The 3-Euro Key: How One Document Opens Doors to Legality for Moroccans in Spain

The criminal record certificate is the major requirement of the recent extraordinary regularization process launched by Pedro Sánchez’s government, which should benefit more than half a million foreigners. While the administrative slowness of certain embassies raises concerns, this is not the case for the Moroccan community, the largest in the country with 1.1 million registered nationals, ahead of Colombia and Venezuela.

According to the daily El País, the Moroccan consulate in Barcelona issues this precious official document within two weeks to one month, for the paltry sum of three euros. This reasonable timeframe avoids the legal alternative, which consists of authorizing the Spanish Ministry of Justice to file a diplomatic request, freezing the file for three months.

On Bladi.net : Moroccan Consulates in Spain Overwhelmed as Regularization Deadline Nears

For many undocumented workers, this document certifying the absence of convictions over the past five years represents genuine hope. Youness, a 23-year-old delivery driver working in precarious conditions, finally obtained his after a request initiated in February: "I’m happy. Now I’m going to have it translated and with that, I think I’ll have everything." The young man hopes to finally be able to work as a "bicycle and motorcycle mechanic." For his part, Hassan, an undeclared butcher in Granollers, chose to spend 25 euros on translation and 300 euros in lawyer fees to secure his proceedings. "I prefer to pay, so I don’t risk forgetting a document to present," he justifies, while his advisor emphasizes that a residence permit will prevent abuse "by Spaniards, but also by Moroccans who suffocate their compatriots."

On Bladi.net : How Morocco Blocks the Regularization of Its Own Citizens in Spain

As the submission deadline of June 30 approaches, procedures are accelerating. To ensure no one is left behind, the consular representation now opens its doors on weekends, thus avoiding long queues on the street in the Poblenou neighborhood. Fátima, who works two jobs in catering and elderly care, has just submitted her application in hopes of becoming a "teacher for people with disabilities" again.

While the timeframe for obtaining this key reassures the majority of applicants, other anxieties remain for newcomers. Like Omar, who has been in Spain for less than a year, whose main concern is no longer the criminal aspect, but the administrative difficulty of proving his state of vulnerability.