Following the measure announced by the Spanish Government at the end of January, migrants in irregular situations had from April 16 to June 30 to gather their documentation and submit their application. In total, 64,317 people have applied in Hego Euskal Herria.
According to data published by the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migrations of the Spanish Government, Bizkaia registered the most applications with 28,834. Navarra and Gipuzkoa had similar numbers, with 14,886 and 12,063 respectively. Araba had the fewest applications, with 8,554.
Marisol Garmendia, the Spanish Government's delegate in Araba, Bizkaia, and Gipuzkoa, stated that the measure will allow many individuals to regularize their status and live with "greater dignity," emphasizing that the procedure is "necessary, fair, and humane."
Meanwhile, Alicia Echeverría, the Spanish Government's delegate in Navarra, highlighted the process as a "matter of social justice," noting that behind each application is a person with their story, who will cease to live in the margins and will have rights, as well as duties and responsibilities.
Those eligible to apply included migrants living irregularly before January 1st of this year who had resided in Hego Euskal Herria or Spain for at least five months, as well as those who had previously applied for asylum and had no criminal record. To prove the five-month residency, they had to submit any public document, private document, or a combination of both.
If their regularization application is accepted, they will receive, among other things, a work permit and access to social services. They will also have the option to contribute to Social Security. Upon approval, they will receive a one-year residence permit, after which they can apply for the standard permit established by Spanish Immigration Law.
