The Spanish government is starting a process of granting legal amnesty to up to 800,000 undocumented immigrants.
The new rules apply to people living in Spain without legal residency or working papers.
It is estimated that more than one million people live and work in Spain illegally. With out any legal status, they form the most vulnerable layer of Spanish society.
Under the rules, an immigrant with a six-month work contract who is registered at the town hall and social security office is eligible for Spanish residency, the right to legally work and live in Spain. (bbc)