Arraigo in Spain in 2026: types, requirements and how to apply

Arraigo in Spain is a temporary residence authorisation for exceptional circumstances (autorización de residencia temporal por circunstancias excepcionales). It is intended for certain non-EU nationals already in Spain who can prove employment, social, family, economic or educational ties. It is not one single route.

The five types of arraigo in Spain

The current Immigration Regulations provide second-chance arraigo, socio-employment arraigo, social arraigo, socio-training arraigo and family arraigo.

1. Second-chance arraigo

This may apply where the applicant held a residence permit not granted for exceptional circumstances during the two years immediately before applying but could not renew it for reasons other than public order, security or public health.

2. Socio-employment arraigo

One or more employment contracts must total at least 20 hours per week. Pay must meet the statutory minimum wage or applicable collective-agreement salary in proportion to the hours. The employer must also meet the regulatory conditions. This is arraigo sociolaboral; it should not be confused with the former arraigo laboral route.

3. Social arraigo

The family-ties route covers a spouse or registered partner and first-degree direct-line relatives of a foreign resident. Ministry Information Sheet 28 requires 100% of IPREM for the resident relative plus 100% for the arraigo applicant: 200% in total in this situation. The funds must be available in Spain. Without those ties, the favourable social-integration-report route and its financial requirements must be assessed; the report alone is not sufficient.

4. Socio-training arraigo

The applicant must be enrolled in, already undertaking or commit to eligible training under the rules. A social-integration report is also required. The permit allows employed work for up to 30 hours per week.

5. Family arraigo

This applies to a parent or guardian of a minor national of another EU, EEA or Swiss state and, where the conditions are met, a family member supporting a disabled national of one of those states. No minimum-presence period is required. Family members of Spanish nationals now fall under a separate regime.

General requirements

• be in Spain and generally prove at least two years of continuous presence; family arraigo has no minimum period;
• not be an international-protection applicant when filing or while the case is processed;
• not pose a threat to public order, security or public health;
• have no relevant criminal record in Spain or the required previous countries of residence;
• not be listed as inadmissible, not be subject to a no-return commitment where applicable, and pay the fee.
• As a general rule, Article 126.h requires applicants not to hold another stay or residence authorisation or have an ongoing procedure to obtain, extend, renew or modify one; applicable special provisions must also be checked.

Temporary protection: Additional Provision 19 provides a specific route for its holders and expressly includes the arraigo authorisations in Article 125. Article 126.h should therefore not be read in isolation to rule out all such cases. The requirements of the particular route, current immigration status and applicable procedure must be assessed. Switching is not automatic, and protection should not be surrendered without assessing the consequences.

Does time as an asylum applicant count?

Time while an international-protection application was pending, until a final administrative and, where relevant, judicial decision, does not count towards the ordinary two-year period. The qualifying time must be calculated carefully.

Common documents

• a complete copy of a valid passport;
• dated proof of continuous presence: municipal registration, healthcare records, bank movements, contracts and official communications;
• criminal-record certificates, duly apostilled or legalised and officially translated where required;
• route-specific evidence: contracts, funds, family documents, integration report, enrolment or previous residence permit;
• official form and proof of payment of the fee.

How to apply

The application is filed from within Spain with the competent Immigration Office, in person or through the available electronic procedure where appropriate and with valid representation. The general decision period is three months; without notification, it may be deemed refused by administrative silence. After approval, the TIE must be requested.

Duration and permission to work

Ordinary arraigo permits are valid for one year, except family arraigo, which lasts five years. Generally, they permit employed and self-employed work throughout Spain without occupational restrictions. Socio-training arraigo limits employed work to 30 hours per week.

For socio-employment arraigo, Article 130.5 provides provisional permission to reside and work as an employee once the application is admitted for processing; this must be stated in the notice opening the procedure. Merely submitting the form does not itself establish that permission. Following approval, the Social Security registration condition must be met within one month of notification.

Common mistakes

• choosing the wrong route;
• miscalculating the two-year period after an asylum procedure;
• insufficient evidence of continuous presence;
• a contract or employer that does not comply;
• expired, non-apostilled or untranslated certificates.

Support with an arraigo application

VMG Servicios Jurídicos can assess your circumstances, identify the appropriate route, check the qualifying period and documents, prepare the application and follow the case. This is general information and the rules must be checked at the filing date.

Official sources

Spanish Official Gazette — Royal Decree 1155/2024, Articles 124–132

Spanish Ministry of Inclusion — official arraigo information sheets

Ministry of Inclusion — Information Sheet 28, social arraigo and financial resources

BOE — Consolidated Immigration Regulations: temporary protection, Additional Provision 19

Legal review of these points: 11 September 2026.