Arraigo socioformativo in Spain: residence through settlement and study

What arraigo means: razones de arraigo and tipo de arraigo (residence through settlement in Spain)

In Spanish law arraigo is a group of grounds (“razones de arraigo”) for granting autorizaciones de residencia / permisos de residencia on “exceptional circumstances” to people who have already effectively put down roots in the country. That is why everyday speech uses phrases such as “it counts as arraigo”, “it is called arraigo”, “arraigo is required”, “applying for arraigo”, “getting arraigo”, “solicitar el arraigo / apply for arraigo” — all of them refer to one class of procedures, but with different conditions depending on the tipo de arraigo. Arraigo is a route for those already living in the country; those still outside it will need other routes: all the grounds for a Spanish residence permit are collected in one overview.

The new regulation (in force since mayo de 2025) systematises the types of arraigo and lays down uniform rules on “tiempo de permanencia”, the limit on absences fuera de España and the condición de solicitante status in the case of a solicitud de protección internacional.

What arraigo socioformativo is: residence through social and educational roots

Arraigo socioformativo (also spelt arraigo socio formativo) is an autorización de residencia temporal (temporary residence) for those who have lived in Spain for at least two years and are ready to prove social integration as well as training (formativo).

Arraigo socioformativo suits you if you:

1. have lived in Spain continuously for 2 years;
2. are not an asylum applicant at the time of applying and during processing;
3. have no criminal record;
4. do not hold a valid stay or residence permit and are not a party to a procedure for granting, extending, renewing or modifying one — this rule applies from 16 April 2026 (art. 126.h of RD 1155/2024 as amended by RD 316/2026); holders of temporary protection are exempt;
5. are enrolled in eligible training or already studying; if the course has an official enrolment period, you can apply in the two months before it starts and show the matrícula within three months after approval (art. 127.d);
6. provide an informe de integración social.

Key requirements: what exactly arraigo socioformativo requires

Tiempo de permanencia

You must prove continuous residence of 2 years, and absences fuera de España during that period may not exceed 90 days in total — a rule set by Ministry instruction SEM 1/2025, not by the regulation itself.

The starting point of the two years is your date of entry, so you need to be able to prove it with documents. If your entry was not recorded at the border — which happens when entering from another Schengen country — the date is recorded with a declaration of entry.

Condición de solicitante and solicitud de protección internacional

You cannot be an applicant for international protection (asylum) when you apply or during processing. The situation is different for holders of temporary protection: since April 2026 they have been able to switch to the general grounds without leaving the country — the procedure is explained in our article on modifying temporary protection. SEM 1/2025 clarifies that applicant status arises from the moment you express the intention to seek protection.

Criminal record

You must have no criminal record in Spain or in the countries where you lived in the last 5 years. Where to order the document, how long it is valid and how it is legalised is described in a separate guide: criminal record certificate.

Informe de integración social (sometimes informally called the informe de inserción)

Socioformativo requires an informe de integración social, which:

• is issued by the Comunidad Autónoma or the Ayuntamiento for your place of “habitual residence” (padrón);
• must be issued within 1 month;
• is valid for 6 months;
• is free of charge;
• is mandatory for socioformativo (art. 127.d) and must contain a final “favorable / desfavorable”;
• if the report is not issued on time, it can be “replaced” with packs of documentary evidence (including bank transactions, rental contracts, utility bills, training documents, etc.).

Training (formativo): what qualifies for arraigo

SEM 1/2025 establishes that the following qualify for socioformativo (Anexo II):

How the system itself works — FP levels, language schools and recognition of diplomas — is covered in our overview of education in Spain.

1. Estudios de educación secundaria postobligatoria: bachillerato, FP formativo de grado medio, enseñanzas artísticas (including profesionales de música), enseñanzas deportivas de grado medio, and certain specialisation courses.
2. Certificados de profesionalidad / certificados de profesionalidad: FP grado C at levels 1–3.
3. Compulsory enseñanzas for adults (educación de personas adultas).
4. Training from the employment services (SEPE/servicios públicos de empleo) under the catálogo of shortage occupations — followed by registration as a demandante de empleo / demandante de servicios previos al empleo.

Format: presencial or semipresencial, but at least 50% in person. There is also a restriction: this type of arraigo cannot be used more than once in a three-year period.

Documents: what you need to apply for arraigo socioformativo

The “core” of the pack to solicitar el arraigo / apply for arraigo usually looks like this:

• EX-10 (application/solicitud)
• passport
• proof of 2 years’ stay: certificado de empadronamiento or volante de empadronamiento (the “histórico” versions are often useful if your address has changed)
• criminal record certificates (antecedentes penales)
• informe de integración social
• proof of training: matrícula, admisión (confirmation of enrolment) or proof that you are already studying; with an official enrolment period the matrícula can be shown within three months after approval

All of this is submitted as part of the trámites de extranjería at the Oficina de Extranjería for your place of residence.

Procedure and deadlines: applying for arraigo, getting residence and keeping your status

1. Application: in person (or through a representative in some cases) at the Oficina de Extranjería for your domicilio.
2. Fee: Modelo 790 código 052 (to be paid within 10 working days).
3. Decision time: 3 months (without notification, silencio administrativo may apply; notifications may also be made via TEU/electronic publication).
4. After approval:
   • within 3 months you must provide proof of matrícula; otherwise the authorisation may be terminated;
   • within 1 month you must apply for the TIE.

This is critical for “getting arraigo” in practice.

Trabajar con el arraigo: the link with the labour market

The point of the reform is to legalise and integrate, including through the labour market. According to explanations and practical guides, for socioformativo the option of working a limited number of hours while studying is often discussed, followed by a modification of status (autorización de trabajo / residencia y trabajo) once the conditions are met. The details depend on your case and on how the rules are currently applied in your province. The other types of arraigo, including social and sociolaboral, are covered in our guide to residence through settlement, and the labour market and salaries by profession in our overview of working in Spain.

Other types of arraigo

Socioformativo is one of five types of arraigo under the new regulation. How it differs from second chance, sociolaboral, social and familiar, the conditions of each and what happened to the abolished employment arraigo are covered in our guide to residence through settlement in Spain.

All the grounds for residence on exceptional circumstances — arraigo, humanitarian cases, cooperation with the authorities — with terms and fees are covered in residence on exceptional circumstances in Spain.

Frequently asked questions

What is arraigo socio formativo and how does it differ from a visa?

Arraigo socioformativo is an immigration legalisation procedure (legalización) within the framework of autorizaciones de residencia / permisos de residencia: a type of residencia temporal for people who previously lived in España without legal status / irregularly and can now regularise their situation through formación (training) and integration into society. It is not a visa but a route to legal status from within the country: you submit a solicitud / application to extranjería and prove your tiempo de permanencia and training.

What are the basic requisitos: the minimum period, the documents and meeting the requirements of the law?

Usually they check the minimum period of residence (at least 2 years), the absence of any threat to public order and the supporting documents that prove it: passport, certificado de empadronamiento or volante de empadronamiento, certificates and so on. It is important to comply with the law and regulations, otherwise the application may be refused (denegar). Previous violations, a criminal record or an entry ban may become a problem.

Where and how to apply for arraigo: “solicitar el arraigo”, “apply for arraigo”?

You apply to the Oficina de Extranjería or the relevant authority for your place of residence (for example, Barcelona, Madrid). After applying you can request information about the status of your application.

Which documents are most often required: empadronamiento, NIE, TIE, apostille?

They often ask for:

• certificado de empadronamiento / volante de empadronamiento (sometimes histórico);
• a copy of your passport;
• documents proving your presence in the country;
• certificates showing no criminal record;
• training documents: certificates, courses, training, education;
• translations by a translator and sometimes an apostille. After a positive decision you get an NIE and then a TIE card.

What counts as proof of stay: how do you prove tiempo de permanencia if for part of the time you had no contract?

Documents from everyday life will do: empadronamiento, medical records, bank statements, housing contracts, letters, records of visits, town hall documents, and sometimes even email correspondence. The main thing is to show that you have lived in España for a long time and continuously, without significant trips abroad.

What about the education part: which cursos/studies qualify and how do you complete the formación?

You need an educational path: training (formación, studies, courses) at suitable institutions, often in fields considered in demand or profesional / professional, certificados/certificates, a “grado” (for example, intermediate level), and sometimes language courses as part of language integration (Spanish/español, Russian, English). Important: the training must be official, otherwise it does not always count.

Can you work: trabajo/empleo vinculado al arraigo, how many hours a week and what salary (SMI)?

Yes, it often allows you to combine formación with trabajo / employment. The limit usually concerns hours per week: you can work to a limited extent (for example, up to 30 hours a week), and your wage must meet minimums such as the SMI and the terms of the contract. The employer gets clear rules, and you get legal status as an employee.

Do you need a contract in advance, and what is checked in contracts?

No. An employment contract is not among the requirements for arraigo socioformativo (art. 127.d): the grounds are training and the integration report. A contract for at least 20 hours a week is needed for a different type of arraigo — sociolaboral.

What is the informe (integration report) and how does it relate to society, language and participation?

The integration report (informe) is a document that describes your ties with society / civil society, your knowledge of the language (Spanish/español), participation in communities, courses, volunteering and family ties (vinculaciones familiares). It provides the rationale: you did not simply “stay on illegally” but are integrating, following the rules, and your legalisation process is aimed at genuine integration.

How does family matter: spouses, marriage, relatives, family members, minors and guardians?

Family and vínculos — spouses, marriage, relatives, family members, especially minors — can strengthen the grounds. Guardians, the birth of children and civil status documents are sometimes considered separately. But it is important not to confuse this with arraigo familiar: that is a different tipo de arraigo, although information about your family is often useful.

What “different types” are there: arraigo social, sociolaboral, familiar, de segunda oportunidad — and how do they differ?

There are various tipos de arraigo / razones de arraigo:

• arraigo social (social settlement): focus on integration, ties and means;
• arraigo sociolaboral (social and employment): emphasis on empleo and a contract;
• arraigo familiar (family): vínculos familiares;
• arraigo de segunda / arraigo de segunda oportunidad (second chance): for those who held an ordinary permit in the last two years that was not renewed; according to the Ministry’s guidance, it does not open after a permit has been terminated (cancelled).

  The former employment arraigo (arraigo laboral) was abolished on 20 May 2025. The choice of route depends on your situation, length of residence, documents and opportunities. The deadlines, evidence and application procedure for each of these routes are collected in a general overview — residence through arraigo in Spain.

What to do after a positive decision: which steps, which deadlines, and how can you move to another status?

After a positive decision you usually need to do the following on time:

• confirm your matrícula/enrolment in studies;
• apply for the TIE card and renew it when needed;
• keep track of expiry dates.

  Later you will be able to change the type of authorisation: to employment or to cuenta propia / autónomo (self-employment), if the requirements are met.

What are the common mistakes: why are applications refused?

Applications are refused when:

• the documents do not prove anything and residence cannot be shown;
• the training is not at an official level or does not match the list;
• there are debts or other problems, or criminal risks;
• deadlines are missed: the application was late or required documents were not attached;
• data were provided in an unofficial way, or there is a privacy/policy conflict.

  It is important to draw up a plan in advance, gather the materials and check that everything complies with the requirements.

This article is for information only and does not constitute legal advice. For a personal assessment of your situation and recommendations, consult a qualified specialist.