Regularising in 2026 is the first step. But what comes next? Many people who begin the regularisation process are unclear about the path ahead: when they can renew, when they can apply for long-term residence and, eventually, Spanish nationality. This guide maps out that complete journey.
The starting point: the first permit
Both the 2026 extraordinary regularisation and the arraigo modalities grant a temporary residence and work authorisation, which is the entry point into the legal immigration system. From here, the route to permanent status has defined stages.
The first permit lasts 1 year in the case of the extraordinary regularisation, and 2 years in the case of social, labour or second-chance arraigo. From that point, renewal is required.
Stage 1: Renewals (years 1-5)
Between the first permit and long-term residence, the person must maintain their legal status through periodic renewals of the residence and work authorisation.
What is needed to renew (Article 71 RLOEx)
The central requirement is proof of continuous employment during the previous period:
- A current work contract with Social Security registration, or
- Contributions certified to the INSS during the previous authorisation period (may be accepted even with periods of unemployment, provided contributions are sufficient), or
- Self-employment activity with registration in the RETA and up-to-date contributions.
No criminal record is a permanent requirement for all renewals.
Renewal timelines
The renewal application must be submitted within the 60 days before expiry or, at the latest, within the 90 days following (grace period). Submitting the application on time prevents the person from falling into irregular status, even if the previous authorisation has already expired.
Important: Administrative processing gaps (when the renewal is being processed and the previous authorisation has already expired) do not interrupt the count of continuous legal residence, provided the application was submitted on time. The worker may continue working using the receipt confirming the submitted application.
Duration of renewals
First renewals are granted for 2 years. After completing a total of 5 years of legal residence, long-term residence may be applied for.
Stage 2: Long-term residence (from year 5 onwards)
After 5 years of continuous legal residence in Spain, the long-term residence authorisation (also known as permanent residence) may be applied for. It is governed by Article 32 LOEX and Directive 2003/109/EC of the EU Council.
What long-term residence offers
- No effective expiry: issued with 5-year validity but renewable indefinitely while residence in Spain is maintained.
- No employment restrictions: allows working for any employer, in any sector and anywhere in Spain.
- No requirement to prove a current contract for renewal: unlike temporary permits, long-term residence renewal does not depend on having an active work contract.
- Intra-EU mobility: allows applying for residence in other EU countries under more favourable conditions, pursuant to Directive 2003/109/EC.
Requirements
- 5 years of continuous legal residence — years in irregular status do not count.
- No absences from Spain exceeding 6 consecutive months or 10 months in total during the preceding 5 years.
- No criminal record.
- Sufficient financial means (at least 100% of the monthly IPREM for the main applicant plus 50% for each additional family member, under Article 148 RLOEx).
- Valid NIE.
Stage 3: Spanish nationality
Spanish nationality by residence is governed by Article 22 of the Civil Code. The path depends on the applicant’s country of origin:
| Situation | Years of legal residence required |
|---|---|
| General case | 10 years |
| Recognised refugees | 5 years |
| Ibero-Americans, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, Andorra, Sephardic Jews | 2 years |
| Married to a Spanish citizen (at least 1 year of marriage) | 1 year |
| Born in Spain, widowed from a Spanish citizen, child of a Spanish national by origin | 1 year |
Additional requirements for nationality
- Continuous legal residence for the required period (without significant interruptions).
- No criminal record in Spain or in the country of origin.
- Passing the CCSE tests (constitutional and socio-cultural knowledge of Spain) and the DELE A2 Spanish language exam (for those whose mother tongue is not Spanish), unless the applicant can otherwise demonstrate sufficient language level.
- Not retaining the nationality of origin if the law of the country of origin does not permit dual nationality (except for Ibero-American countries and others with a dual-nationality agreement with Spain).
The clock starts with the first permit
An important point: the years of residence that count towards nationality are those of legal residence. Years spent in irregular status prior to regularisation do not count. Therefore, for most non-Ibero-American citizens, the path from the 2026 extraordinary regularisation to Spanish nationality is at least 12 years (1 year of first authorisation + 11 years of continued residence to reach 10 legal years).
For Ibero-American citizens, the path is significantly shorter: 4 years from the first authorisation (2 legal years) are sufficient to apply for nationality.
Summary of the journey
Regularisation / Arraigo (2026)
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First residence and work authorisation (1-2 years)
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Successive renewals (every 2 years)
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Long-term residence (5 years of legal residence)
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Spanish nationality (10 years general / 2 years for Ibero-Americans)Recommendations
- Start accumulating Social Security contributions from the first day of admission to processing — the Social Security contribution history is the main documentary support for all renewals.
- Do not let your permit expire without submitting the renewal — a break in legal residence resets the count for long-term residence.
- Plan absences from Spain — prolonged periods abroad can interrupt the continuity required for both long-term residence and nationality.
- Check dual-nationality agreements if your country of origin has a treaty with Spain — most Ibero-American countries allow both nationalities to be maintained.
At BMC we accompany clients at every stage of this journey, from the initial regularisation through to long-term residence applications and nationality proceedings. Consult our immigration and foreign nationals service.
Legal framework
- Article 32 of Organic Law 4/2000 (LOEX): long-term residence.
- Article 148 of Royal Decree 557/2011 (RLOEx): requirements and procedure for long-term residence.
- Council Directive 2003/109/EC of 25 November 2003: status of third-country nationals who are long-term residents in the EU.
- Article 22 of the Civil Code: acquisition of Spanish nationality by residence.
- Royal Decree 1004/2015, of 6 November: governs the CCSE tests on constitutional and socio-cultural knowledge for nationality proceedings.
