The number of foreign nationals gaining legal residency through Spain’s ‘arraigo’ system has surged in Andalucia, new figures show.
Tens of thousands of once irregular migrants are now entering the workforce and underpinning key sectors of the economy.
The arraigo system, at its core, allows migrants living in Spain without papers to regularise their status if they can prove they have built real ties to the country – whether through family, work or social integration.
In practice, that usually means having lived in Spain for a period of time (around five years), showing evidence of day-to-day life such as work or community links, and often securing a job contract.
Once granted, the permit gives them legal residency and the right to work, effectively moving them out of the shadow economy and into the formal labour market.
According to the latest report from the Observatorio Permanente de la Inmigracion, the region of Andalucia is now home to 54,965 residents with this type of permit.
That represents around 14% of the national total, currently at 394.110, and marks a sharp 26% increase on the previous period.
The growth has been consistent nationwide throughout 2025, climbing steadily from around 155,000 at the start of the year to a record high by the final quarter.
More than half of those regularised fall under arraigo familiar, while a smaller but still significant share hold arraigo social permits.
Crucially, nearly half of those in work are on full-time permanent contracts, suggesting that many are not just entering the labour market but securing relatively stable employment.
Their presence is most visible in sectors that continue to struggle with labour shortages, particularly hospitality, construction, administrative services and retail – industries that are central to Andalucía’s economy.
The typical worker under this system is around 36 years old, although there are notable differences depending on nationality.
Pakistanis tend to be younger on average, while Venezuelans and Cubans skew older. Colombians, Moroccans and Peruvians remain the most represented nationalities overall.
The figures highlight how the arraigo system is increasingly shaping Spain’s labour market.
Originally designed as a pathway to regularise long-term residents, it is now quietly becoming one of the main routes through which migrants enter formal employment, particularly in regions like Andalucía where demand for workers remains high.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
