Arraigo sociolaboral in Spain: residence through a job contract, handled online

01What it is and who it is for

Arraigo sociolaboral is a residence permit on exceptional grounds for people living in Spain without papers who have one or more job contracts. It is set out in article 127.b of Royal Decree 1155/2024, Spain's new Immigration Regulation (Reglamento de Extranjería), in force since 20 May 2025. In practice it replaces the old arraigo social with a job offer and the old arraigo laboral.

What sets it apart from the other arraigo permits is the contract. Arraigo social relies on family ties or an integration report plus funds; arraigo socioformativo relies on training. Arraigo sociolaboral is about a genuine job with a minimum number of hours and a minimum salary, offered by an employer that is solvent and up to date with tax and social security.

The most useful change came with Royal Decree 316/2026, in force since 16 April 2026. Once the application is admitted for processing, you are provisionally authorised to live and work as an employee until a decision is made. Your employer does not have to wait months to register you, and the job offer is far less likely to fall through.

If you are reading this from abroad, note that arraigo is only available to people already in Spain. Coming from outside Spain to work requires a visa based route.

02Requirements

• You must not be a national of the EU, the European Economic Area or Switzerland, nor a family member covered by EU free movement rules.
• You must be in Spain and must not have a pending asylum (international protection) claim when you apply or during processing.
• Two years of continuous residence in Spain before applying, with absences of no more than 90 days in total. Time as an asylum seeker does not count.
• No criminal record in Spain or in the countries where you lived for the five years before entering Spain, for offences that also exist under Spanish law.
• You must not pose a threat to public order, security or public health, must not be flagged for refusal of entry in the Schengen area and must not be bound by a commitment not to return.
• You must not hold another stay or residence permit or have another immigration application in progress.
• One or more signed employment contracts adding up to at least 20 hours a week and paying at least the national minimum wage (1,221 euros a month over 14 payments in 2026, full time) or the rate in the applicable collective agreement, pro rata to the hours worked.
• Several contracts are accepted in two situations: back to back seasonal jobs with different employers, or simultaneous part time jobs with several employers. If the contract is fixed term, the total duration must exceed 90 days.
• The employer must be up to date with tax and social security payments and have the means to honour the contract.
• Payment of the government fee (form 790, code 052, section 2.3.1).

Tick what you already have. Your ticks stay on this device only; nothing is sent to us.

03Documents

• Official application form EX-10, signed.
• Full copy of your passport, travel document or registration certificate.
• Proof of two years' continuous presence: municipal registration (empadronamiento), public health service records or other documents from Spanish authorities.
• Criminal record certificate from the countries where you lived in the five years before arriving, legalised or apostilled with a sworn translation, unless you have lived in Spain continuously for five years.
• The employment contract or contracts, signed by you and the employer.
• From the employer: tax identification number (NIF) and, for companies, the deeds or articles showing who may sign.
• Proof of the employer's solvency: income tax, VAT or corporation tax returns, or the company's employment history report.
• Where the job requires it, qualifications and, for regulated professions, their recognition in Spain.
• Receipt for the fee.

Tick what you already have. Your ticks stay on this device only; nothing is sent to us.

04How we handle it online

1. Case assessment

   We check your two years of residence, any trips abroad and your criminal record position. If you are not there yet, we give you the date from which you can apply.

2. Contract and employer check

   Before anything is signed, we review hours, pay, the collective agreement, contract type and duration. We ask the employer for solvency documents and confirm they are up to date.

3. Preparing the file

   We organise your evidence of residence, check apostilles and translations and draft the covering submission.

4. Electronic filing

   We file the EX-10 as your representatives through the immigration e-filing platform (Mercurio). You do not need an appointment or a visit to the office.

5. Admission and provisional work

   When the notice that processing has started arrives, stating that you may work provisionally, we send it to you and your employer so you can start.

6. Decision, registration and TIE

   If granted, your employer must register you with social security within one month for the permit to take effect, and you must apply for your foreigner identity card (TIE) within the same month. If refused, we assess an appeal.

05Timescales and validity

The immigration office has three months from the date the application is registered to decide. If nothing is notified by then, the application is treated as refused by administrative silence.

Once granted, the permit only takes effect if you are registered with social security within one month of notification.

The permit lasts one year. You can then move to a standard residence and work permit (article 191 of the Regulation) or extend the arraigo for another year, applying in the two months before expiry. For the extension, if you have lost your job, you must be registered with the public employment service as actively seeking work, unless illness, disability or retirement age prevents it.

06Do I need to attend anything in person?

07Common mistakes and reasons for refusal

• A contract under 20 hours a week or paying less than the minimum wage or the agreed sector rate, pro rata.
• A fixed term contract of 90 days or less, or several contracts that do not fit the permitted situations.
• An employer with tax or social security debts, or without proof of solvency.
• Trying to use arraigo sociolaboral for self-employment: it only covers employed work.
• Gaps in proof of the two years, or trips abroad over 90 days in total.
• Applying while an asylum claim or another immigration application is still open.
• Not being registered with social security within one month of the grant.

08Frequently asked questions

09Legal basis

• Organic Law 4/2000, article 31.3
• Royal Decree 1155/2024, articles 124 to 127 (arraigo sociolaboral in article 127.b)
• Royal Decree 1155/2024, articles 130.5 (provisional work), 131, 132 and 191
• Royal Decree 316/2026, amending articles 126, 130.5 and 132 of the Regulation
• Instructions SEM 1/2025, third instruction
• Royal Decree 126/2026 setting the 2026 national minimum wage

Information reviewed on 03.10.2026 against the law in force. This page is for general information and is not a substitute for advice on your own case.