Hundreds of Pakistani migrants have been queuing outside the consulate in Barcelona as Spain begins a major regularisation process for undocumented immigrants. The surge follows a decree approved by the Socialist-led Spanish government, reports Ara (Newspaper based in Barcelona). It offers legal residency and work permits to roughly 500,000 people who have lived in the country for at least five months as of December 31, 2025.The Pakistani consulate on Sarrià Avenue has been overwhelmed, with lines forming hours before the office opens at nine in the morning. Many migrants are seeking criminal record certificates, which are a key requirement for the new immigration programme.Some of the people waiting in the queue described their experience:
Lamine Sarr, spokesperson for the initiative Regularización Ya and a member of Top Manta, said the rush for documents was expected. “It’s the best news an undocumented person can receive. It will not only allow them to work or access decent housing, but it will also allow them to see their families again after years of working in Spain,” he explained. He added that life without papers is extremely difficult and described the path to legal status as “very complicated.”
The decree is expected to benefit around 500,000 people, including more than 150,000 in Catalonia. Adults and their children will receive five-year residency permits if they meet the requirements, which include a clean criminal record in Spain and their home country.