The arraigo social can be your best alternative to regularize your situation, obtain residency and start working in Spain. In this article you will discover all its requirements in detail, how long does the process takes, how to apply for it, and much more. The definitive guide that will clear all your doubts!

Key takeaways

  • What it is: a one-year temporary residence permit for non-EU foreigners in an irregular situation in Spain, based on family ties with a legal resident or on social integration, which you can apply for without leaving the country.
  • Requirements: continuous irregular stay in Spain with no more than 90 days of absence, no criminal record in Spain or abroad in the past 5 years, and an interview with your local council.
  • Integration report: issued by the Autonomous Community or town hall after an interview; officially it takes 30 days and is valid for 6 months, and family ties with a legal resident make it unnecessary.
  • How to apply: get the report at the town hall first, then book an appointment at the immigration office with form EX 10, your criminal records, the census and the 790/052 fee (€38.28).
  • Timing: the whole process usually takes 3 to 4 months, and the administration has up to 3 months to reply. Once approved, you have 30 days to register your fingerprints and get the TIE.
  • Renewal: after the first year you can extend it for another year or switch to an ordinary residence and work authorisation valid for 2 years, which is usually the better option.

What is arraigo social?

Arraigo social is a temporary residence and work permit designed for foreigners who have been living in Spain for 2 years and are in an irregular situation. It is one of the easiest ways for any non-European Union citizen to legalize their situation in the country.

To achieve this, you must prove either a family relationship with a foreigner legally resident in Spain, or your social integration through a favorable report, in addition to meeting the rest of the requirements that we will see below.

And without the need to get it from your country of origin (and therefore, being able to complete the entire process from Spain).

This process is regulated by Law 4200 of the immigration regulation and Royal Decree 1155/2024; and undoubtedly, after the reform of the immigration regulations, it has undergone important and advantageous modifications.

How long do I need to be in Spain in order to get social arraigo?

You must have stayed for a minimum of 2 years irregularly in the country. 

In addition, within those years you can’t have left the country (i.e., do not register absences) for more than 90 days.

What are the main requirements to get arraigo social in Spain?

The requirements to apply for this type of arraigo procedure are different depending on the Autonomous Community you live in. However, most of them are general, so here you will find the main ones. 

  • First of all, you must prove that you have resided for a total of two years in Spain illegally. 
  • It is important that you are a citizen from outside the European Union, the EEA, and Switzerland
  • Prove a family bond (spouse, registered partner, or parents/children) with a foreigner legally resident in Spain, or a favorable social integration report, issued by the Autonomous Community or the town hall of your home
  • Accredit sufficient financial means: if it is due to a family relationship, the family member must have at least 100% of the IPREM (7,200€ annually), and you must have another 100% (200% in total); If it is through an integration report, you must prove at least 100% of the IPREM yourself
  • Pass an interview with your local council
  • No criminal background records, neither in Spain nor in your country of origin, during the past 5 years.
  • If the autonomous community in which you live has a second language, you must show that you understand and speak it. In order to do this, and for example in the case of Catalonia, you will have to take a 45-hour Catalan course

In the following questions, we will resolve the main doubts about each of these requirements in greater detail.

But remember that, if due to your particular circumstances and the main requirements, you cannot apply for social grounding, there are still 3 other types of arraigo that you may be able to apply for. 

I want to talk to a lawyer

Can I apply for arraigo without a job contract?

Yes, it is entirely possible to successfully apply for social arraigo without having a job offer.

This requirement, that of needing an employment contract for your social arraigo, no longer applies. Since RD 1155/2024, the roots that require you to have an employment contract are socio-labor arraigo, the new figure that replaces the work roots that we knew.

Therefore, you will no longer need to have a contract with a company, nor start your business plan as a self-employed worker, to be eligible for residency due to social arraigo.

Social arraigo through your own economic means

On the other hand, there are cases in which it is not necessary to provide an employment contract because you have sufficient financial means on your own (therefore, you do not need to start any activity on your own).

In other words, you are able to demonstrate that, through one of the 2 options that we will now see, you have access to enough money to support yourself in Spain for a year.

We are talking about 2 main options:

  • First of all, the cases in which you yourself directly have sufficient means (for example, in your bank account)
  • And, on the other hand, it is also entirely possible to make the application through the funds of a direct relative with whom you must be living with. This would be the case, for example, of a spouse who works and can support you (in which case you should provide the marriage certificate or registration of civil partnership).

In either of these two cases, you must first provide these economic means when requesting the social integration report. This document will state that there is no need to present the job offer in the application with the immigration office.

But what exactly is the amount of money you should prove?

We are talking about an amount very similar to that of family reunification, now objectively set at 100% of the Minimum Vital Income, about €590 per month, in all immigration offices.

Finally, you should note that under this option, the exceptional circumstances authorization you will get will not contain a work permit (so you will not be able to work in the country).

How can I prove that I have lived in Spain for two years?

The easiest and most common way is to do it through the census and the “histórico empadronamiento”. The census is the document that shows in which city hall you are registered with and where you live. 

The most common is that when a foreigner enters Spain, he or she registers in the town hall of his or her city or town. And the immigration office takes this date as the beginning of the time lived in Spain.

How can I apply for Spanish residency through arraigo social?

The procedure for obtaining this type of temporary residence can be divided into the following phases:

Entry to Spain and live in the country for three years

The first step is simple. The foreigner arrives in Spain and begins to live in the Spanish territory for three continuous years. As previously mentioned, they must be in an irregular situation. 

Although it seems that absolutely nothing has to be done in this step, this is not entirely true. By the time the application is made, and as we have seen in previous sections, we must be able to demonstrate that we have indeed been living in Spain.

That is why the foreigner should register her address (preferably), and begin to integrate with the country. That is to say, it will be very beneficial if you can register in centers or social clubs such as libraries, start paying rent, etc.

Appointment with the town hall

After two years in Spain, you will start the legal procedure. The first thing will be to get an appointment with the town hall. During this appointment, you will mainly submit a set of documents (we will see them in the next section), and fill a form out.

Once they verify that everything is correct and nothing is missing, they will schedule a personal interview with you.  In this interview, they will check that you speak and understand Spanish (as well as Catalan in the case of Catalonia), and will ask a series of questions to see if you are really integrated into Spanish society.

In the case of passing the interview, they have 30 days to issue the favourable report. And with that report, we can move on to the next step.

Please note that the integration report is valid for 6 months from its issuance, so it is advisable not to delay submitting the application once obtained.

Appointment with the immigration office

Once you have the favorable report, you will be able to get an appointment with the foreigner’s office to apply for the residency. The list of documents to provide is different in this case (we will also see them below).

To get an appointment for the social arraigo, you can do so by clicking here.

You will have to choose your region, the procedure, and see the available dates on the platform. Please note that, depending on the time of year, you may experience certain delays and may not be able to get an appointment until a few months from now.

After a maximum of 3 months of waiting for an answer, the application will be approved.

You can get to know if your arraigo social application was approved through an electronic notification. If you rely on our lawyer team to handle the entire procedure, we will call you right after your application has been approved to notify you.

Finally, with the positive resolution, you will have 30 days to go to a police station, register your fingerprints, and get the TIE or identification card as a foreigner. And with that, you will already have temporary residence in Spain, being able to live and work legally in the country for one year. 

Documents for social arraigo

As we have seen in the previous section, each phase of the process requires different documents. So that is why we wanted to divide the answer into two different sections:

Documents to provide at the appointment with the city hall

  • Passport (original and copy)
  • NIE number (if the foreigner has it, otherwise, there would be no problem)
  • Town hall registry (census) together with the historical census
  • If possible, rental contract or deed of ownership of the housing in which you are living
  • In the case of having family ties with legal residents in Spain, documentation that proves it. This point helps enormously to achieve a successful application
  • Filling out the application form for the arraigo report, which you will be given directly there.
  • If you live in Catalonia, you should take a 45-hour Catalan course and provide documentation showing that you have completed it
  • Any document or card that proves your integration with the country, such as a library card

Documents to be provided at the appointment at the Immigration Office

  • Again, copy of passport and, if you have one, NIE number
  • Application form EX 10, completed and signed
  • Census and historic, showing a minimum of 3 years in the country
  • Favorable report from the Autonomous Community obtained after the personal interview
  • Criminal records, properly legalized and translated into Spanish
  • Accreditation of family ties (for example, with a marriage certificate, birth or civil partnership certificate)
  • Documentation proving financial means: if it is by family link, proof of income/savings of the family member (100% IPREM) and your own (100% IPREM); If it is by integration report, proof of your own means (100% IPREM).
  • Payment of the 790/052 fee

Regarding criminal records, please note that in general, they must be valid for a maximum of 6 months. It will not be necessary to provide them in case of either being able to prove five years of continuous stay in Spain or a reiteration in a previous application (without having left Spain).

I want to talk to a lawyer

Integration report for your arraigo application

The social integration report is one of the key documents required for your arraigo application that you will obtain after you have demonstrated that you actually have a link with the region in which you have resided for 2 years.

In addition to the 2 years in Spain, one of the most important requirements to be able to obtain social roots is to be able to demonstrate integration with Spanish society and, more specifically, with the region in which you are located.

If you have first-degree relatives in Spain (i.e., parents, children, grandparents, spouse, etc.), it is way easier, as this will be sufficient proof to demonstrate this link.

However, if this is not the case (which is usually the most common), you will have to apply for the so-called social integration report.

To obtain this report successfully means fulfilling a series of requirements that are specified by each Autonomous Community and that are understood as sufficient to demonstrate the link with the region.

For example, in Catalonia this means taking Catalan courses to be able to verify that you speak the language (a course of approximately 40 hours); while in other places we can find Spanish courses in case it is not your native language.

In addition, another point that is highly valued for the achievement of this report is the participation in some associations, interactions with the neighborhood, use of municipal public services, and any other similar undertaking.

Generally, obtaining this report is not a complicated task, and it is not usually rejected. However, it is always essential to know in detail how the process works and to comply with the requirements thoroughly. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail, and through this post we will solve all your doubts so that you can succeed.

Again, and this point is very important, if you have a family member in Spain, it is NOT necessary to request the report.

For the rest of the foreigners, let’s see how this process works step by step.

How can you obtain this report?

The way and steps to get this report depend on and vary according to the Autonomous Community where you are.

That is to say, it is not the same process in Madrid as in Barcelona.

However, in general, this process starts at the town hall where you live and will always consist of an interview with a public worker at the town hall or local government.

This interview will mainly measure your level of Spanish or the language of the autonomous community in case you have your own language (for example, in Catalonia your level of Catalan will be measured); as well as understanding what exactly you are doing in Spain and what your plans are in the country.

If Spanish is your native language, the interview will most likely be by telephone, and you will not have to go in person (this is, for example, what happens in Madrid).

However, if it is not, you will probably have to go in person for your arraigo interview with the social services officer after making an appointment.

In this interview, you will have to bring with you all the requirements of the arraigo social employment contract (with the required characteristics), criminal record certificate, proof that you have been in Spain for at least 2 years, etc.

Who issues the social arraigo report?

As we have already mentioned, the report for arraigo is issued by the Autonomous Community in which you have your habitual residence as a foreigner, or by the corresponding town hall if that is what is specified by the government of the Autonomous Community.

Here you can find the complete list of institutions in charge of issuing it according to the region where you are, something that will be essential to understand in view of the particularities of the procedure.

As you can see, it is a document that depends on regional regulations, and therefore the requirements to obtain it also vary depending on where you live.

How much does it cost?

Just as the procedure differs depending on the region you are in, so does the cost of the fee to be paid.

For example, in Madrid the cost is 30,30 €; while in cities like Barcelona it is totally free and there is no associated cost.

I want to talk to a lawyer

How long does it take to get the integration report for arraigo?

Generally, on any official web page, you will see that the official time specified is 30 days from the date of application. However, you will usually receive the report by email after approximately 2 weeks, so the process after the interview is quite fast (although sometimes there may be longer delays).

Once you receive it, you will be able to finally start your application for social arraigo at the immigration office, attaching this report to the rest of the necessary documentation.

However, keep in mind that it is best not to request any other documents from your country of origin until you receive this report.

Criminal records have an expiration date of 3 months, and if you request them before you receive your arraigo report (which can experience certain delays), you will have to request the criminal records again since they could have expired.

How long is the process?

The total time depends on different factors. However, it usually takes 3 to 4 months from beginning to end.

But everything will depend on:

  1. How long it takes for you to gather and prepare all the necessary documentation.
  2. Getting an appointment at the immigration office.
  3. The time it takes for the administration to emit a favorable response.

Out of these 3 points, the second is the one that can present greater uncertainties. Because preparing all the documents is something relatively fast, and we know that the administration has a total of 3 months to issue its response.

However, the day on which we will get the appointment will depend on the demand and availability of the immigration office at that particular time. 

What questions do they ask in the interview for the arraigo social?

The interview for the arraigo social application in Spain is a crucial step where you need to demonstrate your integration into Spanish society. The social worker or interviewer will ask questions to assess your ties to the community, your understanding of Spanish culture, and your personal and professional circumstances.

Below are some common types of questions you might encounter during the interview:

  • How long have you been living in Spain?
  • Why did you come to Spain, and how did you enter the country?
  • What is your current living situation?
  • Do you have family members living in Spain?
  • Do you have Spanish friends? How did you meet them?
  • How do you support yourself financially?
  • Do you speak Spanish? If so, how did you learn it?
  • What do you know about Spanish culture and traditions?
  • What are your plans for the future in Spain?
  • How do you plan to contribute to Spanish society?
  • What is your educational background?
  • Are you planning to continue your education or professional development?**

These questions aim to assess how well-integrated you are into Spanish society, your ties to the country, and your future intentions. It’s important to be honest and provide as much detail as possible to demonstrate your commitment to living in Spain.

If you don’t have a work contract, they will check if you have sufficient economic means.

Would you like us to help you prepare for the interview so that your application can be approved? Then do not hesitate to contact us. We will provide you with the main questions that are usually asked and help you know how to answer them.  

I want to talk to a lawyer

Can I apply for arraigo without a job contract?

Yes, it is totally possible to get social arraigo in Spain without having an employment contract or job offer.

This requirement, that of needing an employment contract for your social arraigo, no longer applies. Since RD 1155/2024, the roots that require you to have an employment contract are socio-labor roots, the new figure that replaces the work roots that we knew.

Therefore, you will no longer need to have a contract with a company, nor start your business plan as a self-employed worker to be eligible for residency due to social roots.

Arraigo for freelancers or self-employed workers. How does it work? 

As we have seen, social arraigo can become one of the ways to become a self-employed worker in Spain.

Once you have obtained this type of temporary residency due to exceptional circumstances, you will be able to begin to carry out economic activities on your behalf. That is because this residency has a work permit attached to it.

How to renew your arraigo social

After the first year, you have two options:

  • extend your own social arraigo for an additional year
  • modify it towards an ordinary residence and work authorization (employed or self-employed)

This second option is usually preferable when your requirements are met, as it consolidates a more stable situation.

For the extension, you must prove compliance with the initial requirements and that you are actively searching for employment registered in the public employment service.

In specific cases of force majeure, disability or retirement, it will not be necessary to demonstrate the above requirements.

Although there is the possibility of renewal, many people choose to simply modify the permit to a regular residence permit.

So yes, it is possible to modify it to an ordinary residence and work authorization valid for 2 years. In other words, once the first year as a legal foreigner has ended, you can continue being a legal resident if you meet the necessary requirements. In that sense, you can change to a work permit, either as a company’s worker or as a self-employed; or to a non-lucrative residency visa (if you do not want to work).

That’s why we recommend that during the last few months of your arraigo year, you start looking for a job. Otherwise, without one, you won’t be able to renew it. 

How much does the arraigo social procedure cost?

You can get arraigo for about €500. The cost of the procedure is divided into two main parts:

  • The service of the lawyer who will prepare and submit all the documents for you
  • The cost of the corresponding fee to be paid to the immigration office, model 790/052, which is €38.28

As for the legal assistance, at Balcells Group we manage the whole process for you for just €499. This price includes preparing all the necessary documentation, guiding you step by step through the whole process, helping you to prepare for the interview with the town hall, etc.

And all that while eliminating any administrative burden, so that you only need to sign and easily get residency in Spain.

If you have any doubts about the regularization, do not hesitate to contact us. We can start now managing the entire legal application process for you step by step so that you do not worry about anything!

Online booking
Speak with our lawyers

Choose the date that suits you best for a consultation with our lawyers, and let us guide you step by step.

1Choose a service
2Pick a date and time
3Confirm your appointment
Balcells Group
 Online or in-office

Related content of interest: