Arraigo in Spain: The Five Routes Under the 2025 Regulation Compared
Spain's 2025 immigration regulation rebuilt the arraigo permits for people already living in the country. This table-led guide compares the five routes and explains where Madrid residents apply.
Arraigo is the group of residence permits for foreigners who already live in Spain, including without papers. Under Real Decreto 1155/2024, in force since May 20, 2025, there are five routes: social, sociolaboral, socioformativo, familiar and second-chance. Most require two years of continuous stay in Spain and give a one-year permit that allows work.
What changed with the 2025 regulation?
The regulation replaced the old immigration rules of 2011. The main changes for arraigo were:
- the minimum stay fell from three years to two for most routes;
- the job-based routes no longer require a single full-time contract;
- a new second-chance route covers people who lost a previous permit;
- work is allowed from the moment the permit is granted on all routes.
In April 2026 the government amended the regulation again and opened an extraordinary regularization for people in Spain before January 1, 2026. Applications for that process closed on June 30, 2026; the ordinary arraigo routes below remain open.
How do the five arraigo routes compare?
| Route | Time in Spain | Main requirement | First permit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arraigo sociolaboral | 2 years, continuous | One or more employment contracts totaling at least 20 hours a week, paying at least the minimum wage or the sector agreement | 1 year |
| Arraigo social | 2 years, continuous | Family ties with legal residents or a favorable integration report, plus sufficient means; no contract needed | 1 year |
| Arraigo socioformativo | 2 years, continuous | Enrolment in, or commitment to, recognized training such as vocational courses leading to an official certificate | 1 year, renewable while training continues |
| Arraigo familiar | No minimum | A qualifying family link, such as being the parent of a minor who is an EU citizen, under the conditions in the regulation | 5 years |
| Arraigo de segunda oportunidad | Linked to a previous permit | You held a residence permit (not one for exceptional circumstances) in the past two years and could not renew it | 1 year |
All routes share general conditions: no criminal record in Spain or in the countries where you lived in the previous years, not being under an entry ban, and paying the fee. Each route has its own information sheet (hoja informativa) on extranjeros.inclusion.gob.es with the full list of documents. Check it before filing, because the details and the accepted proof are longer than any summary.
What does each route ask for in practice?
Sociolaboral
This route suits people with a real job offer. Contracts can be with more than one employer, as long as together they reach the hours and pay required. Once the application is admitted, the applicant can be provisionally authorized to work for an employer, and Social Security registration must follow the grant.
Social
This route does not need a job. It rests on links with Spain: family members with legal residence, or an integration report (informe de integración) issued by the regional or municipal social services. In Madrid the report is requested from the Comunidad de Madrid, and the process can take weeks. Applicants also show sufficient means, with the IPREM benchmark, €600 a month as of November 2026, used as the reference.
Socioformativo
This route is for people who will train. Holders can work up to 30 hours a week while studying. When the training ends, the permit can be changed to another type if the conditions are met.
Familiar
This route gives the longest first permit and does not require two years in Spain. Family members of Spanish nationals have a separate procedure in the new regulation, so check which one applies to you.
Second chance
This route is for people who fell out of legal status, for example because a renewal was filed late or refused. It does not apply when a long-term residence permit was cancelled.
How do you prove two years in Spain?
The two years must be continuous. Absences are limited, and long trips abroad can break the count. Typical evidence includes:
- registration on the padrón, often the strongest proof; see how to register on the Madrid padrón;
- medical records from the public health system;
- school records of children, rental contracts, bank or money transfer receipts;
- attendance at courses or associations.
Documents with your name and dates spread across the whole period work better than a pile from the last few months.
Where do Madrid residents apply?
Arraigo applications go to the Oficina de Extranjería of the province where you live. Most applicants in Madrid now file online through the Ministry’s Mercurio platform or the general electronic registry, with a digital certificate, Cl@ve or a representative. The steps are explained in the Oficina de Extranjería in Madrid.
- Choose the route that fits your situation and download its information sheet.
- Collect your passport, criminal record certificates (legalized and translated where needed) and proof of stay.
- Add the route-specific documents: contracts, integration report, enrolment or family records.
- Pay the fee on form 790 code 052 and file the application.
- If granted, book the fingerprint appointment within one month and get your TIE card.
The law gives the office three months to decide, and silence counts as refusal for initial applications. Because arraigo cases depend heavily on the documents, consider asking a licensed abogado de extranjería or a nonprofit legal clinic to review your file before filing. This guide explains the rules but is not legal advice for an individual case.
Bottom line
Start building proof of residence from your first month in Spain, even if arraigo is two years away: register on the padrón, keep medical and school papers and store them by date. Pick the route by the documents you can prove, not by the permit you would prefer.
FAQ
Can I apply for arraigo while I have a valid permit?
Generally no. After the April 2026 amendment, the ordinary arraigo routes are not available to people who already hold a stay or residence permit or have a related procedure open.
Can I work while my arraigo application is pending?
Only in the cases the regulation allows, such as the provisional work authorization in the sociolaboral route after admission. Otherwise, wait for the decision.
What happens after the first year?
You can renew or move to another permit type if you meet its conditions, such as work or self-employment.
Does arraigo count towards Spanish nationality?
Yes, time with a legal residence permit counts. Time before the permit does not.
