The latest decision by the Spanish government has unleashed absolute chaos, and across Europe, leading figures are expressing concern about its potential consequences.
One of the largest regularisation programmes in decades has also angered millions of Spaniards.
Through Royal Decree 316/2026, approved on April 14, 2026, authorities are offering a pathway to legal residence and work rights for more than 500,000 illegal immigrants already living in the country in an irregular administrative situation.
To manage the flood of applications — with more than 130,000 submitted in the first week alone and tens of thousands more in person — the government has turned to an unlikely partner: post offices. Around 371–373 branches are now accepting applications by appointment, alongside immigration offices and about 60 Social Security offices.
Post office staff receive and forward the documentation; they do not decide on the cases. The goal? To decentralise the process and relieve pressure on already overwhelmed offices.
However, critics see something far more troubling: a high-volume system that risks granting legal status almost automatically, with insufficient controls.
Hellbound and Down 