Arraigo: residency for people already living in Spain

Is it for you?

Arraigo (literally “roots”) is a residence permit for exceptional circumstances, for people already in Spain without another permit. Since 20 May 2025 there are five types (Real Decreto 1155/2024).

It may fit you if:

• You have lived in Spain for two years and have resident family, a job contract or a training course.
• You held residence in the last two years but could not renew it.
• You are the parent or guardian of a child from another EU country, the EEA or Switzerland.

If your partner or child is Spanish, your route is usually the permit for relatives of Spanish nationals. If you are in Spain legally and work remotely, see the digital nomad visa.

Extraordinary regularisation: Real Decreto 316/2026 (BOE, 15 April 2026) opened a route for people in Spain before 2026. Applications ran from 16 April to 30 June 2026 and are now closed. That permit lasts one year.

Requirements for each type

Common to all five types:

• You are not an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen (or a family member covered by EU rules).
• You are in Spain and not an asylum applicant, either when you apply or during processing.
• No criminal record in Spain or in the countries where you lived in the last five years.
• You are not flagged as “refusable” in the Schengen area (for example, an entry ban) or within a no-return commitment period.
• You are not a threat to public order, security or public health.
• You hold no other stay or residence permit, and have no application for one pending.

The two years must be continuous and right before you apply, with no more than 90 days of absences. Time as an asylum applicant does not count.

Arraigo social

Two years in Spain, plus one of these:

• Foreign resident family you live with: spouse or registered partner, parents or children. Together you need 200% of IPREM (Spain’s public income index): €1,200 a month in 2026.
• Without such family, a social integration report (informe de integración social) from your region or town hall.

Arraigo sociolaboral

Two years in Spain plus one or more signed job contracts totalling at least 20 hours a week and lasting over 90 days. Pay must reach the minimum wage (SMI) or the collective agreement rate, pro rata. The employer must be up to date with tax and Social Security. Self-employment does not count.

For example, on 20 hours a week, the minimum is half the 2026 SMI: €610.50 a month in 14 payments.

Arraigo socioformativo

Two years in Spain, a social integration report and enrolment in a qualifying course. Examples: bachillerato (upper secondary), intermediate vocational training (FP), professional certificates, in-person adult education or public employment service courses.

Arraigo familiar

No minimum time. It is for the parent or guardian of a child from another EU country, the EEA or Switzerland. You must live with and care for the child, or meet your parental duties. It also covers a relative who supports, cares for and lives with a disabled person of that nationality.

Second-chance arraigo (segunda oportunidad)

Two years in Spain and a residence permit in the last two years that you could not renew (missed deadline or unmet requirements). It does not apply if that permit was for exceptional circumstances, or if it was not renewed for public order, security or health reasons.

Documents you need

• Form EX-10, signed.
• A copy of every page of your valid passport.
• Proof of your time in Spain, ideally from public bodies: empadronamiento (municipal registration), public health care, town hall paperwork.
• Criminal record certificates from the countries where you lived in the five years before arriving.
• Documents for your type: contracts, enrolment, integration report, family ties and income, the child’s documents or your old permit.
• Proof of fee payment.

Foreign documents must be translated into Spanish and legalised or apostilled, unless a treaty exempts them.

Step by step

1. You gather your documents. Request the integration report early: the region or town hall has one month to issue it.
2. You file form EX-10 at the Oficina de Extranjería (immigration office) in your province, by appointment (cita previa), or online through Mercurio. You pay fee 790 code 052 within ten working days.
3. The authorities have three months to decide. No answer means refusal (silencio negativo).
4. With sociolaboral, you can work for your employer once the application is admitted for processing. After approval, your employer must register you with Social Security within one month.
5. Within a month of approval, you apply for your TIE (foreigner ID card) at the police station, paying fee 790 code 012.

Fees and costs

Official fees in 2026 (Orden PJC/617/2025):

Add certificates, apostilles and translations, which depend on your country. With us, the first call is free and a personalised advice session costs €50.

Common mistakes

• Miscounting the two years, or spending more than 90 days outside Spain.
• Signing a contract under 20 hours a week, of 90 days or less, or below the SMI or collective agreement.
• Not proving socioformativo enrolment within three months: the permit can be cancelled.
• Staying silent if your job falls through during processing. If it was beyond your control, you have two months to submit a new contract.

Renewal and next steps

Arraigo lasts one year (familiar: five). Each renewal (prórroga) adds one more year:

• Social, sociolaboral and second chance: you still meet the requirements and are looking for work, registered with the public employment service. Illness, disability or retirement age are exceptions.
• Socioformativo: proof you moved up to the second year or, if you finished, your qualification and job-seeker registration.

You can also switch to an ordinary residence and work permit (form EX-26). With over a year of residence and, for example, three months worked per year, the new permit lasts four years.

After five years of legal, continuous residence you can apply for long-term residence. Later on, perhaps Spanish citizenship.

How we help

We are immigration consultants and work with you at every step:

• We tell you which type of arraigo fits, or whether another route is better.
• We count your two years and absences with you, and spot missing proof.
• We check the contract, the employer’s paperwork, criminal records, apostilles and translations.
• We prepare form EX-10 and your file. If filing needs a licensed professional, we do it through collaborating professionals.
• We follow your case through to the TIE and remind you about renewal.

Start with a free call or book a €50 personalised advice session.