Social organizations in Gipuzkoa have experienced a “complicated” week, with an intense workload and “overwhelmed” days due to hundreds of calls from people seeking to process their applications and benefit from the extraordinary regularization by the Spanish Government. Obtaining the necessary vulnerability certificate has become a major hurdle for many.
“"The phone doesn't stop ringing 24 hours a day with people from all communities, not just from here. These are proving to be complicated days."
This certificate verifies a person's irregular status. Although Gipuzkoa's municipalities are responsible for issuing them, they are not doing so, shifting the entire workload onto NGOs. At Cáritas Gipuzkoa, for instance, since the regulation process began last Thursday, they have received 120 calls and handled an average of over 70 daily inquiries.
Entity officials indicate that the certificate requirement came as a surprise, causing significant anxiety among many. Despite only one week having passed since the process opened, the majority of applicants, 89%, must submit this document before June 30. This places immense pressure on organizations, as they must add certificate management to their usual workload.
“"It's not just about issuing the certificate; it's about having all the necessary documents, uploading them to the system, paying the fee, and continuing with the foundation's usual workload. We cannot spend three months just stamping certificates."
Organizations are urging Gipuzkoan municipalities to create specific offices for managing this procedure, following the example of the Bilbao City Council. They also encourage other agents to apply for authorization to issue these certificates. According to discussions with the Donostia City Council, a support mechanism is expected to be launched in the coming days.
In addition to the vulnerability certificate, other documents, such as criminal record certificates, can be complex to obtain depending on the country of origin. This demands more time, and entity officials believe that the ten-week deadline is too short for the large number of people involved.
“"People call us nervously because they want to make sure they will get it, but the ten-week deadline they have set is very short for so many people."
To streamline the process, teams have divided the work between those seeking information and those already involved in the processing. Applicants primarily seek regularization to access stable employment and organize their lives, viewing this process as an unparalleled opportunity.
