The Spanish Government plans to approve a Royal Decree before August 2026 to extend the relocation system for unaccompanied migrant minors until August 2027. This measure ensures the continuity of the solidarity-based reception model implemented to address extraordinary migration contingencies, with a focus on safeguarding the best interests of children and adolescents.
The initiative is part of the regulatory framework introduced through a legislative reform of immigration rules, which enabled the redistribution of minors from high-pressure areas to other autonomous communities. This system has contributed to reducing overcrowding in reception facilities, particularly in Ceuta, Melilla, and the Canary Islands.
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The relocation system for unaccompanied migrant minors will remain in place for the rest of the legislative term
Since its implementation, a total of 1,143 minors have been relocated across different regions, supporting a more balanced management of the reception system. Currently, the number of minors hosted in the most affected territories stands at approximately 3,800, significantly lower than previous levels before the legislative changes.
Data on implementation show varying degrees of compliance among regions. Melilla has reached around 91% of completed transfers, while Ceuta has achieved more than 76%. In the Canary Islands, although a large number of transfer procedures have been processed, the effective relocation rate is approximately 20%.
The system includes a rapid relocation mechanism, allowing transfers to be carried out within approximately fifteen days, which has improved care conditions and reduced overcrowding in frontline regions.
Additionally, the framework has facilitated the relocation of asylum-seeking minors to state-run facilities on the mainland, fulfilling the required measures in this area. Institutional coordination has played a key role in the process, strengthening cooperation between administrations and enhancing the overall response capacity to migration pressures.