Arraigo in Spain: the five routes to residency in 2026

What arraigo is and who it protects

Arraigo is a type of residence authorisation for foreigners who are already in Spain and have real ties here, whether economic, social, family, work or training ties. It exists for people who came without the right papers, or whose papers could not be renewed, but who have built a life in Spain anyway. It is not a punishment and it is not a favour: it is a legal route written into Spanish law, currently Royal Decree 1155/2024, in force since 20 May 2025.

One thing to keep in mind from the start: while your application is being decided, it gives you no rights at all. You only get the right to stay and, in most cases, to work once the authorisation is actually granted. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise, and never pay someone who promises a guaranteed result.

The five arraigo routes

The law sets out five separate routes. Each one fits a different situation, so read all five before deciding which applies to you.

Arraigo de segunda oportunidad (second chance)

This route is for people who already held a residence authorisation (not one granted for exceptional circumstances) at some point in the two years before applying, but whose renewal did not go through. You still need the general two years of continuous stay in Spain. If granted, the permit lasts one year.

Arraigo sociolaboral (work-based)

This route needs one or more work contracts that together add up to at least twenty hours a week, and that pay at least the minimum wage (or the wage set in the relevant collective agreement) in proportion to the hours worked. The general two years of continuous stay also applies. The permit lasts one year.

Arraigo social

This is the route most people picture when they hear the word arraigo. It also requires the general two years of continuous stay in Spain. The finer requirements, such as any integration report and how it is issued, can differ between regions, so check the current rules on the Portal de migraciones or ask the Oficina de Extranjeria directly. The permit lasts one year.

Arraigo socioformativo (training-based)

This route is built around training or study rather than a job contract. The general two years of continuous stay still applies. As with arraigo social, ask the current office for the exact training requirements before you apply, since these details are set at a lower level than the regulation itself. The permit lasts one year.

Arraigo familiar (family-based)

This is the one exception to almost every rule above. You do not need any minimum time living in Spain to apply, and if it is granted, the permit lasts five years instead of one. It covers close family ties, including parents of Spanish or EU minors and other family situations set out in the regulation.

The common procedure

Every arraigo route follows roughly the same path, even though the paperwork for the specific requirement changes from route to route.

1. Gather proof of your stay in Spain. You need solid evidence covering the whole period, such as empadronamiento (town hall registration) certificates, medical records, school enrolment for your children, or other dated official documents.
2. Put together the papers for your specific route. A work contract for sociolaboral, proof of a past authorisation for segunda oportunidad, a family document for familiar, and so on.
3. Book an appointment at the Oficina de Extranjeria. Use the cita previa (prior appointment) system for your province. Our guide to booking an extranjeria appointment in Spain walks through the booking screens step by step.
4. Pay the fee. This is Modelo 790, fee code 052, covering the handling of your residence file. You can pay it online or print the form and pay at a bank; see the official Tasa 052 payment page for both options.
5. File your application and wait for the decision. Hand in your full file at the office or through the electronic register, keep your receipt, and wait for the resolution. If it is granted, the next step is usually collecting your TIE card; see our TIE application guide for that part.

Documents checklist

Have these documents and details ready before you start:

• Valid passport, all pages that show entries and stamps
• Proof of two years of continuous stay in Spain, such as empadronamiento records, medical appointments or school papers (not needed for arraigo familiar)
• Criminal record certificate from Spain and from any country you lived in during the last five years
• The documents for your specific route: a work contract for sociolaboral, proof of a past permit for segunda oportunidad, training enrolment for socioformativo, or family documents for familiar
• Proof that you paid the Modelo 790, fee code 052
• Completed application form for your province, filed through the Oficina de Extranjeria

Common problems and how to fix them

Proving continuous stay

A single empadronamiento certificate is rarely enough on its own. Build a file with several types of dated evidence spread across the whole two year period: medical visits, school records, bank statements, anything with an official date and your name on it.

Criminal record certificates from abroad

These can take weeks or months to arrive from some countries, and they often need an official translation and legalisation. Start requesting them as early as possible, well before your appointment.

Long decision times

Arraigo files can take months to resolve. This is normal and does not mean something has gone wrong. Keep a copy of everything you filed and the receipt from your appointment in case you need to check on the file later.

Promises of guaranteed papers

No one can promise the outcome of an arraigo application. If your case is complicated, get advice from a registered lawyer (abogado colegiado), not from social media or paid middlemen.