In short: arraigo is a residence authorisation on exceptional grounds for people in an irregular situation with ties to Spain; the new RD 1155/2024 (in force 20 May 2025) sets five types and generally requires 2 years of stay.
In person or by representative? It depends on the type: sociolaboral, social, familiar and segunda oportunidad are filed at the Immigration Office or online via Mercurio; the socioformativo sheet only lists the in-person channel (Hojas 27-31). The applicant files personally (a legal representative only for minors or persons with disability); see each type's guide.
Common requirement: about 2 years of continuous stay in Spain (absences no longer than 90 days) and no relevant criminal record. The authorisation allows working; the first one usually lasts 1 year, renewable.
Types (RD 1155/2024 + Instruction SEM 1/2025) — each with its full guide:
- Socio-labour: one or more work contracts adding up to ≥20 h/week, paid at least the minimum wage or collective agreement pro-rata. Provisional right to work from admission for processing.
- Social: family ties with a legal resident (spouse or registered partner and first-degree direct-line relatives) plus economic means (200% of IPREM in total), or — without ties — a social-integration report from the region/town hall.
- Socio-training: enrolled in or having applied for regulated training (post-compulsory secondary, grade-C professional certificates levels 1-3, adult education) or committing to a SEPE course for hard-to-fill occupations; an integration report is required.
- Family: now restricted to family of EU/EEA/Swiss citizens (parent/guardian of an EU minor, or carer of an EU person with a disability). The only type with no minimum stay.
- Second chance: for someone who held a (non-exceptional) residence permit within the previous 2 years and could not renew it for reasons unrelated to public order, with 2 years of continuous stay.
The extraordinary arraigo of RD 316/2026 (regularisation) no longer accepts applications: the window closed on 30 June 2026.
Official source: Immigration Regulation (RD 1155/2024); per-type requirements at inclusion.gob.es and Instruction SEM 1/2025.
Informational only; exact requirements and documents vary by type and office — check the official source and a professional for your case.
