Royal Decree 1155/2024, of 19 November, introduced significant changes to the Foreigners Regulations (replacing RD 557/2011, in force since 20 May 2025) and expanded the arraigo catalogue to five modalities. This guide explains how each one works, what requirements it imposes and, above all, how to choose the most appropriate route for each personal situation.
Have you been in Spain for only 5 months before 31/12/2025? The 2026 extraordinary regularisation (deadline 30 June 2026) has a far lower residence threshold than any arraigo modality. Read the full analysis here.
The five arraigo modalities
Arraigo (literally “rootedness” or “ties”) is the mechanism that allows foreign nationals in irregular status to obtain a residence and work authorisation in Spain by proving continuous stay in the country and, depending on the modality, certain social, labour or educational ties. All modalities are governed by Articles 124 et seq. of Royal Decree 557/2011 (RLOEx), as amended by RD 1155/2024.
1. Social arraigo
Requirements:
- 2 years of continuous stay in Spain (periods with a valid residence authorisation excluded).
- No criminal record in Spain or in countries of residence during the last 5 years.
- Not an EU/EEA citizen and no current residence authorisation.
- Proof of family ties with legal residents in Spain (spouse, registered civil partner, first-degree ascendants or descendants) or a social-integration report issued by the municipality or autonomous community of residence.
Key documentation: Historical registration certificate (padrón histórico, minimum 3 years), current registration certificate (volante de empadronamiento), valid passport, criminal record certificate (Spain + countries of residence, apostilled), and family-ties documentation or social-integration report.
Authorisation granted: Residence and work initially for 2 years, renewable under the ordinary regime of Article 71 RLOEx.
2. Arraigo sociolaboral
Requirements:
- 2 years of continuous stay in Spain.
- No criminal record.
- Proof of a current employment contract in force at the time of application, meeting the minimum conditions of an ordinary residence and work authorisation (statutory minimum wage or applicable collective agreement, minimum 20 hours per week).
Main advantage: The residence threshold for arraigo sociolaboral equals arraigo social (2 years), and no social-integration report or family-ties documentation is required.
Main difficulty: Securing a qualifying employment contract before filing is the most complex part for many applicants in irregular status.
Authorisation granted: Residence and work for 2 years.
3. Family arraigo
Requirements:
- Being the father or mother of a minor child of Spanish nationality in the applicant’s custody, or
- Being a direct descendant of a Spanish citizen (child, grandchild) or of a legal resident in Spain, provided that relative is legally resident in Spain.
Important note: This modality does not require a minimum period of stay in Spain. The family connection with Spanish citizens or legal residents is the determining element.
Authorisation granted: Residence (without work rights) for 2 years in the basic version; may include work rights if the applicant proves means of subsistence or a work contract.
4. Arraigo socioformativo (new in RD 1155/2024)
Requirements:
- 2 years of continuous stay in Spain.
- No criminal record.
- Enrolment in a recognised training programme: vocational training (FP) at intermediate or advanced level, secondary school (bachillerato) or any regulated education programme included in the Spanish education system.
Why it matters: Arraigo socioformativo is the most accessible route in terms of qualitative requirements. No family ties, social-integration report or proof of a prior labour relationship is needed — only 2 years of stay and enrolment in training.
Authorisation granted: Residence (initially without work rights) for 1 year (the training period). After completing the programme and proving labour-market integration, it may be renewed as a residence and work authorisation.
5. Second-chance arraigo (new in RD 1155/2024)
Requirements:
- Having held a residence and work authorisation in Spain continuously for at least 2 years.
- Less than 3 years having elapsed since the loss or expiry of that authorisation.
- No criminal record in the subsequent period.
- No outstanding enforceable expulsion order.
Who it is for: People who were legal residents, lost their permit (through non-renewal, prolonged unemployment or any other reason) and are now in irregular status. This modality allows them to return to legal status without having to accumulate two years of irregularity from scratch.
Authorisation granted: Residence and work for 2 years.
Quick comparison
| Modality | Minimum stay | Additional requirement | Includes work rights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social | 2 years | Family ties or social-integration report | Yes |
| Sociolaboral | 2 years | Current employment contract in force (at time of application) | Yes |
| Family | None | Tie to a Spanish citizen or legal resident | Yes (with conditions) |
| Socioformativo | 2 years | Enrolment in vocational/regulated education | No (initially) |
| Second-chance | 2 years (as former resident) | Less than 3 years since permit lapsed | Yes |
Arraigo or the 2026 extraordinary regularisation?
If the person has been in Spain for at least 5 months before 31 December 2025 and has no criminal record, the 2026 extraordinary regularisation is likely the faster route, because:
- The stay threshold (5 months) is far lower than any arraigo modality (minimum 2 years).
- The application deadline closes on 30 June 2026.
- Admission to processing allows provisional work from the moment of admission.
Only when the person does not meet the 5-month requirement before 31/12/2025 (or that window has already passed because the extraordinary application was not submitted in time) does the most appropriate arraigo modality — whether social, sociolaboral, socioformativo or second-chance — depend on the total accumulated stay and available ties or documentation.
Recommendations
- Gather historical registration (padrón) documentation from the outset — it is the evidential foundation of any arraigo modality and takes time to obtain.
- Request the criminal record certificate from the country of origin and arrange its apostille or consular legalisation as soon as possible (this can take 2-4 months).
- Do not submit arraigo sociolaboral without a qualifying employment contract in force at the time of filing: an application without a valid contract will be refused and uses up time. It is better to wait for the right documentation or to consider another modality.
- Consider whether arraigo socioformativo is viable: for people with 2 years of stay and access to vocational training programmes, it may be the fastest and least demanding option.
At BMC we handle arraigo applications end to end and evaluate each situation to identify the route with the highest probability of success. Learn about our social and labour arraigo service.
Legal framework
- Organic Law 4/2000, of 11 January, on the rights and freedoms of foreign nationals in Spain (LOEX): Article 31.3 enables arraigo as a regularisation route.
- Royal Decree 557/2011, of 20 April, approving the Foreigners Regulations (RLOEx): Articles 124-127 regulate the arraigo modalities.
- Royal Decree 1155/2024, of 19 November, amending the Foreigners Regulations: introduced arraigo socioformativo and arraigo de segunda oportunidad, and modified the requirements for arraigo social and arraigo sociolaboral.
- Resolution of arraigo applications falls to the Foreigners Office of the province where the applicant is registered, pursuant to Article 69 RLOEx.
