Almost 1.2 million apply for Spain's migrant regularisation scheme, official figures show

Almost 1.2 million undocumented migrants have sought legal status in Spain under a scheme that has defied a growing European crackdown on irregular immigration, according to final figures released on Thursday.

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The government of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, a standard bearer of more open immigration policies, launched the vast plan in April while European neighbours toughen measures in response to pressure from ascendant far-right parties.

A total of 1,174,978 applications were submitted between mid-April and 30 June when the window closed, with more than 600,000 already being processed, Secretary of State for Migration Pilar Cancela told a press conference in Madrid.

Latin America accounted for 67% of the submissions, with Colombia alone representing 25.9% of the total. African nationalities followed with 22.9%.

After Colombia, the most represented countries were Morocco at 13.3%, Venezuela with 11.8% and Peru at 8.8%.

An overwhelming majority of applicants were young, with eight out of 10 younger than 45 years old, while 57% of the total were males against 43% for females.

The application total does not necessarily indicate how many people will normalise their situation, with initial predictions forecasting the regularisation of 500,000.

Applicants must prove they have a clean criminal record and spent at least five consecutive months in Spain before 1 January.

The authorities have three months to process their paperwork and decide whether to issue a work and residence permit that will only be valid in Spain.

Sánchez has touted the benefits of immigration and the vast regularisation scheme for sectors such as construction that need to boost their workforce.

Spanish business leaders have welcomed the move, but the conservative and far-right opposition are furious about a policy they say will encourage more irregular immigration.