Extraordinary regularisation in Spain: key points
- The application deadline ended on 30 June 2026 and no extension was granted.
- Applications filed in time (1,174,978 in total) are being processed.
- Royal Decree 316/2026 sets a maximum period of three months to decide and notify applications.
- The authorisation is valid for one year and allows the holder to live and work anywhere in Spain.
- Anyone who did not apply must use the ordinary routes, mainly arraigo.
Update of 1 October 2026
The deadline to submit applications under Spain’s extraordinary regularisation of foreign nationals ended on 30 June 2026.
No extension was granted.
Applications submitted in time are being processed. The in-person rectification period (subsanación) at designated post offices was scheduled to end on 30 September 2026.
Anyone who did not apply must now rely on the ordinary routes under the immigration regulations, first and foremost the different forms of arraigo.
Extraordinary regularisation in Spain: review of the closed procedure
The extraordinary regularisation was based on Royal Decree 316/2026 of 14 April 2026 (BOE-A-2026-8284, published in the BOE on 15 April and in force from 16 April), which added two additional provisions (the twentieth and twenty-first) to the immigration regulations approved by Royal Decree 1155/2024.
As the Government note of 21 April 2026 on the regularisation deadlines and requirements set out, applications could be filed online from 16 April to 30 June 2026, and in person by appointment from 20 April 2026.
According to the closing figures published by the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration on 2 July 2026, the procedure closed with 1,174,978 applications received.
By 2 July 2026, 609,737 files had been processed.
Around 79.6% of applications concerned an authorisation for exceptional circumstances through extraordinary roots (arraigo extraordinario), and 20.4% came from international protection applicants.
Around 83.2% of applications were filed electronically, and the remainder in person.
Timeline of the procedure
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 14 April 2026 | Royal Decree 316/2026 approved |
| 16 April 2026 | Online applications opened |
| 20 April 2026 | In-person appointments began |
| 30 June 2026 | Application deadline |
| 30 September 2026 | End of in-person rectification period at post offices |
Requirements that applied to the extraordinary regularisation
These requirements remain useful to understand why a file was accepted, queried or refused.
- Presence in Spain before 1 January 2026, shown by dated and varied documents (registration on the municipal register, invoices, medical or bank records).
- Continuous stay of at least five months at the time of application.
- No criminal record in Spain, in the country of origin or in the countries of residence during the five years before arriving in Spain, and no threat to public order, public security or public health.
- For arraigo extraordinario, at least one further condition: having worked in Spain or showing an intention to work (a job offer or a self-employment declaration), living in Spain with one’s family (minor or dependent children, or first-degree ascendants), or being in a situation of vulnerability certified by the competent social services.
People who had applied for international protection before 1 January 2026 could also apply, without having to meet that further condition.
Application submitted in time: processing and next steps
Decision period
Royal Decree 316/2026 sets a maximum period of three months, counted from the day after the application entered the register, to decide and notify the application.
Once the start of processing has been notified, the applicant may provisionally live and work, as an employee or self-employed, anywhere in Spain. A refusal automatically ends this provisional permission.
Filed on time and still waiting for an answer? Contact our team to check where your application stands and what you can do next: +34 963 74 16 57 · felix.delaguia@delaguialuzon.com
What you can do now
- Check the status of your file on the electronic portal and review your electronic notifications.
- Reply promptly to any rectification request, within the period stated in the notification (15 days at most).
- In-person rectification at designated post offices was scheduled to end on 30 September 2026: use the reply channel stated in your notification.
- Keep the proof of submission and every document you filed.
Criminal records and additional documents
If the foreign authorities do not send the criminal record certificate within three months, the Spanish authorities ask the applicant to provide it within 15 days.
If the applicant fails to do so, the application is treated as withdrawn. Our article on the criminal record certificate for Spanish residence explains how to obtain one.
International protection applicants
A pending international protection claim is compatible with regularisation until the latter is granted.
If regularisation is granted, the applicant must withdraw the international protection claim, or any appeal lodged.
Application not submitted: ordinary routes in Spain
After 30 June 2026, the extraordinary regularisation is no longer available.
Those who did not apply must look to the ordinary routes under the immigration regulations (Royal Decree 1155/2024).
The roots-based authorisations (arraigo)
The regulations in force provide several residence authorisations for exceptional circumstances based on roots: social, employment-based, training-based, family and second chance.
These regulations have applied since 20 May 2025. Except for family arraigo, these routes generally require two years of continuous stay in Spain.
Each route has its own documentation, its own financial means or job contract requirements and its own evidential standards. Our article on the arraigo routes in Spain covers each one in detail.
Other residence routes
Depending on your profile, other routes may apply: family reunification, residence through marriage, a work authorisation or a specific visa.
Our overview of the pathways to residency in Spain compares them, and spouses of Spanish nationals can read about residency through marriage to a Spanish citizen.
For an overview of our services, see our page on immigration lawyers in Valencia.
Comparison: extraordinary regularisation and ordinary routes
| Criterion | Extraordinary regularisation (closed) | Ordinary routes (arraigo and others) |
|---|---|---|
| Current access | Closed since 30 June 2026 | Open all year |
| Presence in Spain | Before 1 January 2026, five months continuous | Varies by route (generally two years for social roots) |
| Decision period | Three months (Royal Decree 316/2026) | Set by the regulations for each procedure |
| Nature | Exceptional and temporary mechanism | Permanent procedures under the regulations |
After authorisation: TIE, work and renewal
Once the authorisation is granted, the holder must apply for the TIE within one month.
The initial authorisation is valid for one year and allows the holder to live and work, as an employee or self-employed, anywhere in Spain. During the two months before it expires, the holder can apply to move to another authorisation under the regulations (Article 191).
Plan this step early, as renewal conditions depend on the authorisation obtained and on your employment or family situation.
We recommend keeping your proof of stay, your contracts and your social security contributions, which will be useful later.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Missing a rectification request or an electronic notification.
- Filing inconsistent evidence of presence, or evidence with gaps in dates.
- Neglecting the criminal record certificate from the country of origin or residence.
- Turning to an ordinary route too late after a refusal.
- Forgetting to withdraw an international protection claim or appeal once regularisation is granted.
Frequently asked questions on extraordinary regularisation
Can I still apply for extraordinary regularisation?
No, the application period ended on 30 June 2026 and no extension was granted.
What happens if my file receives no reply after three months?
Royal Decree 316/2026 sets a maximum period of three months to decide and notify the application.
Filed on time and still waiting for an answer? Contact our team to check where your application stands and what you can do next: +34 963 74 16 57 · felix.delaguia@delaguialuzon.com
Until when can an incomplete file be rectified?
In-person rectification at designated post offices was scheduled to end on 30 September 2026. For any new rectification request, follow the deadline (15 days at most) and the channel stated in the notification.
Was a job contract required to apply?
No. For arraigo extraordinario, a link to work (past work, a job offer or a self-employment plan) was only one of three possible conditions, alongside family life in Spain and certified vulnerability. International protection applicants did not have to meet that condition.
What should I do if I missed the deadline?
You should review the ordinary routes under the immigration regulations, in particular the different arraigo authorisations, according to your date of arrival, family situation and activity.
Is international protection compatible with regularisation?
Yes, until regularisation is granted. The applicant must then withdraw the international protection claim or appeal.
Contact our legal team
Our immigration lawyers in Valencia review your file, follow your pending procedures and advise on the residence route that fits your situation.
Email: felix.delaguia@delaguialuzon.com
Telephone: +34 963 74 16 57
