By the Numbers: Spain’s Mass Legalization for Immigrants

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Here’s a look at the immigration measure by the numbers.

900,000

That’s how many applications the Spanish government had received as of June 12 from immigrants seeking work and residency permits under the temporary program.

The government originally estimated about 500,000 foreigners living in Spain without authorization could benefit, but think tanks and the Spanish police placed the estimate closer to a million people.

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360,000

The government’s estimate of how many applications were successfully processed by mid June, with applicants set to receive temporary residence and work permits. The final numbers will be higher, as the government has three months to process all applications submitted by June 30.

30%

The share of applicants who are Colombian nationals. Colombians represent one of the largest immigrant groups in Spain, with upward of 980,000 Colombian-born nationals living in the country, according to the National Statistics Institute.

Moroccan nationals made up 14% of applicants, followed by Venezuelans at 10% and Peruvians at 9%, the government said.

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1 in 5

Spanish residents who were born outside the country. Spain’s population has grown considerably in recent decades, with around 10 million people in the country of 50 million having been born elsewhere.

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6

The number of times Spain has previously undertaken mass legalization measures for immigrants living and working illegally in the country.

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