A residence permit in Spain based on arraigo is a special legal mechanism used in the Kingdom to regulate the status of foreign nationals who have lived in the country for a long time without the proper permits but have managed to integrate into the local community.
The right to obtain a residence permit in Spain based on arraigo is granted to persons who have strong social, family, professional, or educational ties to Spain.
Key concepts:
- Arraigo makes it possible to regularize the status of foreign nationals who do not have an official residence permit.
- There are various forms of arraigo depending on the type of integration or the nature of the ties.
The new Immigration Regulation, adopted by Royal Decree No. 1155/2024 and in force since May 20, 2025, introduced significant changes to the types of arraigo and the requirements applicable to them.
Today, the following types of arraigo are distinguished: family, social, socio-labour, socio-educational, and second-chance.
In most cases, continuous residence in Spain for at least two years is required, except for family arraigo, for which no minimum period is established.
Obtaining temporary residence status through arraigo allows the holder to work freely throughout Spain, both as a self-employed person and as an employee.
The application for arraigo status must be submitted in person to the immigration authorities.
After a positive decision, the applicant must provide fingerprints to the immigration police and apply for the residence card.
Residence in Spain based on arraigo: existing types and key features of obtaining it
Spanish legislation distinguishes five types of arraigo that allow foreign nationals to regularize their status in the country if they have significant social, labour, or family ties:
- Family arraigo (Arraigo familiar) is based on close ties with Spanish citizens or EU citizens, for example parents, children, or spouses. It is available to parents, children, or spouses of Spanish citizens or EU nationals who live together with them. It does not apply to family members of non-EU nationals.
- Social arraigo (Arraigo social) is recognized for persons who are actively integrating into Spanish society and have stable social ties with local residents.
In this case, there are three possible options:
- If there is a direct relative with a residence permit in Spain and a Spanish bank account with the required financial means (at least 200% of IPREM calculated for 12 months).
- If the applicant has a Spanish bank account with at least 100% of IPREM calculated for 12 months, that is, 7,200 euros.
- If the applicant has a business plan and the funds to finance it.
A mandatory requirement is to obtain a social integration report, for which knowledge of the local languages must be demonstrated.
- Socio-labour arraigo (Arraigo sociolaboral) combines elements of social and employment-based grounds and implies the existence of employment together with social integration. An employment contract with working hours of at least 20 hours per week is sufficient. There is no need to prove prior work experience, no social integration report is required, and there is no need to show funds in a Spanish bank account. The only remaining task is to find an employer with no tax or social security debts.
- Socio-educational arraigo (Arraigo socioformativo) is intended for persons undergoing vocational retraining, studying at authorized institutions, or taking courses organized by the employment service.
- Second-chance arraigo (Arraigo de segunda oportunidad) is intended for former residents who lost their previous status for reasons beyond their control. No more than two years may pass from the non-renewal of the residence permit, that is, from the loss of the previous permit.
General requirements for obtaining any type of arraigo
Article 126 of the Immigration Regulation establishes uniform conditions for all applicants for arraigo:
- Presence in Spain without the proper residence authorization and no active application for international protection or asylum.
- Continuous residence in Spain for at least two years before filing the application (except in the case of family arraigo, where this criterion does not apply).
- No threat to public safety, public health, or public order.
- No criminal record during the last five years.
- Payment of the applicable fee.
- It is possible to apply while holding legal status.
Procedure for applying for arraigo
An application for a residence permit in Spain based on arraigo must be submitted in person to the immigration authorities. On behalf of minors or legally incapacitated persons, the application is submitted by their representative.
If any documents are missing, the authority grants up to 10 days to remedy the deficiencies. Otherwise, the application will be rejected.
What to do after arraigo is granted?
If the decision is positive, the applicant receives temporary residence for one year with the right to extend it up to four years later (or five years immediately in the case of family arraigo). A holder of a residence permit in Spain based on arraigo has the right to work both as an employee and as a self-employed person, without restrictions as to geographic area or profession.
If the person takes up employment, the employer must register the employee with Social Security within one month after notification that the status has been granted. The applicant is given the same period to apply in person for the foreigner identity card (TIE).
Obtaining a residence permit in Spain based on arraigo with Alegria
The lawyers at Alegria will help you obtain any type of residence permit in Spain based on arraigo. We will study your case and select the type of arraigo that suits you best. Our specialists will take care of collecting the necessary documents, filling in the forms, paying the fees, and submitting the application. We constantly monitor the status of the application and respond quickly if the Spanish authorities request additional documents.
