Over 50% of applications already processed
Latin America and North Africa: the main regions of origin
160,000 new Social Security registrations
Education and language proficiency
The breakdown of data relating to applicants for the extraordinary regularisation scheme launched by the Spanish Government last April provides an interesting average profile of the foreign nationals seeking to regularise their residence in Spain.
Thus, a quick overview reveals that applicants are predominantly male, from Latin America or North Africa, of working age, and with advanced educational and language skills.
Over 50% of applications already processed
The figures provided by the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration regarding the extraordinary regularisation process launched between 16 April and 30 June are striking.
In total, 1,174,978 applications have been received, far exceeding the forecasts made for this process. According to the Ministry, by 2 July, 609,737 had been processed – that is, 51.9% of the total.
Of the total applications, 79.6% are authorisations granted on the basis of exceptional circumstances due to strong ties to the country, whilst the remaining 20.4% are authorisations for applicants for international protection.
Venezuelans rank third in terms of the number of applications under the special regularisation process. Pictured: members of the Venezuelan community in Spain – REUTERS/SUSANA VERA
Latin America and North Africa: the main regions of origin
As regards the geographical profile of applicants, it is confirmed that Colombians and Moroccans are, in percentage terms, the two largest nationalities among applicants.
Specifically, 25.9% of applicants are Colombian nationals – that is, 304,319 people – whilst 13.3% are Moroccan, totalling 156,272.
The other nationalities with a significant presence amongst applicants for extraordinary regularisation are as follows:
Venezuela (11.8%)
Peru (8.8%)
Honduras (4.8%)
Paraguay (3.8%)
Algeria (3.4%)
Senegal (2.9%)
Pakistan (2.5%)
Argentina (2.3%)
Others (20.5%)
Clearly, the regions of the world with the highest representation in regularisation applications have been Central and South America (67%, for historical and linguistic reasons); Africa (22.9%, with a significant proportion from the northern part of the region, including Morocco and Algeria); Asia (8.3%); and non-EU Europe (1.1%).
In terms of where applications were submitted, the highest percentages correspond to the major cities and the Levantine region:
Madrid (17.23%)
Barcelona (16.36%)
Valencia (6.38%)
Alicante (6.23%)
Murcia (3.85%)
Interestingly, a total of 452 applications (139 appointments allocated) were processed from Ceuta, and 743 (144 appointments allocated) from Melilla.
Currently, the Moroccan community is the only foreign diaspora in Spain to have exceeded the one-million mark – Depositphotos
Age and gender
According to the report published by the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, 87% of applicants are of working age – that is, between 16 and 64 years old – and 81% are under 45.
By age, the largest group is that of people aged between 25 and 34, accounting for 31.3% of the total, followed by those aged between 35 and 44 (21.6%) and between 16 and 24 (17%). Six out of ten applicants (59.4%) are under 34 years of age.
By gender, the majority of applicants are men (57 % compared with 43 % women), although in the case of minors and those aged between 45 and 54, the distribution is equal.
Method of submission
As regards the method of submitting applications, 83.2% have been processed online, with just 16.8% submitted in person. According to the Ministry, some 200,000 applications have been submitted at 448 post offices, Social Security offices and immigration offices throughout the country.
The government will set up a number of post offices across the country, with special opening hours, to accept in-person amendments from applicants who need to provide additional documentation. They will have until 30 September to do so.
So far, the regularisation process has resulted in more than 159,000 new registrations with Social Security. Pictured: Social Security One-Stop Shop – PHOTO/ARCHIVE
160,000 new Social Security registrations
To date, the extraordinary regularisation process has resulted, as of 30 June, in a total of 159,097 new Social Security registrations. Of these, 83.4% have been registered under the General Scheme, with 77.3% on permanent contracts and 22.7% on fixed-term contracts.
By sector of activity, the majority of these registrations were in the hospitality sector (24.4 %) followed by retail (12.7 %), administrative and support services (12.1 %), construction (11.5 %), agriculture, livestock farming, forestry and fishing (9 %) and transport (7 %).
Education and language proficiency
During the extraordinary regularisation process, a survey was carried out amongst adult applicants to ascertain their educational background and language proficiency.
Of the 36,187 valid responses received so far by the Ministry (23% of those submitted), 84% of applicants state that they are fully proficient in Spanish.
In the case of autonomous communities with a co-official language, 40% state that they know that language.
With regard to educational attainment, 67% have completed post-compulsory education (43% have completed upper secondary education or vocational training, and 24% have completed university education), whilst the remaining 33% have completed compulsory education.