Endless queues for regularization papers: "I will be able to contribute and have rights"

BarcelonaLess than 24 hours after the Council of Ministers approved the royal decree that will serve to regularize One of the people who has been waiting for a while is Yamellis. She is from Venezuela, she is 67 years old and has been living in Catalonia for two years. "I came because my daughter lives here and I stayed," she explains to el ARA. In her case, she needs to update her registration to be able to provide the documentation to regularize her situation. Like her, five more people from her family want to access this procedure. "It is a good measure, because that way we will be able to have the papers, we will be able to have the same benefits and young people who want to work here will be able to do so. Their doors will no longer be closed to them anymore," celebrates the Venezuelan. Despite looking favorably on the move, she is not entirely sure it will end well: "Amen, we hope to achieve it".

A few meters away, in the same queue, Manuel is waiting. He is from Peru and arrived in Catalonia in 2024 "as a tourist", but he also decided to stay. He is 45 years old and lives alone, earning a living by working as a chef "off the books". "The decision is good news because it will allow one to fulfill themselves. You can't always be working off the books and waiting. With this I will be able to contribute and have rights," he insists.

Procedures until June 30

Starting this Thursday, applications for regularization can begin to be submitted. This measure will be available to asylum seekers who applied before January 1, 2026, or individuals who are in an irregular administrative status and arrived in the country also before this date. It will be necessary to have resided uninterruptedly in the Spanish state for at least five months from the moment of the application, not have a criminal record, and, at the same time, not pose a "threat" to public order and security. The census registration (empadronamiento) is a document proving current residence in the state, but it is not mandatory.

Regularization can be applied for through the telematic channel, and at the same time, an appointment can be requested to carry out the process in person; that is, to submit the application at offices of Social Security, Correos, or Immigration. It will be essential to request this appointment to be able to attend an office in person starting April 20. This procedure, which is mandatory to enter the process, can be done until June 30.