Barcelona City Council has assisted 27,000 people with migrant regularisation processes across its municipal facilities, according to Deputy Mayor Raquel Gil. Speaking from the Fira de Montjuïc on Tuesday, Gil provided an update on the support operation, noting that 24,000 vulnerability reports have been issued. More than 10,000 of these were sent via a link from the council to individuals registered in their care systems. From Wednesday, city residents without formal registration can start procedures at the Fira centre. Additionally, from next week, certificates to obtain regularisation files online will be available there.
Gil described the figures as "good" and confirmed that the council is preparing for the "next phase" of the operation. Initially, the Fira de Montjuïc served Barcelona residents with formal registration. Starting Wednesday, it will assist those who can prove city residency without being registered, enabling them to obtain vulnerability reports.
Expanding Support Services
Red Cross staff are supporting the council's personnel. Next week, the operation will include lawyers specialising in these procedures, alongside workers from Citizen Service Offices (OAC) and the Immigrant, Emigrant, and Refugee Assistance Service (SAIER). The Fira area will also have improved climate control, with access to toilets and water.
The OACs will resume their regular services next week, as Gil announced previously. Only the Monumental office will continue to focus on regularisation, opening on Saturdays to help with the process.
New Online Certificate Option
The Fira de Montjuïc will operate Monday to Friday, from 8am to 10pm. The regularisation process will also be available at the office on Miquel Bleach street. Group sessions will start next week, and a new type of certificate will be available. This certificate allows individuals to process their regularisation file online, a service not previously offered.
The City Council provides the preliminary documentation needed for the process. After this, individuals must complete the remaining steps through the Social Security treasury, Post Offices, or online if they have the correct digital certificate. The council, in collaboration with the Generalitat and OAC staff, will enable this final step from next week by processing digital certificates.
Initial Days at Fira de Montjuïc
Around 200 people queued at the Fira de Montjuïc on the first day the centre opened for migrant regularisation. Some individuals had been waiting since 6am, according to the Catalan News Agency (ACN). Pavilion 2 opened last Wednesday at 10am to speed up the process. Interested individuals could book appointments and time slots for regularisation, and also request information about the overall process.
