Arraigo social in Spain
Current requirements, documents, social integration report, financial means, application through Mercurio or the Immigration Office, processing time, TIE and renewal. Everything explained with the right approach for 2025-2026.
Arraigo social no longer works as described in older guides. Today, this authorization is based on 2 years of continuous residence and one of two routes: family ties with a foreign national who is a legal resident and sufficient financial means, or a favourable social integration report. If you have an employment contract, it is worth checking whether Arraigo sociolaboral (the employment-based residence route) is actually a better fit for you.
What is out of date
You should no longer assume the rule is “3 years in Spain + a 1-year employment contract”. That arrangement belongs to the previous regime and could now lead you to choose the wrong route.
Which family ties qualify
For the official Arraigo social route, relevant family ties are with other foreign nationals who hold legal residence. If your family tie is with a Spanish national or an EU citizen, it is worth looking into other routes.
The permit allows you to work
The authorization also grants permission to work as an employee or self-employed person in Spain, without restrictions on occupation or geographical area while it is valid.
What is Arraigo social, and when is it the right route?
Not every Arraigo application is for the social-integration route. This comparison can help you choose the right one from the outset.
Family ties or social integration
This route may suit you if you have lived in Spain for at least two years and can rely on ties to a foreign national who is a legal resident and on financial means, or obtain a favourable social integration report.
When the employment contract is key
If your strongest point is one or more employment contracts that meet the legal requirements, it is usually worth looking first at the arraigo laboral / sociolaboral route.
When the family relationship is decisive
If your situation centres on a particularly protected family relationship, it may be better to look into arraigo familiar before preparing this application.
Current requirements for arraigo social
These are the key requirements for an application under the current regulations.
You must not be an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen or a family member covered by the EU regime
If you are covered by the EU citizens’ regime, this is not the right route for you.
No criminal record
You must have no criminal record in Spain or in any country where you have lived during the previous five years, for offences recognised under Spanish law.
You must not be listed as inadmissible or be subject to a no-return restriction
You must also meet the general requirements relating to public policy, security and public health.
You must not be an applicant for international protection
You must not have this status either when you submit your application or while it is being processed.
Two years of continuous residence in Spain
Absences during this period must not exceed 90 days.
Family ties or a social integration report
This is the real core of arraigo social today and the point that most distinguishes this route from other types of arraigo.
The two ways to qualify for arraigo social
Applications are generally based on one of these two routes.
Family ties + financial means
You must prove ties to other foreign nationals who hold legal residence status: a spouse, registered partner or first-degree relatives in the direct line.
You must also prove that you have sufficient financial means in Spain. The official guidance sets the requirement at 100% of the IPREM for the family member with legal residence and 100% of the IPREM for the applicant, making a total of 200% of the IPREM.
Favourable social integration report
If you cannot prove this type of family tie, your social integration will be assessed through a report issued by the Autonomous Community or, where applicable, the local council where you have your usual residence.
The official guidance states that this report must be issued within a maximum of one month of the request.
Financial means: how to present them effectively
This part often raises many questions, so it is worth clarifying.
| Scenario | What you must prove | Practical point |
|---|---|---|
| Family ties with a legal resident | 100% of the IPREM for the legal resident + 100% of the IPREM for the applicant | Total 200% IPREM |
| Funds available in Spain | The official guidance requires the funds to be available in Spain and provided by the family members mentioned | The source of the money matters |
| Self-employment | This may be claimed if the requirements of Article 84 of the Regulation are met | You cannot improvise |
| No qualifying family ties | The alternative is a favourable social integration report | Arraigo social (social-integration residence route) |
Common documents for Arraigo social
Not every application will include exactly the same documents, but this table provides a reliable starting point.
| Document | Purpose | Useful comment |
|---|---|---|
| Form EX-10 | This is the official application form for the procedure | It must be signed and completed correctly |
| Valid, full passport | Proves your identity | An identity card or recognised travel document may also be accepted |
| Proof of residence for 2 years | Shows that you have been continuously present in Spain | Documents issued or recorded by Spanish public authorities are given particular weight |
| Criminal record | They demonstrate compliance with the criminal record requirement | From the countries where you lived during the last 5 years before entering Spain |
| Family ties or an integration report | This is the document that qualifies you under one of the two routes | Up-to-date certificates or a regional/municipal report |
| Financial means | They show that the financial requirement is met | If they come from self-employment, this part needs to be supported with much stronger evidence |
Proof of residence
The official guidance lists municipal registration documents, hospitalisation records, appointments with the public healthcare system, and any municipal, regional or national documents that prove your presence in Spain as examples.
Foreign documents
If you submit foreign public documents, they will generally need to be translated and legalised or apostilled, unless an exemption applies under an international agreement.
How to apply for Arraigo social step by step
The process is easier to understand when it is organised into clear steps.
First, check whether Arraigo social is actually the right route for you
If your application depends on an employment contract, check Arraigo sociolaboral. If it depends on a specially protected family relationship, check Arraigo familiar.
Gather proof of residence and your basic documents
Start with your passport, criminal record certificates and documentary proof of your two years in Spain.
Choose the right route: family ties or social integration
Decide whether you will prove family ties and financial means or rely on the social integration report.
Submit your application
You can submit it in person at the Immigration Office in your province or online through Mercurio.
Pay the fee
Form 790, Code 052, item 2.3.1. The fee must be paid within ten working days of submitting the application.
Wait for a decision
The official processing period is three months from the date the application is entered in the competent authority's register. If no notification is issued, administrative silence means the application is refused.
Not sure whether Arraigo social is the right route for you?
This is one of the most common mistakes. Choosing the wrong Arraigo category can cost you time, money and opportunities. It is best to review your case before submitting anything.
What happens if your Arraigo social application is approved
Approval is very important, but there are still practical steps to take afterwards.
You can work
The residence authorization granted under Arraigo social (the social-integration residence route) also authorizes you to work as an employee or self-employed person in Spain, with no geographical or occupational restrictions during its validity.
You must apply for the card within 1 month
From the date you are notified of the approval, you will have one month to apply for your TIE in person at the police station or police service responsible for your place of residence.
Valid for 1 year and renewable
The initial authorization and its renewals are valid for one year. To renew it, the official information sheet requires you to meet the requirements and provide evidence of active job-seeking and registration with the public employment service.
Related content you may want to explore
These internal links help you choose the right route and make it easier to navigate the website.
Frequently asked questions about Arraigo social
Quick answers to the questions people ask most often before submitting an application.
How long do you need to have been in Spain to apply for Arraigo social?
You must currently have lived in Spain continuously for at least two years before applying. Absences must not exceed 90 days.
Do you still need a one-year employment contract?
Not as a specific requirement for the current Arraigo social route. If your case is based on one or more employment contracts, you should first check whether you qualify for Arraigo sociolaboral.
Which family ties count for Arraigo social?
The official information sheet refers to ties with other foreign nationals who hold a residence authorization: a spouse, a registered partner, and first-degree relatives in the direct line of descent or ascent.
What if I do not have those family ties?
In that case, the usual route is to demonstrate your social integration through a favourable report issued by the Autonomous Community or, where applicable, the relevant local council.
Can I apply for Arraigo social if I am an asylum seeker?
No. The current rules require you not to be an applicant for international protection either when you submit the application or while it is being processed.
Where do I submit an Arraigo social application?
You can submit it in person at the Immigration Office in your province or online through Mercurio.
How long does it take, and what happens if there is no response?
The official processing period is three months. If you are not notified within that period, the application is deemed refused due to administrative silence.
How long is the permit valid for?
The initial authorization is valid for one year, and any extensions are also for one year, provided you continue to meet the requirements and can provide evidence of actively seeking employment and registering with the public employment service.