Royal Decree 1155/2024 — which entered into force on 20 May 2025 — substantially reformed the two most widely used arraigo routes in Spain: arraigo social and what is now called arraigo sociolaboral (formerly arraigo laboral). The differences are critical when choosing which route to apply for: sociolaboral no longer requires proof of past employment — it requires a current, active employment contract — while social requires family ties or community integration, but not formalised employment.
What RD 1155/2024 changed in the arraigo regime
RD 1155/2024, of 19 November 2024, repealed RD 557/2011 and introduced a new Foreigners Regulations with significant changes to the regime of authorisations granted under exceptional circumstances. The most relevant changes to the arraigo routes were:
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Renaming of arraigo laboral to sociolaboral: the name changes, and so do the requirements. The former arraigo laboral required proof of 6 months of past employment (expired contracts). The new arraigo sociolaboral requires an active employment contract at the time of application, with no requirement for prior employment relationships.
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Reduction of the residence requirement for arraigo social from 3 to 2 years: under the previous rules, arraigo social required 3 years of presence in Spain. RD 1155/2024 reduced this to 2 years (the same as sociolaboral), equalising the minimum threshold for both routes.
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Introduction of arraigo socioformativo: a new route (2 years of presence + enrolment in accredited training) that did not exist in the previous regulations.
Arraigo social: detailed requirements
Minimum presence
2 years of continued presence in Spain. Presence must be provable through documents demonstrating actual physical presence (not just administrative records).
Family ties or social integration (alternative)
The applicant must demonstrate one of the following:
Option A — Family ties with legal residents:
- Spouse or registered civil partner who is a legal resident in Spain.
- First-degree ascendants or descendants (parents, children) who are legal residents in Spain.
- Having a NIE is not enough: the family member must hold a valid residence authorisation.
Option B — Social integration report:
- Certificate issued by the municipal council (Ayuntamiento) of the applicant’s place of residence.
- Demonstrates the applicant’s integration into the local community (participation in associations, language proficiency, municipal programmes, social network).
- Issuance time varies: between 4 and 12 weeks depending on the municipality.
- The report does not guarantee approval — it is one element for assessment, and the final decision rests with the Immigration Office.
Additional requirements
- No criminal record in Spain or in countries of previous residence (past 5 years).
- No entry ban in force.
- No active repatriation, expulsion, or return procedure.
Arraigo sociolaboral: detailed requirements
Minimum presence
2 years of continued presence in Spain. Same threshold as arraigo social.
Active employment contract
This is the central, differentiating element. The applicant must provide a signed employment contract that is active at the time of filing. Minimum conditions:
- Working hours: minimum 20 hours per week.
- Salary: must comply with the 2026 statutory minimum wage (SMI: €1,221/month for full-time) and the applicable collective agreement, proportionally adjusted.
- Duration: the contract may be open-ended or fixed-term, but must be active on the date of application.
The employer does not need to be registered in the RED system, and the contract need not be the applicant’s first: any employer or self-employed person meeting the legal requirements for hiring may sign the contract.
Additional requirements
Same as for arraigo social (no criminal record, no entry ban, no active expulsion procedure).
Comparison table: the two routes
| Criterion | Arraigo social | Arraigo sociolaboral |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum presence | 2 years | 2 years |
| Family ties or report required | Yes (legal resident family OR integration report) | No |
| Employment contract required | No | Yes, active at time of application |
| Minimum contract hours | N/A | 20 hours/week |
| Former name | Arraigo social (unchanged) | Arraigo laboral |
| RD 1155/2024 change | Reduction from 3 to 2 years of presence | Old past-employment requirement → current active contract |
| Processed by | Immigration Office | Immigration Office |
| Legal resolution deadline | 3 months | 3 months |
Which route to choose
Choose arraigo social if:
- No formalised job offer is available, or the employer is unwilling to sign a contract before the authorisation is granted.
- There is a spouse, civil partner, or first-degree family member with legal residence in Spain.
- There is solid community integration (associations, volunteering, Spanish language proficiency) that would support a positive integration report.
- The period of irregular status has been prolonged and there is no prospect of immediate employment.
Choose arraigo sociolaboral if:
- An employer is willing to sign a contract before the authorisation is granted.
- The requirements for arraigo social are not met (no legal resident family, uncertain integration report).
- The simplest and most direct route is the priority: documentation is simpler (no municipal report) and processing tends to be more predictable.
BMC’s recommendation: when both routes are viable, the choice should be based on the strength of each element. If the contract is open-ended and the employer is financially sound, arraigo sociolaboral is superior. If the contract is short-term, arraigo social with a solid integration report may be the more robust option for future renewals.
Documentation for arraigo social
- Form EX-10 (or the exceptional circumstances form current at the relevant Immigration Office).
- Passport or national identity document of the applicant.
- Proof of 2 years of presence: historical municipal registration certificate, utility bills, public authority certificates.
- Family ties: marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate, family record book, TIE of the legal resident family member.
- Social integration report from the municipality (if using this route).
- Criminal record certificate (Spain + countries of origin or previous residence over the past 5 years).
Documentation for arraigo sociolaboral
- Form EX-10 or equivalent.
- Passport or identity document.
- Proof of 2 years of presence.
- Signed employment contract by both employer and worker.
- Updated TGSS work history report (vida laboral) — to evidence any prior contributions and verify no other active work authorisation exists.
- Criminal record certificate.
Need to know which arraigo route fits your situation? Speak with BMC’s immigration team.
