Spain to legalise 20,000 Bangladeshi migrants
The Spanish government has approved an extraordinary regularisation program expected to provide legal status to approximately 18,000 to 20,000 undocumented Bangladeshi nationals living within its borders.
This initiative is part of a broader plan to grant residency to roughly 500,000 undocumented migrants currently residing in Spain, aiming to integrate them formally into the country’s mainstream economy and workforce.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, a socialist leader, characterised the decision as both a “necessity” and an “act of justice”. In a message to the public, Sanchez emphasised that the amnesty seeks to recognise the reality of nearly half a million people who are already integrated into the daily fabric of Spanish life, contributing to a “rich, open, and diverse” society.
For the Bangladeshi diaspora in Spain, the announcement marks a pivotal turning point. While official data on the total number of Bangladeshis in the country remains difficult to pin down, Ambassador Masudur Rahman estimated that approximately 60,000 Bangladeshis currently live in Spain legally.
However, a substantial number of those with Spanish residency eventually move to other EU nations or the United Kingdom.
The new amnesty specifically targets those living in the shadows. Ambassador Rahman noted that while the total number of undocumented Bangladeshis is hard to quantify exactly, the demand for police clearance certificates from Bangladesh – a prerequisite for the application – serves as a clear indicator of the scale.
As of recently, approximately 12,000 such certificates have been issued, leading officials to predict that between 15,000 and 17,000 individuals will ultimately apply for legal status under the new scheme.
The Bangladeshi community in Spain is widely regarded as well-integrated, consisting of long-term residents with established businesses and families.
Former Spanish Ambassador to Bangladesh, Francisco de Asis Benitez Salas, praised the community for being “very entrepreneurial and hard-working,” noting their positive contribution to the Spanish economy and the cultural diversity of their local neighborhoods.
The timing of the regularisation program is driven by economic pragmatism. Spain’s economy has been outperforming many of its European Union partners, growing by 3.5 per cent in 2024.
However, this growth has been hampered by severe labour shortages in sectors struggling to recruit enough workers. By regularising its migrant population, Spain hopes to maintain its economic momentum and ensure that public services remain sustainable in the face of an ageing domestic population.
Migration specialists view the initiative as a pragmatic response to these demographic challenges, positioning Spain as a notable “outlier” in a region where many neighboring countries are tightening immigration controls.
Prime Minister Sanchez argued that legalising these workers is the correct course for a nation that has historically seen its own citizens emigrate in search of better opportunities.
The path to legal residency involves a structured process. To be eligible for the one-year, renewable residence permit, applicants must prove they have lived in Spain for at least five months and possess a clean criminal record.
The application window is relatively brief, opening on 16 April and closing at the end of June.
Ambassador Rahman has urged all eligible Bangladeshi migrants to gather their necessary documentation and contact Bangladesh missions in Spain to facilitate the process.
Despite the government’s optimism, the plan has met with fierce political opposition. The conservative People’s Party (PP) has pledged to block the legislation, labeling it an “outrage”.
The opposition argues that the amnesty “rewards” illegal migration and could create a “pull factor” that encourages more undocumented arrivals. While the government expects 500,000 applicants, the PP claims the number could reach as high as one million.
In contrast, the Catholic Church has voiced its support for the legislation, aligning with the government’s view of the program as a humanitarian and social necessity.
This is not the first time Spain has utilised mass regularisation to address migration issues. Both Socialist and PP-led governments have implemented similar amnesties in the past, most notably in 2005, when 577,000 people received residency under a previous Socialist administration.
For individuals like the Bangladeshi entrepreneurs and families mentioned by officials, this program offers more than just a permit; it offers a “better quality of life” and the ability to work legally without the constant threat of expulsion.
As Ambassador Rahman noted, the “generous gesture” of the Spanish government will finally allow thousands of Bangladeshis who have long lived without proper documentation to secure their future in their adopted home.
