This page is for people who live in Spain without a residence permit, or who have another status, and want to know whether arraigo suits them. It covers the types, the general and specific requirements, how to apply and the questions that have no official answer yet.
What is arraigo, and has it been abolished?
Arraigo (literally “rootedness”) is a temporary residence permit for exceptional circumstances. It is issued to foreign nationals who are already in Spain and have economic, social, family, work or educational ties here. You do not need a visa for it.
Arraigo is in force. Since 20 May 2025 it has been governed by the new Regulation (Real Decreto 1155/2024), Articles 124–132. These articles were amended in April 2026. In judgments published on 22 September 2026, the Supreme Court annulled certain provisions of other articles of the Regulation; the articles on arraigo are not among them.
What types of arraigo are there?
The Regulation provides for five types. The permit is issued for one year, family arraigo for five years. Amounts in the table are expressed in IPREM: a public index used to calculate income, which in 2026 is €600 a month.
| Type | Main requirement | Length of stay in Spain | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Segunda oportunidad (second chance) | During the previous two years you had a residence permit that was not issued for exceptional circumstances, and it was not renewed for reasons unrelated to public order, public security or public health | 2 years | Yes |
| Sociolaboral (work-based) | One or more employment contracts paying at least the minimum wage or the collective agreement rate, for a total of at least 20 hours a week | 2 years | Yes; you can work as an employee from the moment the application is admitted for processing |
| Social (social ties) | Family ties to a foreign national who holds a residence permit (spouse, registered partner or first-degree relative in the direct line) and funds in Spain; according to the ministry's clarification, together this means 200% of IPREM, or €1,200 a month. Without such ties, you need an integration report from the autonomous community or, if it so decides, from the municipality | 2 years | Yes |
| Socioformativo (education) | Studying in designated programs and an integration report | 2 years | Only as an employee, up to 30 hours a week |
| Familiar (family) | You are the father, mother or guardian of a minor who is a citizen of another EU country (not Spain), the EEA or Switzerland, you support the child and live with them or exercise parental responsibilities. Or you are a relative of a person with a disability from these countries, help them exercise their legal capacity, support them and live with them | Not required | Yes |
Family members of Spanish citizens have a separate permit; it is not a type of arraigo.
What general requirements apply to all types?
Besides the requirements of your type, you must meet all the general conditions of Article 126 of the Regulation:
- be in Spain and not be an applicant for international protection (asylum), either when you apply or while your application is processed;
- have lived in Spain for at least two years before applying (except for family arraigo). According to the ministry’s clarification, total absences during this period may not exceed 90 days. Time spent waiting for an asylum decision does not count;
- not pose a threat to public order, public security or public health;
- have no criminal record in Spain or in the countries where you lived during the five years before entering Spain, for offenses that are crimes under Spanish law;
- not be listed as a person banned from entry in countries with which Spain has relevant agreements;
- if you made a commitment not to return to Spain, its term must have expired;
- pay the fee;
- since 16 April 2026, also not hold a stay or residence permit and not be a party to a procedure for issuing, renewing or changing one.
How do you apply?
You file the application on form EX-10 in person at the immigration office (Oficina de Extranjería) of your province or online through the Mercurio platform. In 2026 the fee is €38.28, paid with form 790, code 052.
Attach:
- a full copy of your valid passport or another travel document recognized in Spain;
- an employment contract, if your type of arraigo requires one;
- documents proving the requirements of your type;
- for adults, a criminal record certificate from the countries where you lived during the five years before entering Spain.
The foreign certificate is not required if you have lived in Spain continuously for the last five years, or if you already submitted such a certificate with another application within the last five years and have not left Spain since. The immigration office itself requests the Spanish certificate and the police report.
If documents are missing, the office will send you a request and give you up to 15 days to provide them. If you do not, the application is closed. According to the official information sheet, a decision is made within three months; if there is no reply, the application is deemed rejected.
Within one month of the decision granting the permit, you must apply in person for a TIE card. For work-based arraigo, the permit takes effect only if you are registered with the Social Security system within one month of being notified of the decision.
Can arraigo be renewed?
Yes. A renewal, like the permit itself, is valid for one year, for family arraigo five years. You apply within two months before the permit expires; while the application is being processed, the old permit remains valid. You can also apply within three months after it expires, but then you may face penalty proceedings.
For second chance, work-based and social arraigo, you must actively look for work and be registered with the public employment service. This condition does not apply if illness, disability, retirement age or other justified reasons prevent you from working. For education arraigo in basic or intermediate vocational training programs, you need a certificate from the school confirming that you have moved on to the second year. If you have already finished your studies, you need a document confirming this and an active job search with registration at the employment service.
Can holders of temporary protection apply for arraigo?
Since 16 April 2026, additional provision 19 of the Regulation expressly allows holders of a temporary protection permit to apply from within Spain for permits whose procedure can be started in the country, including arraigo. You cannot change the temporary protection permit itself into another one; you apply for a new one.
Two questions have no official clarification yet:
- Whether time under temporary protection counts toward the two years of stay. The Regulation expressly excludes only the time an asylum application is being examined and says nothing about temporary protection.
- How the permission for protection holders fits with the new general requirement not to hold a valid residence permit. The text of the rules does not explain this, and we have not found an official clarification.
So if you have temporary protection and are thinking about arraigo, check your case with the immigration office or with a lawyer specializing in Spanish immigration law before you apply.
The 2026 extraordinary regularization, which ran until 30 June 2026, did not apply to holders of temporary protection, current or former.
What mistakes should you avoid?
- Assuming that an employment contract is required for all types. Only work-based arraigo requires one; the other types have their own conditions.
- Believing promises that it is “easier than before” without checking. The requirements of each type are in the Regulation and in the official information sheet.
- Leaving Spain for long periods during the two years before you apply. According to the ministry’s clarification, total absences may not exceed 90 days.
- Applying for arraigo while your asylum application is being examined. An applicant for international protection cannot get arraigo.
- Taking requirements from materials written before 20 May 2025. A different Regulation has applied since then.