Lower thirds:

00:02 Report by / Nicole Ris
00:32 Luna Jayat / Migrant from Argentina
01:02 Marta Millan / Immigration lawyer
01:29 Marta Millan / Immigration lawyer
03:12 Pilar Cancela Rodríguez, Secretary of State for Migration
04:11 Luna Jayat / Migrant from Argentina

Script:

00:02
Sleepless nights. And long lines. This was the scene a few weeks ago, as undocumented migrants rushed to get legal status in Spain. 

The window of opportunity is open until the end of June. More than 500,000 people could benefit from Spain's mass-legalization plan. 

Luna Jayat has also applied. She’s from Argentina and came to Spain 3 years ago. She works informally as an office assistant here in Madrid. 
It’s a life in the shadows.

00:34
+++ SOT Luna Jayat, Migrant from Argentina +++
"They pay me in cash. I don't have any kind of retirement or social security contributions. I work and I get paid, and that's about it."

Now she is waiting for her work permit. A lawyer helped her submit the documents. These past weeks, law firms have been swamped with applications. 
Applicants don’t need a lawyer to submit their papers, but many still want help.

01:00
+++ SOT Marta Millan, Immigration lawyer ((Starts in off)) +++
"Immigration processes are not simple. It's not just the legal aspect, but the entire emotional process a person has to go through. So, having this legal assistance that facilitates obtaining legal status in Spain in this case brings them considerable relief."

Most applicants are from Latin America or North Africa She says the process has shown how diverse migration to Spain has been. 

+++ SOT Marta Millan, Immigration Lawyer +++
"There are actually many other nationalities benefiting because this procedure is accessible to people with diverse backgrounds who, for whatever reason, have become undocumented in Spain after applying for residency and for whom there is no other way, or this is a simpler way, to legalize their immigration status. So, although these are the most common nationalities, we also have people from India, Russia, other Asian countries, and the United States."

02:05
For years, Spain's immigration debate has been shaped by scenes like these: migrants arriving from the African continent via the Canary Islands
The government’s plan is open to  migrants already in Spain, regardless of how they arrived, as long as they’ve been here since before January 1, 2026, and stayed at least five months.

Officials say bringing them into the formal economy could help fill labor shortages and boost tax revenues. Many work in sectors such as caregiving and agriculture.
As much of Europe tightens migration policy, the Spanish government’s different approach is drawing criticism: from the EU, the Spanish opposition and the far-right Vox party.

They fear that legalizing an estimated half a million beneficiaries of the plan could strain healthcare, education, and social services. 

In an exclusive interview with DW, Spain’s Secretary of State for Migration sought to calm those concerns.

03:11
+++ SOT Pilar Cancela Rodríguez, Secretary of State for Migration +++
"There's this view that the people we are legalizing are going to invade the rest of the European Union. Therefore, first, the authorization granted through this regularization is solely for residing and working in Spain. It's for people who are already here and, in many cases, already work here. And foreigners who work here use healthcare benefits and other state resources much less. Furthermore, to receive state benefits, most require years of residency in Spain. Therefore, it's not automatic. Many requirements must be met and fulfilled to be eligible."

For many, Spain's mass legalization of undocumented migrants remains a source of political debate. But for Luna Jayat, it is chance to be part of society.

04:09
+++ SOT Luna Jayat, Migrant from Argentina +++
"The fact that the state acknowledges that there is a situation that is harming many people and is doing something to change it gives me hope for a better world."

Shortly after our interview, Luna received her papers. She is now legally allowed to live and work in Spain for a year, and can then apply for an extension. 

END