Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of June 23, 2026, from the Under-Secretariat — Agreement between the State Secretariat for Migration and Correos y Telégrafos, SA, S.M.E. |
|---|---|
| Official Gazette Publication | June 30, 2026 |
| Effective date | April 24, 2026 |
| Main affected parties | Foreign citizens requesting residence authorizations and authorized Correos personnel |
| Reference regulation | RD 1155/2024, of November 19 (Immigration Regulation), modified by RD 316/2026, of April 14 |
| Technology platform | Mercurio (data capture and document digitalization) |
| Category | Regulatory Changes |
| Year | 2026 |
Foreign citizens who need to process a residence authorization in Spain have had a new channel available since April 24, 2026: Correos offices. The Resolution of June 23, 2026 publishes the agreement signed between the State Secretariat for Migration and the State-owned Company Correos y Telégrafos, SA, S.M.E., which authorizes the postal network to electronically manage these requests.
This mechanism was created under the Royal Decree 316/2026, of April 14, which modifies the Immigration Regulation approved by the Royal Decree 1155/2024, of November 19. The objective is to reduce the burden on immigration offices and bring regularization procedures closer to foreign citizens through the extensive network of postal offices distributed throughout the national territory.
What does this regulation establish?
The agreement regulates in detail the obligations of Correos and the procedure that its authorized personnel must follow. The key elements are as follows:
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Role of Correos | Acts in representation of interested parties before the Administration |
| Platform used | Mercurio — data capture and document digitalization |
| Documents generated | Request submission receipt |
| Personnel designation | Correos must expressly designate the authorized personnel to perform these procedures |
| Data protection | Correos guarantees compliance with data protection regulations |
| Document preservation | Correos preserves the documentation proving representation |
| Economic compensation | Service costs are compensated in accordance with the Universal Postal Service Law |
| Covered procedures | Authorization requests provided for in the Immigration Regulation (RD 1155/2024, mod. RD 316/2026) |
In practice, the process works as follows: the foreign citizen goes to the Correos office with their documentation, the authorized employee enters the data into the Mercurio platform, digitalizes the documents provided and gives the interested party an official submission receipt. Correos acts at all times as the legal representative of the applicant before the Administration.
Economic and operational impact
From an operational perspective, this agreement represents a redistribution of the administrative burden of immigration procedures. Immigration offices, historically saturated, will be able to redirect part of the volume of requests to the postal network.
For Correos, the agreement represents a new paid line of activity: service costs will be compensated in accordance with the Universal Postal Service Law. The agreement does not publish specific processing fees, but establishes that compensation is legally guaranteed.
For companies that hire foreign workers, this channel can speed up regularization processes, reducing waiting times to obtain work and residence authorizations. Less processing time equals less uncertainty in workforce planning.
Who does it affect?
- Foreign citizens who need to request residence or work authorizations in Spain under the Immigration Regulation (RD 1155/2024 and its amendments).
- Correos personnel expressly authorized to manage these procedures, who assume responsibilities for representation, data protection and document preservation.
- Companies that hire foreign workers, who can benefit from an additional and more accessible channel to manage their employees' authorizations.
- Immigration advisors and management firms that process requests on behalf of third parties and now have an alternative channel to immigration offices.
- Correos y Telégrafos, SA, S.M.E., as the signatory entity of the agreement, which acquires new operational obligations, data protection and document preservation responsibilities.
Practical example
A hospitality company has hired a worker of Moroccan nationality whose residence and work authorization is about to expire. Until now, the worker or the company's management firm had to request an appointment at the corresponding immigration office, with weeks or months of waiting.
With the new agreement, the worker can go directly to any Correos office with authorized personnel. The Correos employee accesses the Mercurio platform, enters the applicant's data, digitalizes the provided documentation (passport, employment contract, etc.) and provides an official submission receipt. From that moment on, the request is electronically registered with the Administration, with the same legal effects as if it had been submitted at the immigration office.
The employer gains legal certainty about their employee's administrative situation and avoids possible interruptions in the employment relationship due to bureaucratic delays.
What should companies do now?
- Identify foreign workers with authorizations about to expire and assess whether the Correos channel can speed up renewal before the current permit expires.
- Inform foreign employees of the existence of this new channel so they can use it directly or through the company's management firm.
- Coordinate with the management firm or immigration advisor to determine which requests can be processed through Correos and which still require direct submission at the immigration office.
- Verify that the representation documentation is properly formalized before going to the Correos office, as authorized personnel are obligated to preserve and prove it.
- Check at the nearest Correos office if it has personnel expressly authorized for this service, as the agreement requires express designation of authorized personnel.
Frequently asked questions
What immigration procedures can be submitted at Correos?
Authorization requests provided for in the Immigration Regulation, regulated by Royal Decree 1155/2024, of November 19, in its version modified by Royal Decree 316/2026, of April 14. The agreement does not specify a closed list of authorization types, but refers to the general framework of the Immigration Regulation.
How much does it cost to submit an immigration request at Correos?
The agreement establishes that service costs will be compensated in accordance with the Universal Postal Service Law, but does not publish specific processing fees. To find out the exact amount, it is necessary to consult directly at the Correos office or in the information published by the State Secretariat for Migration.
When will the Correos immigration service be operational?
The effective date of the agreement is April 24, 2026, although the Resolution that publishes it in the Official Gazette is dated June 23, 2026 and was published on June 30, 2026.
Can any Correos employee process immigration requests?
No. The agreement requires that Correos expressly designate the authorized personnel to perform these procedures. Not every Correos employee is authorized: only personnel with express designation can act as representative of the interested party, capture data in the Mercurio platform and digitalize documentation.
Is the receipt issued by Correos legally valid?
Yes. Correos personnel act in legal representation of the interested party before the Administration. The submission receipt provided to the applicant has the same legal effects as direct submission at the immigration office, as the request is electronically registered through the Mercurio platform.
Official source
Consult complete regulation at official source
Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-14221