“We are all migrants.” This simple, evocative truth serves as the moral compass for a nation currently making global headlines on the issue of migrant regularization. On this historic day in early 2026, the Spanish government has moved beyond rhetoric to action, formalizing an extraordinary “migrant amnesty” that marks a paradigm shift in European immigration policy. By granting legal status to more than 500,000, potentially reaching up to 840,000, irregular migrants, Spain is not merely offering a “triumphal reliever” to those living in the shadows; it is recognizing the inherent dignity and economic necessity of a population that has long been invisible yet indispensable.
Among those stepping into the light are roughly 80,000 Filipinos in an irregular situation, an estimated figure, whose deep historical ties to Spain and tireless work ethic have made them a cornerstone of the nation’s social fabric. This massive regularization effort serves as a powerful rebuttal to the rising tide of isolationism elsewhere in the world. It suggests that a nation’s strength is not found in the height of its walls, but in its ability to integrate and honor those who have chosen to call it home. As Spain embarks on this unprecedented administrative and social journey, the amnesty stands as a testament to the idea that regularizing the status of the vulnerable is not an act of charity, but an act of justice that enriches the entire collective.
The ratification of this law represents a landmark victory for civil society and should transcend partisan political discourse. Ultimately, its approval serves the collective interest, fostering the welfare of migrants, uplifting Spanish citizens, and strengthening the social and economic fabric of the nation as a whole.
Our Historical Call: Beyond Migrant Amnesty to Bilateral Equity
The current regularization of hundreds of thousands of migrants is a vital improvement and an important step toward integration for Filipinos. Yet it must also serve as a catalyst for a more permanent diplomatic evolution: a formal bilateral agreement providing visa-free tourist status for all Filipino citizens. This is not a request for a favor, but a call to recognize a unique historical bond. For over three centuries, the Philippines functioned as a vital organ of the Spanish Empire, often prioritizing the support of the Spanish Crown over its own development.
This debt is one of profound solidarity. During Spain’s darkest hours of civil wars and economic ruin, the Philippines stood as a sanctuary, offering “shelter for shelter” to Spanish expatriates and refugees. To maintain strict visa barriers today ignores this legacy of coexistence and the moral imperative that transcends modern border logic. If Spain is to truly honor the sentiment that “we are all migrants,” it must transition from merely regularizing those already present to welcoming Filipinos at the gates as historical kin, transforming old colonial maritime routes into a modern bridge of mutual respect and unrestricted movement.
This call for bilateral equity is further bolstered by the legal precedent set by Spain’s 2015 Sephardic Law, which acknowledged that historical wrongs from five centuries ago could be addressed through modern legal repair. It is logically inconsistent for the Spanish state to recognize a “special connection” with a diaspora separated by half a millennium while maintaining rigid barriers against Filipinos, whose administrative and linguistic integration ended a mere 130 years ago.
Current Spanish law already admits this “preferential” status by allowing Filipinos to apply for citizenship after only two years of residency, a clear nod to shared lineage. However, this preference currently takes effect only after navigating the grueling and exclusionary Schengen visa process. By aligning entry policies with citizenship tracks and establishing a Bilateral Visa-Waiver Agreement, Spain would finally harmonize its Ministry of Foreign Affairs with its Civil Code. Such an act would be the ultimate modern diplomatic equivalent of the open doors the Philippines once provided, ensuring that the blood and history shared between the two nations are honored not just in theory, but at the border.
Addressing the Roots of Filipino Migration
While the 2026 amnesty serves as a “triumphal reliever” for Filipinos in an irregular situation living in Spain, a holistic view of the Filipino experience requires an honest confrontation with the systemic roots of migration. It is fundamentally illogical to view migration as a permanent solution to domestic instability. A nation’s success should not be measured by the volume of its labor export, but by its capacity to provide a livable future for its citizens within its own borders.
For too long, the Filipino people have been treated as instruments of economic policy, with the government relying on Overseas Filipino Worker remittances to bolster the national treasury. This creates a dangerous cycle of dependency that “fattens” the state while hollowing out the family unit. True progress demands that the Philippine government shift its focus from managing the departure of its people to solving social crises at home. This includes establishing salaries truly commensurate with the cost of living, investing in robust socialized housing, and ensuring that healthcare and education are rights rather than luxuries. Addressing poverty at its source is the only way to ensure migration becomes a choice driven by opportunity, not a desperate flight from a lack of domestic hope.
Integral Migrant Support
To achieve a truly meaningful impact, the 2026 amnesty must be paired with integral solutions that address the specific socio-economic realities of the Filipino diaspora in Spain. Currently, the community occupies essential yet often precarious roles. Filipino women predominantly serve as the backbone of the domestic and care sectors, caring for the nation’s children and elderly, while men frequently form the hidden engine of the hospitality industry as cooks and kitchen staff.
Living on irregular salaries that often fluctuate between 900 and 1,200 euros, many have been subjected to off-the-books payment schemes that bypass labor protections. The transition to legal status promised by this regularization is the first step toward guaranteed minimum wages, which in 2026 have risen to approximately 1,221 euros across 14 payments, and toward fair labor practices.
However, legalization alone is not integration. There is an urgent call for the Philippine government, through its embassy and Migrant Workers Offices, to evolve beyond being a mere “passport factory.” Concrete assistance must extend into social and cultural integration, providing Filipino migrants with tools to navigate the Spanish healthcare system, understand their digital labor rights, and access socialized housing. By offering proactive legal counseling and psychosocial support, the embassy can ensure that Filipinos are not just documented, but empowered participants in Spanish society, moving from survival to stability.
Towards Equity and Dignity
This landmark regularization represents far more than a policy shift. It is a transformative milestone that restores dignity to Filipino migrants who have long served Spain from the shadows, moving beyond temporary relief toward a permanent legacy of equity and dignity.
Brother Jaazeal Jakosalem, OAR, is a Filipino Laudato Si’ reader. A member of Pusyon Kinaiyahan, an environmental group in the Visayas. He is currently based in Germany as a member of PCPR-Europe, working for the Philippine campaigns related to the protection of human rights.
ARCORES International
ARCORES is the international solidarity arm of the Augustinian Recollect Family. Based in Spain, the organization is a member of REDES and other civil society networks in the country and has been a steadfast advocate in the campaign for the extraordinary regularization of migrants, working tirelessly to ensure legal dignity and social inclusion for all.
