Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's decision to grant legal status to an estimated 500,000 undocumented migrants has ignited a heated debate across Europe, but it has also spawned a wave of misinformation. French far-right leader Jordan Bardella and conservative candidate Bruno Retailleau have both made claims that the newly documented individuals will be able to move freely within the EU and access other countries' social systems. A closer look at the Spanish government's programme reveals a different reality.
What the Spanish Regularisation Plan Actually Entails
Under Sánchez's initiative, undocumented migrants who have lived in Spain for at least five months can apply for a one-year temporary residence permit. Applicants must have a clean criminal record and apply by 30 June for a renewable work visa. This permit is strictly tied to Spain: it allows the holder to reside and work only within Spanish territory, not in any other EU member state.
Bardella, in a post on X on 14 April, claimed that these individuals "will tomorrow be able to travel freely in France and even settle there, attracted by the generosity of our social system, which is open without conditions." Retailleau, from France's conservative Republicans party, went further, calling for the closure of Schengen borders in response to Spain's plan.
However, the Spanish government has made it clear that the permit does not confer freedom of movement within the EU. As Monique Pariat, migration policy advisor at the Institut Jacques Delors, explained to Euronews, third-country nationals in the EU "can settle in a country only if you are permitted to do so by the authorities." She added that while short-term travel within the Schengen area is possible—up to 90 days within a 180-day window—long-term settlement requires a separate visa or permit from the destination country.
"If these individuals have a student status or received a job contract in France, then yes, they could stay," Pariat said. "But it is highly unlikely in any case that France would offer them a visa, while they have a one-year work permit in Spain."
Access to Healthcare and Social Systems
Bardella also claimed that holders of a Spanish work permit would be able to access France's social security system, which he described as "open to all without conditions." This is false. Newly regularised migrants will be covered by Spain's social security system, not France's. Pariat noted that if they travel to France and require medical treatment, "either Spanish social security will be billed, or if they are not covered, they will pay for the cost themselves." She dismissed the idea of migrants travelling to France for free healthcare: "There is no sense in them doing that, because they will be covered in Spain. What would be the point of travelling to France?"
Catherine Wihtol de Wenden, senior research fellow at France's National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), pointed out that France is not necessarily an attractive destination for these migrants. "France is not as attractive as some politicians might think or claim, especially for people who speak Spanish, have ties to Spain or already work there," she said. "In any case, these are people who have transnational ties between their country and Spain."
Broader Context: Spain's Migration and Economic Landscape
Conservative think tank Funcas estimated that around 840,000 undocumented migrants lived in Spain in early 2025, with the majority hailing from Latin American countries. Spain's economy, one of the eurozone's top performers in 2025, has been a draw for migrants, but the regularisation plan is designed to integrate them into the Spanish labour market, not to facilitate onward movement within the EU.
The debate over migration in Europe remains polarised, with some politicians using Spain's plan to stoke fears of uncontrolled movement. However, the facts show that the Spanish programme is tightly controlled and does not grant the rights that critics claim. As the EU continues to grapple with migration policy, it is essential to separate rhetoric from reality.
