This could be the last opportunity for Britons living illegally in Spain to get their paperwork in order thanks to the Spanish government´s new amnesty period which will see up to 500,000 people given paperwork. The controversial move is basically aimed at South American and North African immigrants who have been living in Spain illegally.
Under the new law, approved this week, immigrants will be issued with a one-year-old residence permit and a work permit. While it is basically aimed at South Americans and North Africans there is an opportunity for Britons, who have lived below the radar with no documents, to finally get their paperwork in order.
There is a massive difference between the number of Britons who live legally in Spain (about 350,000) and the number the Spanish and British authorities suspect are living in Spain without being officially registered. It is often said that up to 800,000 Britons are living in Spain, more than double the number who are officially registered.
The move by the Spanish government is controversial because the legal Spanish population will increase by at least half a million overnight. Some local governments, including the Balearics, have slammed the new amnesty. Up to 60,000 people in the Balearics could benefit from the scheme.
Unlike other European states Spain continues to welcome migrant workers from across the globe to deal with their labour market shortages.