Arraigo Spain routes
- Arraigo Spain is a regularisation mechanism for foreigners already in the country without a residence permit.
- Royal Decree 1155/2024 restructured the five arraigo categories in force since 20 May 2025.
- The five current routes are arraigo social, sociolaboral, familiar, por formación, and second-chance arraigo.
- Most routes require two years of continuous presence in Spain, evidenced by empadronamiento and other proofs.
- Arraigo familiar remains the fastest route because it requires no minimum residence period.
- All arraigo permits grant a one-year residence and work authorisation, renewable and convertible into ordinary permits.
What do you need to know about Arraigo in Spain?
Hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals live in Spain without a valid residence permit, often after entering legally on a tourist visa and staying beyond 90 days.
Spanish immigration law has always recognised that many of these residents have built genuine ties in the country, and that a formal path to regularisation serves both the migrants and the state.
That path is called arraigo Spain, and Royal Decree 1155/2024 modernised the framework, in force since 20 May 2025.
This guide sets out each of the five current arraigo Spain routes, their requirements, common documentary pitfalls and the sequence in which applicants should assemble their file.
The Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration processed more than 200,000 arraigo applications in the twelve months following the entry into force of RD 1155/2024, a marked increase on previous years driven by clearer criteria and broader eligibility.
What arraigo Spain means and who can apply
Arraigo is a Spanish word meaning roots, and the concept describes the ties that anchor a foreign national to the country.
An arraigo Spain permit is technically an exceptional residence authorisation for extraordinary circumstances, granted under article 124 of the Immigration Regulation.
Anyone lawfully or unlawfully present in Spain who meets one of the five sets of conditions can apply, and short absences abroad do not automatically break the qualifying period.
Applicants who prefer to regularise their situation from outside Spain should instead review the ordinary pathways to residency in Spain.
The five arraigo routes after RD 1155/2024
Royal Decree 1155/2024 kept five separate arraigo categories and clarified the evidence required for each one.
The arraigo Spain routes now recognised are arraigo social, arraigo sociolaboral, arraigo familiar, arraigo por formación, and second-chance arraigo.
Each route grants an initial residence and work authorisation valid for one year, which can then be renewed for two-year periods under the ordinary regime.
| Route | Minimum presence | Work authorisation | Central requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arraigo social | 2 years | Included | Employment contract and social integration report |
| Arraigo sociolaboral | 2 years | Included | Existing labour ties, no integration report needed |
| Arraigo familiar | None | Included | Family tie to a Spanish or EU national |
| Arraigo por formación | 2 years | Not initially | Commitment to a regulated training course |
| Second-chance arraigo | Prior residence | Included | Held a permit within the last two years |
Arraigo social: the classic route
Arraigo social remains the most widely used arraigo Spain pathway.
Applicants must show two years of continuous presence in Spain, an employment contract of at least 20 hours a week for one year, or two shorter contracts covering equivalent hours, and either family ties or a social integration report.
The social integration report, known as the informe de arraigo, is issued by the autonomous community after assessing the applicant’s Spanish language ability, empadronamiento history, and community links.
In the Valencian Community, the report is coordinated by the regional social services with input from the local town hall.
Empadronamiento is the single most important document in every arraigo file, because it evidences the applicant’s uninterrupted presence in Spain and defines which autonomous community is competent to issue the integration report.
Anyone without a current padrón entry should read our guide to empadronamiento and why it matters before starting the arraigo file.
Arraigo sociolaboral: the new labour route
Arraigo sociolaboral replaces the former arraigo laboral and simplifies proof of labour ties.
Applicants must show two years of presence in Spain and either an existing employment contract of at least 20 hours a week, or two or more shorter contracts totalling at least the same hours.
Unlike arraigo social, no social integration report is required, which shortens the process considerably.
The route suits foreigners already working informally who have secured a formal offer from an employer willing to register them with social security.
Arraigo familiar: the fastest track
Arraigo familiar is the only arraigo Spain route without a minimum period of prior residence.
Eligible applicants include parents and legal guardians of a Spanish minor, spouses or registered partners of Spanish nationals not covered by the EU family regime, adult children of Spanish nationals of origin, and siblings of Spanish nationals born after their sibling acquired nationality.
Marriage to a Spanish citizen is normally routed instead through the EU family member card, which we analyse in our guide to residency through marriage to a Spanish citizen.
Parents applying under arraigo familiar for a Spanish minor must present the child’s Spanish birth certificate. Applicants whose children were born in Spain should review our guide to Spanish nationality for children born to foreign parents in parallel.
Arraigo por formación: study your way to residency
Arraigo por formación gives foreign residents access to residency through study.
Applicants must show two years of presence in Spain and commit to enrol in a regulated training course, typically a certificate of professionalism, a vocational programme or an official language course lasting a full academic year.
The initial permit is a residence-only authorisation for twelve months, without work rights during the study period.
Upon completion of the course, the permit can be converted into a residence and work authorisation, provided the holder has secured an employment contract in a related sector.
Second-chance arraigo: for lapsed permit holders
Second-chance arraigo, introduced by RD 1155/2024, addresses foreigners who previously held a Spanish residence permit and lost regular status within the past two years.
The route recognises that lapses often result from bureaucratic delays or short-term employment gaps rather than a genuine break in the applicant’s ties to Spain.
Successful applicants receive a full residence and work authorisation and avoid the two-year waiting period otherwise required.
Timeline and process for arraigo Spain
Applicants must file the arraigo request in person or through their legal representative at the immigration office of their province, or through the electronic Mercurio platform.
The competent office is that of the applicant’s registered address, which underscores the importance of the empadronamiento entry.
Processing times are set at three months, but in practice files are decided in six to nine months depending on province.
Documents every arraigo file must include
- Passport valid throughout the process, with certified copies of every page.
- Empadronamiento certificate covering the full qualifying period.
- Criminal record certificate from the country of origin, apostilled and sworn-translated, following the process explained in our guide to the criminal record certificate for Spain.
- Proof of continuous presence in Spain, including tenancy contracts, utility bills and medical records.
- Employment contract, family tie or training commitment depending on the route.
- Payment of tax modelo 790 code 052.
Most arraigo refusals we see at Delaguía y Luzón stem from documentary gaps rather than substantive ineligibility, and above all from broken empadronamiento histories.
What happens after approval
Successful applicants receive a favourable resolution and must fingerprint at the police station within one month to obtain their TIE card.
The initial arraigo permit is valid for one year and can then be renewed under the ordinary regime for two-year periods.
Time spent on arraigo counts towards the five-year long-term residence permit and the ten-year path to Spanish nationality, which we describe in our guide to long-term residence and the route to citizenship.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Registering on the padrón only shortly before applying, which makes it impossible to prove two years of continuous presence.
- Filing arraigo social with a part-time contract below 20 hours a week and no complementary contracts.
- Submitting an integration report from the wrong autonomous community.
- Attempting arraigo familiar based on a marriage to a Spanish national, which is normally routed through the EU family regime.
- Confusing arraigo por formación with a student visa, which follows a different procedure.
- Missing the one-month deadline to fingerprint after the favourable resolution.
How Delaguía y Luzón supports arraigo Spain applications
Delaguía y Luzón Abogados has been advising foreign residents in Valencia since 1960 and coordinates arraigo files across all five current routes.
Our immigration lawyers assess the strongest route for each applicant, assemble the documentary file, liaise with the town hall on empadronamiento and integration reports, and represent clients before the immigration office.
We work in English, French, Spanish, German, and Russian, and around 90% of our clients are international.
Speak to our arraigo lawyers in Valencia
Contact our legal team for personalised guidance on your case.
Email: felix.delaguia@delaguialuzon.com
Phone: +34 963 74 16 57
Office: Avinguda Regne de Valencia, 6, 1º-2º, 46005 Valencia
Frequently asked questions on arraigo Spain
Can I apply for arraigo Spain if I entered on a tourist visa?
Yes, arraigo is specifically designed for foreigners already in Spain, including those who overstayed a Schengen tourist visa.
Does short travel abroad break the two-year period?
Absences of up to 90 days in the two-year period are generally accepted, provided the applicant’s life remains centred in Spain.
Is the integration report always required for arraigo social?
Yes, arraigo social requires the informe de arraigo issued by the autonomous community of residence.
Can I work during the arraigo por formación permit?
Not initially, because the first year is residence-only, but work rights can be added after completing the course.
Does arraigo familiar apply to unmarried partners?
Registered civil partners of Spanish nationals fall under arraigo familiar when the EU family regime does not apply.
How long does it take to get a decision?
The legal deadline is three months, and practice ranges from six to nine months depending on the province.
Can I convert my arraigo permit into a normal residence permit?
Yes, upon renewal the arraigo authorisation moves into the ordinary residence and work regime.
Does time on arraigo count for Spanish nationality?
Yes, every day spent on a valid arraigo permit counts towards the ten-year residence requirement.
What happens if my application is refused?
Applicants can file an administrative appeal within one month, followed by judicial review before the contentious-administrative court.
Do I need a lawyer to file an arraigo application?
Applicants can file in person, but a lawyer significantly reduces the risk of documentary defects and refusals.
