A new electronic registry will allow trade unions and NGOs to complete immigration paperwork on behalf of migrants, as the country aims to regularise more than half a million undocumented migrants in the coming months.
The Spanish government has approved a new registry for specialist groups that work with migrants to allow them to complete paperwork and immigration procedures on their behalf.
The measure is expected to be mainly used by trade unions and NGOs and intended to reinforce the efficiency, transparency and legal certainty in the processing of immigration cases in Spain.
This is especially pressing in light of the Spanish government’s recent decision to regularise over 500,000 undocumented migrants amid claims from police unions that the mass amnesty could “collapse” the immigration system.
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By creating the Electronic Register of Immigration Collaborators, the government wants to enable trade unions and other social organisations to manage administrative procedures on behalf of migrants through online procedures.
This initiative aims to facilitate access to immigration processes and paperwork for groups traditionally involved in the support and integration of foreign nationals.
The register came into force on March 6th and offers an additional representation mechanism to those already provided for in current legislation.
Registration in the registry will be free of charge and valid for four years, renewable if the groups continue to meet the legal requirements.
Collaborating organisations must be up to date with their tax and social security obligations and neither they nor their legal representatives may have been convicted or penalised for offences related to their activity or for infringements of immigration, labour law or personal data protection regulations in the three years prior to the application.
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In addition, applicants to the register must provide proof of at least two years’ experience in providing support, advice, integration or administrative assistance to migrants or applicants for international protection.
All procedures managed under this register must be carried out electronically through the relevant ministry, in accordance with the conditions established by the Directorate-General for Migration Management.
Notably, the regulations expressly prohibit collaborators from charging fees or financial compensation for services provided to migrants within this framework, guaranteeing that the service is free of charge.
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