Immigration · Arraigo

Arraigo in Spain in 2026: the five types explained

By Atty. Ceren Özdoğan · Last updated 13 October 2026 · Sources checked against the BOE and Ministry guidance

Arraigo ("roots") is the main way for people living in Spain without a permit to obtain legal residence based on their ties to the country. The immigration regulation approved by Royal Decree 1155/2024 reorganised arraigo into five types and reduced the required stay from three years to two. Royal Decree 316/2026 then adjusted several rules in April 2026. This guide covers the rules as they stand in October 2026.

Requirements common to all types

Under art. 126 RD 1155/2024 you must:

be in Spain, and not be an applicant for international protection, when you file and while the application is processed;
have stayed in Spain continuously for at least two years before applying (family arraigo has no minimum stay). Time spent while an asylum claim was pending does not count;
have no criminal record in Spain or in the countries where you lived during the 5 years before entering Spain. The foreign certificate is not needed if you have lived in Spain continuously for 5 years (art. 130.2);
not be a threat to public order, security or public health, and not be listed as refused entry under Spain's agreements;
not be within a period during which you committed not to return to Spain;
new since RD 316/2026: not already hold a stay or residence authorisation, and not have another stay or residence application pending.

The Ministry's information sheets for some types state that absences during the two-year period should not exceed 90 days. Keep evidence of your continuous presence: municipal registration (padrón), medical records, receipts, school records and so on.

The five types of arraigo at a glance

Type	For whom	Key requirement	Permit
Second chance (segunda oportunidad)	People who had a residence permit in the last 2 years but could not renew it	2 years' stay; the previous permit was not lost for public-order reasons	1 year, work allowed
Socio-labour (sociolaboral)	People with a job offer	Contract(s) at minimum wage or collective-agreement pay, totalling at least 20 hours a week	1 year, work allowed
Social (social)	People with family ties or proven integration	Family ties with legal residents and means, or an integration report	1 year, work allowed
Socio-training (socioformativo)	People enrolled in training	Enrolment in qualifying training, plus an integration report	1 year, employee work up to 30 h/week
Family (familiar)	Parents or carers of EU/EEA/Swiss nationals	Care of an EU/EEA/Swiss minor, or of an EU/EEA/Swiss national with a disability	5 years, work allowed

1. Second-chance arraigo

For people who held a residence permit (not one granted for exceptional circumstances) during the two years before applying, but who could not renew it for reasons other than public order, security or public health (art. 127.a). To renew it later, you must be actively looking for work and registered with the public employment service, with exceptions for illness, disability or retirement age.

2. Socio-labour arraigo

You need one or more employment contracts paying at least the minimum wage, or the collective-agreement wage, in proportion to the hours worked, and totalling at least 20 hours a week (art. 127.b). Several contracts are accepted, for example simultaneous part-time jobs. Once the application is admitted, you can work provisionally. Once it is granted, you must be registered with Social Security within one month for the permit to take effect.

3. Social arraigo

For people with family ties to legal residents in Spain (spouse or registered partner, or first-degree relatives), together with means of at least 100% of the IPREM (€600 a month). The Ministry's information sheet reads this requirement more strictly, applying it to both the relative and the applicant. Without family ties, you need a favourable social integration report from your autonomous community or town council (art. 127.c).

4. Socio-training arraigo

For people enrolled in, or taking, qualifying training: post-compulsory secondary education, vocational training or professional certificates, or in-person adult education. A commitment to public employment service training for shortage occupations also qualifies (art. 127.d).

You must prove enrolment within 3 months of the grant.
You may work as an employee for up to 30 hours a week.
To renew, you must show you have progressed in your training.

5. Family arraigo

For the parent or guardian of a minor who is an EU, EEA or Swiss national, who has the child in their care, and for a family member who cares for an EU/EEA/Swiss national with a disability (art. 127.e). There is no minimum stay and the permit lasts 5 years. Parents of Spanish children now follow a separate route in the regulation.

Processing, decisions and renewals

Deadline: the office must decide within 3 months. If it does not, the application is treated as refused (negative silence), and it can be appealed.
Incomplete files: you get up to 15 days to complete them, otherwise the application is treated as withdrawn.
Work rights: arraigo permits allow work as an employee or self-employed anywhere in Spain, except socio-training (employee only, up to 30 hours a week).
Renewal: apply in the 2 months before expiry, or up to 3 months after it (a fine may apply).

What about the 2026 extraordinary regularisation?

Royal Decree 316/2026 created a one-off extraordinary arraigo for people who were in Spain before 1 January 2026. The application window closed on 30 June 2026. If you applied, your file follows those special rules. If you did not, the ordinary arraigo types above are the route. In July 2026 the Supreme Court annulled several provisions of the regulation, but not the arraigo articles.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I need to live in Spain for arraigo?

Two years of continuous stay for second-chance, socio-labour, social and socio-training arraigo. Family arraigo has no minimum stay.

Can I work with an arraigo permit?

Yes, as an employee or self-employed anywhere in Spain. The exception is socio-training arraigo, which allows employee work of up to 30 hours a week.

What happens if I get no answer?

The office has 3 months to decide. If it does not, the application is treated as refused (negative silence), and you can appeal.

Is the 2026 extraordinary regularisation still open?

No. Applications under Royal Decree 316/2026 could be filed until 30 June 2026.

Sources

Related guides

This article is general information based on the rules in force on 13 October 2026. It is not legal advice for your specific case, and immigration practice can vary between offices.

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