The Moroccan consulate in Almería, Spain, has been overwhelmed for several days by a massive influx of citizens seeking to apply for an exceptional regularization program. The Spanish government recently announced a plan to grant residency to undocumented foreign workers in sectors with labor shortages, leading to a rush at diplomatic offices.
Long queues have formed outside the consulate, with people waiting for hours, sometimes overnight, to submit required documents. Local Spanish media report that the consulate has extended its hours and deployed additional staff to manage the unprecedented demand, but significant delays persist.
The regularization campaign, part of a broader Spanish labor market reform, primarily targets the agricultural sector in regions like Andalusia. It aims to address a lack of legal workers while providing status to an estimated large number of undocumented migrants, many from Morocco, who are already working.
Authorities are urging applicants to use scheduled appointments to ease congestion, but the initial surge has highlighted the high demand for the program. Similar scenes have been reported at other consulates in Spanish cities with large Moroccan communities.
