Guide and trick: integration effort report

The social integration report is one of the main requirements for applying for a social or socio-formative roots residence permit (arraigo), among others, according to the Immigration Regulations 1155/2024. It is a document that can be a bit cumbersome to obtain, but with just a little effort and time, it becomes an easy barrier to overcome.

📑 What Is It About?

According to the Autonomous Community / Autonomous City (hereinafter, “ACs”), it may be called “integration effort report” or “social integration report”. This document is much more than just a simple procedure; it is your letter of introduction to the Administration. The social or socio-formative roots authorisation is not just about "being" in Spain, but about "being part" of it. This report certifies that you have integrated into the country, that you know and respect the rules of coexistence, and that you make an effort with the language. In other words, this document validates your effort and certifies that your life project is linked to your place of residence.

There are four authorisations that require that this report may be provided, although it is not always mandatory; it depends on the case.

• Residence permit for exceptional circumstances for social integration. (art 127.c)

• Residence permit for exceptional circumstances for socio-formative integration. (art. 127.d)

• Residence permit for unaccompanied foreign minors reaching the age of majority and not holding a residence permit (art. 174)

• Renewal of the residence permit (art. 64.6, 71.4.d, 80.6, 86.6 of Regulation 1155/2024). 

In this blog post, we will focus on the first two cases. 

🏢 Who Issues The Reports?

The ACs are responsible for issuing the report, therefore, each of them has its own rules, and in some cases, the application and procedure take place at the municipalities (city halls, town hall, etc…), although the resolution will always be signed by the Autonomous Community of your place of residence.

We recommend that you access the website of the public administration of your ACs and call the municipality of your locality, where you are registered, to further inform yourself about this matter, if you have any doubts regarding it. On the websites, you will find all the information about it; however, we inform you that it can be submitted in person or electronically. To apply electronically, you must have a cl@ve identification system or similar.

📍 Links According to AC

We provide you with the links to all the resources available from the Autonomous Communities and Cities. If there is no resource for your Community, you may need to go to your municipality (city hall, town hall, etc…) or to the social services section.

📥 What Will They Ask Me?

There are certain requirements and documentation that are usually required in all ACs. These are the bases upon which the AC then develop their own requirements and procedures. In essence, they must evaluate the following aspects:

• Compliance with the requirements for integration: Having non-EU citizenship, i.e., from a EU country, EEA, or Switzerland and not being a relative of one of these; not being an applicant for international protection (neither at the time of submitting the application nor during its processing). If international protection has been requested, this period does not count until there is a definitive resolution (administrative or judicial); having been in Spain and having lived continuously in Spain for at least 2 years before submitting the application. If applicable, validate the existence of ties with relatives already residing in Spain with a permit.

• Sociocultural knowledge and training: Having participated in training activities related to the knowledge and respect of the constitutional values of Spain, the statutory ones of the AC, and those of the European Union, as well as human rights, public freedoms, democracy, tolerance, and equality between men and women.

• Language knowledge: Proving the learning and knowledge of the official and co-official languages of Spain, according to the AC.

• Integration: Participation in sociolaboral and cultural integration programs.

• Housing and means of living: The possibility of having housing and means of living. The registration certificate and the economic resources available at the time of application as well as those that can be obtained once the residence permit is granted.

Some of the basic documents that you will be asked for: 

• Properly completed application form.

• Identification document of the applicant.

• Documents proving participation in training activities, the knowledge and respect of the constitutional values of Spain, the statutory ones of the AC, and those of the European Union, human rights, public freedoms, democracy, tolerance, and equality between men and women.

• Documentation proving the learning and knowledge of the official languages (Spanish and, in some cases, depending on the AC, the co-official language like Catalan, Basque, or Galician). In some AC, the language level is simply checked in the interview, without the need to prove participation in courses or passing exams. 

• Other possible documents:

  • The registration certificate.

  • Proof of the paid fee.

  • Among others…

As detailed above, each AC foresees that certain courses, activities, and training can be carried out to validate this knowledge. In this case, you should find out which courses from your AC serve to fulfil this requirement directly with the corresponding administration since they are usually standardised. 

Additionally, there is usually a personal interview where you are asked to provide copies of all requested documentation to apply for the report. During this, you may be asked questions to check the level of integration and/or knowledge of the official languages of the state and your specific region. 

⏳ The Time Frame for the Report Resolution

According to regulations, the report must be issued within one month, but we know from practice that there are cases where it can take longer. It is important that if you have to request it, you do so as soon as possible. Furthermore, if to validate sociocultural or language knowledge you need to enroll in a course, the time for obtaining the report will also depend on the availability of slots in those courses. The issued report has a validity of 6 months from the date of issuance.

🤞🏼 The Trick

According to SEM Instructions 4/2025, if a month passes since your application and you have not received the report, you can demonstrate that you requested it in time and that they have not responded. This can be done with the acknowledgment of receipt of the application and an inquiry about the status of the file. From that moment on (and never before that one-month period ends), you can submit directly to the Immigration Office other alternative documents or "any means of evidence accepted by law" to justify your integration. That is, you present the documentation set out below instead of the report since it was not issued within the required timeframe.

Examples of documents you can use as substitutes:

• Time in Spain: Registration reports, medical history, educational documents, money transfer receipts, bank statements, rental contracts, or receipts for electricity, water, and phone.

• Training, values, and languages: Certificates that prove you have taken courses, that you are learning the official language, or that you know the constitutional values and human rights.

• Integration programs: Certificates of participation in sociolaboral and cultural integration programs.

• Housing and economy: Registration certificate to justify housing, and public or private economic documents to demonstrate your means of living.

• Family: Documentation that proves your relationship with other relatives already residing in Spain.

A good rule of thumb is to submit all the documentation you have already provided to your AC or municipality at the time of submitting the application for the report, attaching an informative page, if possible, justifying that these were the requirements asked of you at the time.

❌ What Happens If The Report Is Unfavourable?

In principle, before issuing an unfavourable report, additional information must be requested to complete the file to rectify deficiencies. In this case, you will be notified, and you must provide the required information or documentation within a period of 10 days. However, we inform you that if you do not respond to the request, or once you respond, they do not provide a favorable report, then you will not be able to apply for a temporary residence permit for exceptional circumstances for social or socio-formative integration (arraigo).

If the previous trick is applied, the Immigration Office will not take the unfavourable report into account if it was issued late and will make its own assessment based on the documents provided. However, if an unfavourable report was issued (or there was a request for additional information and it was still rejected) within the required one-month period, then this resolution is final and you will not be able to apply for the permit.

⭐️ Traam can help you manage the obtaining of the integration effort report, with guides and support from our legal team. Trust us to manage your integration procedure for a smoother and faster experience when dealing with your immigration procedures, and ensure that there are no errors in your application.