ghanaian migrants residing in Spain are expected to benefit from a new immigration regularisation programme introduced by the Spanish government aimed at legalising the status of irregular migrants and asylum seekers.
The policy, announced by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, targets undocumented migrants, including Ghanaians, who have been living in the country for at least five months before December 31, 2025.
Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, disclosed this during a meeting with the Ghanaian community in Vic, Spain, on Sunday. This followed a bilateral engagement with Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares Bueno on Friday, held on the sidelines of the Fourth Meeting in Defence of Democracy in Barcelona.
According to him, Ghanaian applicants form part of an estimated 500,000 undocumented migrants identified by the Spanish authorities as eligible for the regularisation process. The exercise began on Thursday, April 16, 2026, and is expected to conclude at the end of June across Spain.
The initiative, the first of its kind in over two decades, is designed to integrate individuals already contributing to Spanish society and the labour market into the formal legal system.
Under the policy, successful applicants will be granted an initial one year residence permit, which serves as the entry point into legal residency. After this period, beneficiaries will transition into Spain’s standard residence categories under the general immigration framework, though this does not immediately lead to permanent residency.
The arrangement will allow migrants to work legally anywhere in Spain, sign formal employment contracts, and exit the informal labour sector. It is also intended to reduce labour exploitation while providing legal certainty for both workers and employers.
For children of applicants already residing in Spain, the policy provides a five year residence permit, offering greater stability for families.
Beneficiaries will also be able to register with Spain’s social security system and access formal employment protections, including pension contributions and other work related benefits.
However, the regularisation programme does not grant automatic Spanish citizenship. Nationality by residence requires at least 10 years of legal residence, except for nationals of certain countries including Ibero American states, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, and individuals of Sephardic origin, who require two years, as well as recognised refugees who qualify after five years.
The policy also does not confer voting rights in national or regional elections unless migrants later acquire Spanish citizenship.
Describing the initiative as a “new inclusive, tolerant and forward-looking policy,” Mr Ablakwa said it would help Ghanaian migrants regularise their status, secure their rights, and access decent employment opportunities.
“This win win policy does not only guarantee legal status, dignity and employment for young migrants; it offers a bold solution to Spain’s ageing population and creates an ecosystem for remittances, skills development and multicultural harmony,” the Foreign Minister said.
He further assured that the Government of Ghana would continue to facilitate the process by assisting applicants with required documentation, including police clearance certificates, which are mandatory for the Spanish application process.
“We are cooperating with the Ghana Police Service, who have appointed an officer to discuss with the Ghanaian community here how to fill the criminal record forms to expedite their application.
“The forms will be made available to those who may need them, and then we will take them back to the country for further checks and then returned as soon as practicable to enable you to benefit from the progressive policy of the Spanish government,” he added.
Mr Ablakwa also revealed that Ghana and Spain have agreed to deepen cooperation in maritime security and are working towards signing labour mobility agreements to expand employment opportunities for Ghanaian workers abroad.
Some beneficiaries welcomed the development. Emmanuel Kwabena Amponsah, an undocumented Ghanaian migrant, said the policy would ease their working conditions and give them peace of mind after years of uncertainty.
He explained that having lived in Spain for over a year, he had constantly feared possible deportation.
He also expressed gratitude for the involvement of Ghanaian authorities, particularly the deployment of a police officer to assist with the clearance process and the distribution of required forms.
Another migrant, Sarah Mensah, appealed for swift processing of documentation, especially police clearance certificates, to ensure applicants are able to benefit fully from the regularisation exercise without delays.
