Arraigo social in Spain
Arraigo social is the most flexible arraigo route: no employment contract and no enrolment required, just 2 years of residence in Spain plus proven integration - either through a regional integration report or through family ties with legal residents. Since May 2025 the qualifying period was cut from 3 years to 2.
Contents
What it is in plain terms
Arraigo social is a temporary residence authorisation for exceptional circumstances, for people who have actually lived in Spain for at least 2 years and can prove real integration into society (articles 126 and 127.a of the Regulation approved by RD 1155/2024). Unlike arraigo sociolaboral, no employment contract is required: the basis is either a regional integration report or family ties with legal residents. The first card is issued for 1 year and carries full work rights.
Who it fits
It fits people who have actually lived in Spain for 2 years in a row and can document that - regardless of whether they held a residence permit during that period. That covers people who never had legal status at all, and people who did have a permit that later expired or was annulled: arraigo social does not look at your legal-status history, only at the fact of residence itself. Beyond that, you either need to go through a social worker’s integration assessment or have close relatives with legal status in Spain. It works well when there is no steady job or job offer yet, but there are savings, family support or another source of income.
It does not fit: people who already have an employment contract that meets the sociolaboral requirements - that route is usually faster and more predictable for them; asylum seekers; and people who cannot document 2 years of continuous residence.
Requirements 2026
- 2 years of continuous, actual residence in Spain immediately before filing, documented through empadronamiento, medical records, banking activity, children’s school records and other dated, named paperwork.
- One of two integration bases:
- Integration report from the Autonomous Community (or town hall, where delegated) plus income of at least 100% of the IPREM for the applicant.
- Family ties with a legally resident relative in Spain plus combined income of at least 200% of the IPREM (100% for the resident relative and 100% for the applicant).
- Criminal record certificate and apostille: no convictions in Spain or in countries of residence over the last 5 years.
- Not a citizen of the EU, EEA or Switzerland, and not an asylum seeker with a pending application.
- Application fee paid (modelo 790, código 052); the amount is periodically indexed, so check the current figure when filing.
For how the income thresholds are calculated, see income requirement and IPREM.
Right to work
Full right to work, both employed and self-employed, with no restriction on profession, region or a specific employer, from the moment the permit is approved. In that sense arraigo social gives more freedom than sociolaboral, where the right to work is tied to the declared employment contract.
How the process works
The application is filed from inside Spain: in person at the Oficina de Extranjería in your province of residence, or online through the Mercurio platform with a digital certificate.
Step-by-step process
- Request the integration report from your Autonomous Community (or prepare documents proving family ties) - start this early, since the report itself takes time to process.
- Gather the 24-month residence file, criminal record certificates with apostille and sworn translation, and proof of means.
- Complete form EX-10 and file in person or via Mercurio. The fee must be paid within 10 working days of filing.
- The immigration authorities review the application.
- On approval, book a TIE appointment at the police station in your place of residence (fingerprints, photo, card issued).
Timeline and cost
Processing takes up to 3 months from the day after the application is registered; if no decision is issued within that time, the application is deemed rejected by administrative silence (silencio negativo). The fee under modelo 790 (código 052) is set officially and periodically indexed - check the current amount on the administration’s website when filing. The TIE card is issued for a separate fee (modelo 790, código 012). The main extra costs are sworn translations and apostille of the criminal record certificate.
Renewal and the path to permanent residence and citizenship
The first card is valid for 1 year. After that you have two options. The first, and the more reliable one in practice: switch to an ordinary residence permit (employed, self-employed or another basis) under article 191 of the Regulation, if you have work or activity by the renewal date. The second: an annual prórroga of the arraigo itself, but that depends on actively looking for work and registering as a jobseeker (demandante de empleo) with the SEPE, not on re-proving integration, means or family ties; without that, renewal is only possible for a valid reason such as illness, disability or reaching retirement age. Years of legal residence count toward the 5-year threshold for long-term residence, and toward citizenship - generally 10 years of continuous residence, or 2 years for nationals of most Latin American countries, the Philippines and a few others. More on the mechanics: residency renewal.
Common mistakes
- Requesting the integration report too late and losing time while it is being prepared.
- Poorly documenting the 2 years of residence: scattered papers without a continuous timeline.
- Confusing arraigo social with sociolaboral and filing under the wrong basis, when an existing employment contract would have offered a simpler, more predictable route.
- Overlooking the income requirement on the family-ties route: combined income is needed for both the applicant and the resident relative.
Frequently asked questions
How many years of residence does arraigo social require?
At least 2 years of continuous, actual residence in Spain immediately before applying, without absences exceeding the permitted limit. Legal status during that period is not required. This is one year shorter than the 3-year threshold that applied before the May 2025 reform of the regulation.
Do I need an employment contract for arraigo social?
No - that is the key difference from arraigo sociolaboral. Instead of a contract, you prove integration through one of two routes: a regional integration report plus income at or above the IPREM, or family ties with a legally resident relative in Spain plus combined income for both of you.
What is the social integration report (informe de integración social)?
An assessment issued by your Autonomous Community or, where the power has been delegated, your town hall. It usually involves an interview with a social worker who evaluates your language level, ties to the local community and overall integration. Request it well before filing the main application, as it takes time on its own.
Does arraigo social give the right to work?
Yes, in full: both employed and self-employed, with no restriction to a specific employer or profession. That makes it more flexible than sociolaboral, where the right to work is tied to the declared employment contract.
Do I need to work to renew arraigo social?
No, renewing does not require employment. The annual prórroga of arraigo social depends on actively looking for work and registering as a jobseeker (demandante de empleo) with the SEPE employment service, not on re-proving integration or income. Without that, you can only renew for a valid reason such as illness, disability or reaching retirement age. The alternative is switching to an ordinary employed or self-employed residence permit under article 191 of the Regulation, if you already have work or activity by the renewal date.
Does arraigo social work if my digital nomad or entrepreneur permit was annulled?
In principle, yes: arraigo social does not look at your legal-status history, only at 2 years of actual residence and integration. An annulled Ley 14/2013 permit, as opposed to one that simply was not renewed, does not by itself close this route. The exception is annulment on public-order or security grounds, or because of fraud or forged documents. If you lost status within the last 2 years, arraigo de segunda oportunidad is often the faster fit.