IMPORTANT PREVIOUS NOTE: Spanish immigration laws state that many foreigners — depending on their place of birth — may find themselves in an irregular administrative situation in Spain (commonly referred to as “sin papeles”). If you are in this situation, you may not be able to obtain a residence or work permit for a certain period of time. As a result, you will not be allowed to work legally. As long as you are in this irregular administrative situation:
– Do not carry your original passport or other official documents with you! Always carry a photocopy.
– If you are detained for being in an irregular situation, you have the right to ask for a public defense lawyer.
The path to regularization is long and complex. The first step is obtaining a residence permit.
1. Temporary Residence Permit for Exceptional Circumstances
Sections drafted according to the new Immigration Regulations, which came into effect on May 20, 2025.
a) For Reasons of “ARRAIGO” (Residency)
“Arraigo” is a one-year permit — except for the family permit, which lasts five years — that allows you to work as an employee or self-employed. In the case of “socio-laboral” and “socio-formativo” residency permits, there is a maximum limit of 30 hours per week.
The permit will be granted when there are economic, social, family, work, or educational ties with the place of residence, provided that the general and specific requirements are met and proven.
If you have lived outside Spain, you must also submit a criminal record certificate for the last five years.
A visa is not required.
Common Requirements for the Five Types of “Arraigo”:
- Have continuously resided in Spain for at least 2 years (except for Family Residency). You must not be an asylum seeker or under international protection at the time of application or during the processing. Any document that proves your residence is accepted, preferably the municipal register (“padrón”), but also medical care records or similar.
- You must not pose a threat to public order, security, or public health, and you must have no criminal record in Spain or in the countries where you have lived during the five years prior to arriving in Spain. You must not be listed as inadmissible in any country with which Spain has a relevant agreement. You must not be within the period of a “commitment not to return to Spain.”
- You must have paid the corresponding fee.
Types of arraigo permits:
- ARRAIGO SOCIO FORMATIVO (Socio-Educational Residency)
Specific requirements: You must be currently enrolled (or have formalized enrollment) in a training program to obtain a “Certificado de Profesionalidad (CP)” levels 1, 2, or 3, a High School Diploma (“Bachillerato“), intermediate or advanced Vocational Training (“FP“), or another official training program. It is also acceptable to commit to participate in training promoted by Public Employment Services aimed at filling positions listed in the “Catálogo de Difícil Cobertura” (Hard-to-Fill Occupations Catalogue) or to submit an integration report similar to the one required for Social Residency.
This permit allows you to work up to 30 hours per week in any sector — not necessarily related to your studies — with a salary of at least the minimum wage or the salary established in the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreement. It is a renewable and modifiable residency permit that can be adapted to any employment contract, regardless of whether it matches your field of study. You can also switch to a self-employed permit.
- ARRAIGO SOCIO LABORAL (Socio-laboral residency)
Specific requirements: provide one or more employment contracts guaranteeing at least the minimum wage or the salary established in the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreement, with a work schedule of at least 20 hours per week.
- ARRAIGO SOCIAL (Social residency)
Specific requirements: You must prove that you have sufficient financial means to support yourself and either have family ties with other foreigners holding a residence permit or demonstrate your social integration.
- ARRAIGO FAMILIAR (Familiar residency)
Specific requirements: Be the father, mother, or legal guardian of a minor who is a national of another European Union member state, the European Economic Area, or Switzerland, provided that at the time of application you prove that you reside in Spain, have custody of the minor, live with them, and are up to date with your parental responsibilities.
- ARRAIGO DE SEGUNDA OPORTUNIDAD (2nd chance residency)
Specific requirements: You must have held a residence permit in the 2 years immediately prior to submitting the application, which was not granted for exceptional circumstances, and you must not have renewed the permit for reasons other than public order, security, or public health. The application can be made if there is a denial ruling, dismissal, or acquittal of the penalty.
b) Temporary Residence for Exceptional Circumstances due to HUMANITARIAN REASONS, COOPERATION WITH AUTORITIES, NATIONAL SECURITY, or PUBLIC INTEREST.
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE: A Protection Order for Gender-Based Violence or a report from the Public Prosecutor’s Office indicating signs of such violence allows for the issuance of a provisional residence permit.
VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING: Cooperation of the victim in the investigation of the crime.
COOPERATION AGAINST ORGANIZED NETWORKS:
Cooperation with administrative, police, prosecutorial, or judicial authorities by those who are victims, witnesses, or harmed by acts of human trafficking, illegal immigration, labor exploitation, trafficking of workers, or exploitation in prostitution by abusing their vulnerable situation.
COOPERATION WITH PUBLIC AUTHORITIES, NATIONAL SECURITY or PUBLIC ORDER: In matters unrelated to combating organized networks, or when reasons of public interest or national security apply.
Where to get information about “arraigo” procedures?
Servicio de Orientación e Información Básica en materia de migraciones (SIOB). Information and guidance on procedures and paperwork, and assistance in understanding the administrative and cultural reality of Navarra. Office hours: Monday to Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Locations:
- Pamplona: Avda Roncesvalles, 4, ground floor
- Tudela: C/ Estanca s/n, ground floor
Appointments: You must book an appointment in advance, Monday to Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., by calling the following numbers:
- Pamplona: 848 420 972 / 678 508 243
- Tudela: 848 433 661 / 678 508 286
Legal Support Provided by Other Entities:
- Servicio Socioeducativo Intercultural (SEI). Location: C/ Cipriano Olaso, 4. Pamplona. Appointment: In-person or telephone assistance by appointment only, on Mondays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 948 239 739.
- Bidean: Calle Emiliana Zubeldia, 5, Pamplona. Phone: 679 983 392.
- Cáritas Diocesanas: Calle San Anton, 8, Pamplona. Phone: 948 225 909
- Ikaskide: Calle Mayor, 70, 1st floor, Pamplona/Iruña. By appointment only at 948 227 611 or 948 203 891. Office hours: Tuesday and Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and Friday from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Email: ikaskide@itakaescolapios.org
Regulations on “Arraigo”
2. Asylum / International Protection
If you are considering applying for asylum, you should be aware that asylum is granted in Spain only in very exceptional cases.
In addition, the new Immigration Regulations state that the time spent in Spain as an asylum seeker or applicant for international protection does not count towards the residency period required for “Arraigo”.
Procedure for Applying for Asylum:
- Who can apply and When? A non-EU foreign adult or stateless person who wishes to apply for International Protection in Spain. The application can be submitted personally or, in case of physical or legal impossibility, through a representative. Minors can apply together with their father, mother, or legal guardian. It is advisable to request International Protection as soon as possible.
- Where and How? An appointment to apply for asylum is given by the Immigration Office (Avenida de Guipúzcoa No. 40, Buztintxuri, Pamplona) to those who express their intention to request International Protection. It is important to keep and always carry the document indicating the date of the interview, as it authorizes the applicant to remain in Spanish territory until the application can be submitted; it also recognizes the right to non-refoulement. Keep in mind that the waiting time for the interview appointment is approximately one year.
- Asylum Application. The application must be submitted in person at the Immigration Office.
- Interview: It is essential to prepare thoroughly for the interview and advisable to receive legal advice from a specialized organization (in Navarra, CEAR and Red Cross). It is important to have experienced personal persecution events, such as attacks or threats due to belonging to a particular political, ethnic, or religious group, or because of your sexual orientation, armed conflicts, or illnesses that cannot be treated in your country, providing evidence if possible. After the interview, the applicant is given a “Resguardo Blanco”, a proof of application submission valid for six months.
Decision on Admissibility of the Application:
The authorities have one month from the date of the interview to decide whether or not to admit the application for processing.
- If your application is not admitted for processing: Contact a lawyer or a specialized organization for advice on possible appeals.
- If your application is admitted for processing: The “Resguardo Blanco” proving submission of the application is automatically extended until the date indicated (6 months from the date of the interview). Once it expires, you must request an appointment online to obtain the Red Card, which proves you are an asylum seeker and grants a work permit. This card must be renewed every 6 months.
Decision on the Application for International Protection:
- Negative decision, denying International Protection: The person is left in an irregular administrative situation. Contact a lawyer or specialized organization to review the decision and advise you on possible appeals!
- Negative decision denying International Protection but granting a one-year residence/work permit on humanitarian grounds: The corresponding residence card will be processed.
- Positive decision granting asylum or subsidiary protection: The corresponding residence card will be processed.
Support in Reception and Integration Processes:
The Government of Navarra is responsible for coordinating and maintaining communication with other departments, local authorities, citizen initiatives, refugees, and others. In collaboration with social organizations, a specific Protocol was developed.
Reception Program for Asylum Seekers:
This is a national program funded by the Ministry of Labour, Migrations, and Social Security (MITRAMISS). It is designed to support individuals who are in the process of applying for asylum or have already submitted their application and are in a situation of vulnerability. The Ministry coordinates the allocation of accommodation for asylum seekers across the country.
In Navarra, the program is managed by “Cruz Roja” (Red Cross) and “CEAR” (Spanish Commission for Refugee Aid). Applications for entry into the program can only be made through Cruz Roja, following a social assessment.
Support to apply for asylum in Navarra:
- Cruz Roja. Calle Leire nº 6. Pamplona. Teléfono: 948 206 570. Hay Asambleas de Cruz Roja en otras 17 localidades de Navarra. Es necesario solicitar cita previa acudiendo presencialmente.
- CEAR. Calle Sandoval 2, local. Pamplona. Teléfono: 848 480 818. Comisión Española de Ayuda al Refugiado
3. Spanish Nationality
Nationality by Residency
You must prove that you have legally and continuously resided in Spain for the 10 years immediately prior to the application.
Only 5 years of residency are required for individuals who have been granted refugee status, and 2 years for nationals from Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, or for people of Sephardic origin.
In certain cases, 1 year of legal residence is sufficient — for example, for people born in Spain, those married (and not legally separated) to a Spanish citizen, or widows/widowers of Spanish citizens.
It is also necessary to pass two exams:
- The CCSE test, on Spanish constitutional and sociocultural knowledge
- The DELE diploma, to demonstrate knowledge of the Spanish language
The content of this page is for informational purposes only. We appreciate it if you inform us of any errors or missing information.