Summary: Final Text of Extraordinary Roots (Arraigo)

Temporary residence authorisation for exceptional circumstances on the grounds of extraordinary rootedness

Temporary residence authorisation for exceptional circumstances on the grounds of rootedness for applicants for international protection.

Twenty-first additional provision of Royal Decree 1155/2024 of 19 November, approving the Immigration Regulations.

Twentieth additional provision of Royal Decree 1155/2024 of 19 November, approving the Immigration Regulations.

For foreign nationals who were in Spain before the 1st of January 2026. 

For foreign nationals who, before the 1st of January 2026, had submitted an application for international protection. 

• Be of legal age. 

• Not be a citizen of the European Union, the EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) or Switzerland, or a family member of citizens of these countries to whom the EU citizen regime applies.

• Be in Spain. 

• Have remained in Spain continuously during the five months prior to the time of application.

• Not hold a stay or residence authorisation. 

• Not have any pending application seeking the granting, extension, renewal or modification of stay or residence authorisations. 

• Not be, nor have been, the holder of a residence authorisation for temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine.

• Have no criminal record in Spain or in the countries where you have previously resided during the last five years.

• Not pose a threat to public order, security or public health. 

• Not be banned from entering Spain and not be listed as inadmissible in the Schengen Area. 

• Where applicable, not be within the period of the commitment not to return to Spain. 

• Have paid the fee for processing the procedure.

Meet one of these three requirements: 

• Have worked as an employee or self-employed person, or demonstrate the intention to work as an employee (by submitting a job offer) or as self-employed (by means of a responsible declaration). 

• Remain in Spain together with the family unit, where it is made up of minor children or adult children with disabilities or ascendants (parents) living with the applicant. 

• Be in a situation of vulnerability, as evidenced by a certificate issued by the bodies competent in social assistance matters or by Third Sector organisations. 

• Have applied for international protection in Spain before 1 January 2026. 

Clarifications: 

• An applicant for international protection is understood to be someone who does not have a final decision in the procedure. 

• International protection includes asylum, refugee status, subsidiary protection, among others. 

• Full copy of a valid or expired passport, valid or expired registration certificate, or travel document recognised as valid in Spain, valid or expired.

• Documents proving continuous residence in Spain for at least five months prior to the time of application: certificate of registration at the local council, hospital or primary healthcare documents, health card, library card, money transfers to the country of origin, among others.

• Criminal record certificate from the countries where you have resided during the last five years. An exception is provided for where, after one month from the request, it has not been possible to obtain it.

Depending on the basis on which you are applying, you must submit the following documentation:

• Proof of having worked as an employee: copy of the employment contract, latest payslips, VILE, or 

• Proof of having worked as self-employed: copy of registration with the AEAT, Social Security, tax returns, or 

• Intention to start employment as an employee (job offer), or 

• Intention to start self-employed activity (responsible declaration), or 

• Documentation showing that you live with your family (joint registration certificate or registration slip) and documents proving the family relationship (birth and/or marriage certificate), or

• Documentation proving the situation of vulnerability (vulnerability certificate issued by bodies competent in social assistance matters or by Third Sector organisations registered in the  Electronic Register of Immigration Collaborators.

• Documents proving that you are an applicant for international protection submitted before 1 January 2026: declaration of intent at the border or via public register, white paper, red card, appeal against a refusal decision, among others.

From the 15th of April 2026 to the 30th of June 2026. 

The applicants' authorisations and those of their family members may be submitted simultaneously:

• Ascendants (parents) and the spouse or registered partner who form part of the same household may apply for the same authorisation as the applicant.

• Descendants (children) must apply for one of the residence authorisations, regulated in articles 159 and 160 of the Regulations, provided for minors born in Spain and those not born in Spain, respectively.

Under the new reform of the regulations, the following exemptions will apply:

• Authorisation for those born in Spain (art. 159): The requirement to submit the application within six months of the child's birth is waived. → Therefore, in any case, the residence authorisation may be applied for.

• Authorisation for those not born in Spain (art. 160): The requirement of previous residence in Spain for two years and that their parents or legal guardians have sufficient financial means and documented accommodation is waived. It will still be required that the minor, in this case, has remained in Spain continuously during the five months prior to the application.