The Catalan government, led by Salvador Illa, has established a new requirement for immigrants seeking to renew their residency permits, mandating that they study the Catalan language. This decision comes as part of an amendment to a Royal Decree aimed at regularizing half a million immigrants announced by Pedro Sánchez's government. The amendment specifically stipulates that immigrants must demonstrate enrollment in a Catalan language course to qualify for residency renewal, although the exact method of proving language competency has yet to be clarified.

This initiative is aimed at enhancing linguistic integration among immigrants, with the Catalan government's Department of Linguistic Policy stating that the goal is to bolster social cohesion and ensure that Catalan becomes a language of inclusion. The Generalitat has allocated a one-year period for immigrants under this extraordinary regularization program to prove their commitment to learning Catalan, thus highlighting the regional government's focus on promoting the use of the language among its residents.

The implications of this decision are significant as it reflects both the regional government's desire to strengthen Catalan identity and the complexities surrounding immigration policies in Spain. As this requirement could affect a substantial number of immigrants, it raises questions about accessibility to language courses and support for those who may struggle to meet the new mandate, potentially leading to disputes over residency rights and integration efforts within the diverse immigrant communities in Catalonia.