Guide and Trick: Integration Effort Report

The social integration report is one of the main requirements for applying for a social or 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”. it may be called "integration effort report" or "social integration report". This document is much more than a simple procedure; it is your cover letter to the Administration. 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. That is to say, 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 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?

Both the ACs and local corporations (city councils) are in charge of issuing the report; therefore, each of them has its own rules and, in some cases, the application and procedure take place at the city councils, although the resolution will always be signed by the Autonomous Community of your place of residence.

We recommend that you access the link of the public administration of your AC, and call your local city council, where you are registered (empadronado), to fully inform yourself about it, if you have any doubts regarding the matter. On the website, you will find all the information about it; however, we can tell you in advance 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 Is Evaluated in the Report?

According to the reform of the immigration regulations to evaluate your situation, the following fundamental criteria will be taken into account:

• Length of residence: The duration of your stay at your usual residence.

• Financial capacity: The financial resources and means you currently have.

• Integration efforts: Your level of commitment and active participation in socio-labor and cultural integration programs. In certain cases this requirement may be standardised through the participation in courses offered by the AC.

Some of the basic documents that you you can 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 ACs, 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 been given the report, you can prove that you requested it on time and that they have not answered you. This can be done with the acknowledgment of receipt of the application and, if possible, an inquiry about the status of the file. From that moment on (and never before that one-month period ends), you will be able to submit other alternative documents or "any legally admitted means of proof" directly to the Immigration Office 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:

• Housing and economy: Registration certificate (certificado de empadronamiento), rental contracts, latest rent payment receipts, electricity, water, and telephone bills, and public or private economic documents to prove your means of living.

• Training and languages: Certificates proving that you have taken courses and that you are learning the official or co-official language of the region where you live.

• Integration programs: Certificates of participation in socio-labor and cultural integration programs.

• Family: Documentation proving your kinship with other relatives who already reside 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 in order to rectify deficiencies. In this case, you will be notified and must provide the required information or documentation within a period of 10 days. However, we inform you in advance that, if you do not reply to the request, or once you have replied, they do not resolve it with a favourable report, then you must look for another alternative that justifies your insertion in Spain or apply for another type of authorisation where the integration report is not mandatory or essential.

⭐️ 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.