Regularize your status in Spain with an arraigo application
We handle your case until you get a favorable decision
We analyze your case, explain the best path for you and support you throughout the process.
Arraigo specialists
We're a specialized team with more than 7 years of experience helping migrants.
Nationwide coverage
We work with clients all over Spain and offer human, clear and personal support.
We see it through to the end
We take care of the whole process: from the paperwork to the final decision.
Personalized consultation
We work out with you which type of arraigo really fits your case, without mistakes.
What is arraigo?
Learn about the different types of arraigo
A temporary residence permit you can obtain in Spain under certain exceptional circumstances, such as having lived here for 2 years, having EU family members, having experienced violence or being in training.
Socio-labor
If you've been in Spain for at least 2 years and have a valid job offer, you can apply for this type of residence. It's ideal if you've already found a job and need to regularize your status so you can work legally.
Socio-training
If you've been in Spain for 2 years and enroll in an approved training program, you can apply for this arraigo. It's an ideal option if you want to study and start working legally while you train.
Second-chance arraigo
If you've been in Spain for 2 years and previously had a permit you couldn't renew, you may qualify for this arraigo. It's an alternative if your previous residence permit expired for reasons beyond your control.
Social Arraigo
If you've been in Spain for at least 2 years and have family ties or an integration report, this arraigo lets you obtain legal residence. It's a good option if you're already part of a community here and want to regularize your status.
Family Arraigo
If you have a Spanish child or you care for a family member with Spanish nationality, family arraigo may be your route to legal residence. It's an option designed for people who already have strong ties in Spain and want to regularize their status.
Residence on Exceptional Grounds
If you've been through difficult situations such as violence, serious illness or danger in your home country, you can apply for this residence permit. It's designed to protect people who need to stay in Spain for compelling reasons beyond their control.
Talk to our experts with no obligation
Get your questions answered by our professionals. If you decide to move forward with us, we'll deduct the cost of the consultation.
What Our Clients Say
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+998 successful cases for foreign nationals and 7 years of
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What are the general requirements for arraigo?
They depend on the type of arraigo, but the most common ones are:
2 years in Spain
Having lived in Spain for the last 2 years without long absences.
No criminal record
Not having a recent criminal record.
Ties
Having family ties, a job offer or being enrolled in a valid training program.
Documents and fees
Submitting all the required documents and paying the fees.
What do you need?
The documents depend on the type of arraigo, but these are the most common:
- Valid passport
- Documents proving your situation (family, work, training or medical).
- Proof that you have lived in Spain for the last 2 years (municipal registration, or empadronamiento).
- Criminal record certificate, legalized or apostilled.
- Being in Spain and not being an applicant for international protection, either at the time of filing or while the application is being processed.
- Social integration report issued by the regional government (Comunidad Autónoma) (applies to social and socio-training arraigo)
Don't worry, we'll help you gather everything and review it with you.
Comparison of the types of arraigo
| Type of Arraigo | Years required in Spain | Key requirement | Is a Social Integration report required? | Card validity | Does it allow you to work? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Social | 2 years | Family ties or integration | Yes (when there are no first-degree, direct-line family ties) | 1 year | Yes |
Socio-training | 2 years | Being enrolled in official training or committing to take it | Yes | 1 year | Yes |
Socio-labor | 2 years | Having 1 or more employment contracts (minimum 20h/week) | No | 1 year | Yes |
Family | Not applicable | Being the father/mother of an EU-citizen minor | No | 5 years* | Yes |
Second chance | 2 years | Having held a residence permit | No | 1 year | Yes |
Humanitarian reasons | Not applicable | Serious illness arising after arrival, being a victim of crime, or danger to their safety or their family's | No | 1 year | Yes |
| Social Arraigo | |
|---|---|
Required stay in Spain | 2 years |
Key requirement | Family ties or integration |
Is a Social Integration report required? | Yes (when there are no first-degree, direct-line family ties) |
Card validity | 1 year |
Does it allow you to work? | Yes |
| Socio-Training Arraigo | |
|---|---|
Required stay in Spain | 2 years |
Key requirement | Being enrolled in official training or committing to take it |
Is a Social Integration report required? | Yes |
Card validity | 1 year |
Does it allow you to work? | Yes |
| Socio-Labor Arraigo | |
|---|---|
Required stay in Spain | 2 years |
Key requirement | Having 1 or more employment contracts (minimum 20h/week) |
Is a Social Integration report required? | No |
Card validity | 1 year |
Does it allow you to work? | Yes |
| Second-chance arraigo | |
|---|---|
Required stay in Spain | 2 years |
Key requirement | Having held a residence permit |
Is a Social Integration report required? | No |
Card validity | 1 year |
Does it allow you to work? | Yes |
| Family Arraigo | |
|---|---|
Required stay in Spain | Not applicable |
Key requirement | Being the mother/father of an EU-citizen minor |
Is a Social Integration report required? | No |
Card validity | 5 years* |
Does it allow you to work? | Yes |
| Humanitarian reasons | |
|---|---|
Required stay in Spain | Not applicable |
Key requirement | Serious illness arising after arrival, being a victim of crime, or danger to their safety or their family's |
Is a Social Integration report required? | No |
Card validity | 1 year |
Does it allow you to work? | Yes |
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How Can We Help You?
Forget about the stress of dealing with complex legal procedures alone. We accompany you at every stage to ensure fluidity, efficiency, and clarity.
UPDATED
Arraigo
If you are without a residence permit, this permit allows you to regularize your situation in Spain for reasons such as time of residence, having Spanish children or special situations.
UPDATED
Residence Permits
For those who cannot apply for the EU family member card (tarjeta comunitaria). It also applies to relatives of Spanish citizens, who must now apply for residence through this route.
UPDATED
Entrepreneurs & Global Mobility
If you are going to invest, set up a business or work in Spain as a qualified professional, this permit allows you to do so legally.
UPDATED
Spanish Nationality
It is the last step to becoming a Spanish citizen. You can apply for it by residence, birth, option or naturalization letter. We help you submit it with every safeguard in place.
UPDATED
Student Visa and Stay for Studies
If you're coming to study, volunteer or take courses for more than 90 days, you need this permit. It can be renewed, but it doesn't count toward applying for nationality later.
UPDATED
Taxes
We help you understand and meet your tax obligations if you live, work or do business in Spain. It doesn't matter whether you're a resident or a foreign national.
Don't hesitate to contact us!
Arraigo and residence
How long does it take to get a decision on an arraigo (residence based on ties to Spain) application?
The legal deadline for a decision is three months from the day after your application is entered in the registry of the competent office. If those three months pass without notification, the law treats it as rejected by administrative silence, which doesn't stop you from appealing. In practice, actual processing times vary quite a bit by province.
What's the difference between social, socio-labor, socio-training, family and second-chance arraigo?
Social, socio-labor, socio-training and second-chance arraigo all start from two years of continuous stay in Spain, and they differ in what else you need to prove: family ties or an integration report from your autonomous community or city council for social arraigo; one or more employment contracts for socio-labor; being enrolled in, or committing to, official training for socio-training; and having previously held a permit you couldn't renew for second-chance arraigo. Family arraigo works differently: it's for parents of a Spanish minor or dependent family members, and it doesn't hinge on that time-in-Spain requirement.
Can my arraigo be denied if I have a criminal record?
The official requirement is having no criminal record in Spain or in the countries where you've lived during the last five years. A record that has already been expunged doesn't count, and not every conviction weighs the same: the authorities assess the case as a whole. If you have doubts about your specific situation, it's the first thing worth checking before you submit anything.
What documents do I need to prove my two years in Spain?
Your historical municipal registration certificate (padrón histórico) is the main proof, because it shows both continuity and dates. Back it up with your passport and its entry stamps, medical reports, enrollment records or course certificates, and any dated document that places you in Spain. Keep in mind that absences from Spain can't exceed 90 days within that period.
Can I work while my arraigo application is being processed?
No: permission to work comes with the authorization, not with the application. Once granted, social arraigo lets you work as an employee or self-employed, with no restrictions by region or occupation, and it's valid for one year, renewable if you still meet the requirements.
How much does it cost to apply for arraigo with a lawyer?
These are two separate things. One is the administrative fee you pay when you submit your application, which is set by the government. The other is professional fees, which depend on the type of arraigo, whether you need an integration report and the state of your documents. We give you a fixed price at the first consultation, before we start, and if you decide to move forward with us, we deduct the cost of that consultation.
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