The doors of Barcelona and Badalona city councils have once again been the scene of long queues of people seeking the social vulnerability certificate, an essential requirement for extraordinary regularization. This situation, which has become common since the deadline began, has led city councils to implement measures such as daily appointment distribution and the presence of the Guàrdia Urbana to manage the influx.
Despite these efforts, demand continues to overwhelm social services throughout Catalonia. Organizations like Cáritas are preparing to collaborate in issuing these certificates, although their system is still in the definition phase. The main concern of applicants is not being able to complete the process before the June 30 deadline.
“"We have all the papers organized, but we are afraid of not making it by June 30."
In Badalona, queues are organized by shifts, with about 70 daily appointments allocated for the vulnerability certificate. In Barcelona, the city council has activated several services, including the Service for Immigrant, Emigrant, and Refugee Assistance (SAIER) and Citizen Service Offices (OAC), to manage the pressure on the assistance system. The Guàrdia Urbana is responsible for informing applicants and clarifying that only registered residents of the city can be attended at these points.
The long waits are mainly due to obtaining this specific certificate, which can be issued by both city councils and collaborating entities such as the Ibn Battuta Foundation and, soon, Cáritas. The latter organization has indicated that its service will primarily target individuals already linked to the entity.
