In short: Instructions SEM 4/2025 (Secretariat of State for Migration) set out uniform criteria for issuing the social integration report (informe de arraigo) required for temporary residence authorisations by arraigo social (social rootedness) and arraigo socioformativo (socio-educational rootedness) under the new Royal Decree 1155/2024 of 19 November (Regulation of Organic Law 4/2000). The report is issued by the regional or local authority of the habitual residence, within a maximum of 1 month, is free of charge and is valid for 6 months.
In person or by representative? The process has two parts: (1) requesting the report from the regional/local authority (a representative may be accepted depending on local rules); (2) submitting the residence authorisation application to the Oficina de Extranjería (generally requires personal attendance). Check with your local authority and your competent Oficina de Extranjería.
Legal framework: Art.31.3 of Organic Law 4/2000 provides for arraigo; Art.68.3 sets the minimum content of the report; Arts.125–127 of RD 1155/2024 regulate the types of arraigo (social and socio-educational); Art.127(c) requires the report for arraigo social when no family ties are proved, and Art.127(d) requires it for arraigo socioformativo.
Instruction ONE — scope: the report is required for arraigo social (when no qualifying family ties exist) and for arraigo socioformativo.
Instruction TWO — issuing authority and deadlines:
- Issued by the regional (CCAA) or local authority (Ayuntamiento) of the person's habitual residence (per the padrón municipal at the time of the report request, regardless of how long they have been registered).
- Maximum deadline: 1 month from request.
- The report must reflect integration over the 2 years immediately preceding the request.
- Valid for 6 months from date of issue.
- The report is free of charge.
- If not issued within 1 month, the applicant may submit substitute documentation directly to the Oficina de Extranjería (not before the 1-month deadline has passed).
- The Oficina de Extranjería will only take into account a report that is favourable and submitted by the applicant themselves.
Instruction THREE — mandatory content:
- Name, passport number and (if applicable) NIE of the applicant.
- Issue date (within the 6 months before submission of the residence application).
- Issuing authority.
- Evidence of continuous residence in Spain for at least 2 years before the application.
Optional content (may be included): participation in training activities; knowledge of constitutional, EU and community values; language learning; participation in social integration programmes; housing availability (empadronamiento certificate = presumption of housing); potential means of support; family ties with relatives in Spain.
Substitute documentation (if report not issued on time): empadronamiento certificates; private documents evidencing ties with public institutions; training certificates; language learning certificates; social programme participation certificates; banking documents or public benefit resolutions; family tie documentation.
Transitional provisions: reports issued under RD 557/2011 (previous regulation) are accepted when: issued before 20 May 2025, or requested before 20 May 2025 and issued after RD 1155/2024 entered into force. Issue date must fall within the 6 months before the authorisation application.
Official source: Instructions SEM 4/2025 — PDF Migraciones.
Informational only; check the official source and a professional for your specific case.