Have you been living in Spain for two years but find yourself in an irregular situation? Do you have a job contract and need to regularize your status in Spain? In this article we explain how to do it through arraigo sociolaboral!
You’ll discover what the requirements are, the application process step-by-step, and how it differs from the old arraigo laboral.
Arraigo sociolaboral is a temporary residence authorization granted on exceptional grounds that allows foreign nationals in an irregular situation to regularize their status in Spain through a job contract, without needing to have worked previously.
It is regulated under RD 1155/2024.
Before 2025, the arraigo sociolaboral category did not exist; instead, it was known as arraigo laboral.
The conditions for applying to arraigo laboral were different: for example, applicants had to prove they had worked in Spain for a minimum period of time, whereas now, only a job contract is required.
It’s important not to confuse the two, since while arraigo laboral no longer applies (it no longer exists), arraigo sociolaboral is the category currently in force and the most relevant one for this article.
Below you’ll find all the requirements that must be met to apply for arraigo sociolaboral, the characteristics the required contract must have, and the procedure for obtaining temporary residence on exceptional grounds through a job contract.
Requirements for arraigo sociolaboral
To be eligible for arraigo sociolaboral, certain requirements must be met.
First, some general requirements that apply to any type of arraigo, and second, some specific requirements for arraigo sociolaboral.
Let’s explore both categories.
General requirements
The general requirements you must meet are:
- Being in Spain and not holding the status of international protection applicant at the time the application is submitted or during its processing
- Having remained in national territory continuously for at least two years before submitting the application. And not being left for more than 90 days in those two years.
- Not representing a threat to public order, security, or public health.
- Having no criminal record in Spain or in the countries where the applicant has resided during the last five years.
- Not being listed as inadmissible in Spanish territory and not being within a commitment period of non-return to Spain.
- Having paid the fee for processing the procedure
- Not already holding a stay or residence authorization
Specific requirements for obtaining arraigo sociolaboral:
Besides the general requirements, you must also meet the following:
- One or more job contracts guaranteeing at least the minimum interprofessional wage (currently €17,094 per year or the wage set by the applicable collective bargaining agreement.
- A weekly working time of no less than twenty hours in total. This means that, for example, if you work 15 hours one week and 30 hours the other, you fall into the requirements because, on average, you have worked 20 hours weekly.
More than one job contract can be submitted if you meet the following additional requirements:
- If the work is seasonal in nature, related to seasonal activities.
- If you work part-time and simultaneously for more than one employer.
Required documents
The arraigo sociolaboral application must be accompanied by the following documentation:
- Application on the official form (EX-10), completed and signed
- Full copy of the passport
- Documentation proving continuous residence in Spain for a minimum period of two years.
- Criminal record certificate
- Job contract(s)
- Proof that the company can guarantee the necessary financial solvency.
- Copy of documentation proving qualification for the job
What type of contract is needed for arraigo sociolaboral?
To be eligible for arraigo sociolaboral, any type of contract is accepted, as long as it meets the minimum interprofessional wage (seen above).
However, if arraigo sociolaboral is requested with a fixed-term contract, that contract or the sum of contracts of this type submitted, must have a duration of more than 90 days, according to Instructions SEM 1/2025 on RD 1155/2024; otherwise, it will not be considered valid for this type of arraigo, as it is not deemed sufficient time to be considered “integrated in Spain.”
In addition to the requirements set out in the contract, the employer also has certain obligations; specifically, they must:
- Be up to date with payments to the tax authorities and social security
- Demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to carry out the work.
However, Royal Decree 316/2026, of April 14, amends several provisions of the Immigration Regulation, including Article 130.5, introducing a significant change regarding when work activity can begin under this type of arraigo.
Step-by-step application process
To apply for arraigo sociolaboral, you must follow these steps:
- Meet the requirements explained above and provide all the required information.
- Submit the application (using form EX-10):
- In person, at the Immigration Office of the province where the foreign national has their registered address.
- Online, through the electronic office of the Ministry of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory (Mercurio).
- Pay the corresponding fee (Form 790, code 052), which amounts to approximately €100.
- Wait for a decision: the authorities have a period of three months to decide, although in practice it often extends to 6 months.
- Once temporary residence is granted, the authorization will only become valid once the foreign national has registered with Social Security within one month of the notification sent to the applicant.
- Apply for your TIE. After the residence authorization on exceptional grounds is granted, you must obtain your Foreigner Identity Card (TIE) within one month of the arraigo sociolaboral being granted.
What to do if your arraigo sociolaboral application gets denied
Has your temporary residence permit on exceptional grounds been denied? Don’t worry, there’s a solution.
First, you should review the reason your application was rejected; this will appear in the statement of grounds provided by the administration, explaining the reasons for the denial.
If the reason is a small error in one of the documents, you’re in luck; it’s an easily correctable problem. Simply submit a new application with all the documents corrected.
If, on the other hand, the reason for the rejection is different and you disagree with it, you have two options:
- Recurso de reposición (an administrative appeal) against the same body that issued the unfavorable decision on your application. You have a period of 1 month to file it.
- Recurso contencioso-administrativo (a judicial appeal). You have a period of two months to file it.
If you’ve received an unfavorable decision and feel overwhelmed, that’s completely normal. We recommend contacting an immigration expert to help you proceed.
This way, you’ll make sure all your documents are in order and that you have the best possible chances of obtaining your residence.
How to renew arraigo sociolaboral
This type of arriago is valid for one year. After this year, you can apply for an extension or change your type of residence permit.
If you choose to extend your temporary residence on exceptional grounds, the extension will also be valid for one year. To have your arraigo sociolaboral extended, you must prove that you are actively seeking employment and that you are duly registered with the public employment service.
If, instead of an extension, you want to change the nature of your authorization, you can modify it:
- For the first time: you will need to apply for an initial residence and employee work authorization.
This authorization will be valid for 1 year and will be considered an initial residence and work authorization. - After the first time: you will apply for a renewal of temporary residence and work authorization, either as an employee or self-employed, depending on the case.
This authorization will be valid for 4 years and will have the effect of a renewal.
The extension/renewal can be requested during the two months prior to the expiration date of the authorization or within the three months after it expires.
Frequently asked questions about arraigo sociolaboral
Below, we clearly answer some of the most frequently asked questions about arraigo sociolaboral that we get asked at our office:
How long must a person have worked to access arraigo sociolaboral?
To access arraigo sociolaboral, it is not required to have worked previously; only having resided in Spain for the last two years is required.
Previously, under the arraigo laboral category, a minimum period of prior work was required before applying for temporary residence; however, this no longer applies.
What is the minimum wage to qualify for arraigo sociolaboral?
To qualify for arraigo sociolaboral, you must earn or be subject to the minimum interprofessional wage.
This wage is currently set at €17,094 per year.
Can I use several contracts?
Yes, you can use several contracts. If you do seasonal work related to seasonal activities, or if you work part-time and simultaneously for more than one employer, you may submit more than one job contract.
What happens if I work part-time?
Nothing happens if you work part-time, as long as your working hours exceed 20 hours per week and your salary is not below the minimum interprofessional wage.
To apply for arraigo sociolaboral, any type of contract is accepted as long as these minimum requirements are met; so if you fall within these parameters, there’s no problem.
If, on the other hand, you don’t meet one of the two requirements, don’t worry, there’s a solution. Two or more contracts can be submitted in the case of part-time work for different employers.
So, if you have two part-time jobs that individually don’t meet the requirements, but together they do, you can submit them together with no problem.
Can I work while my application is being resolved?
Since April 16, 2026, once the application has been admitted for processing, the person is provisionally authorized to work as an employee, without having to wait for the final decision.
This prevents the job offer from being lost due to administrative delays.
Previously, this was unthinkable. Under the old arraigo laboral, you had to wait until temporary residence was granted before you could work. Now this changes, and while the administration processes your application (which can take up to three months), you can already start working.
Back then, employment contracts usually included a clause whereby the employment relationship was conditional upon the granting of a residence and work permit.
Under Royal Decree 316/2026, this regime has been specifically amended to take account of social and labour ties.
From the moment the application is accepted for processing, the applicant is provisionally authorised to reside and work as an employee.
This may commence from the moment the application is accepted for processing, provided that the authorities have expressly notified the applicant of this provisional authorisation.
However, the authorisation will only be definitively confirmed if the worker is registered with Social Security within one month of being notified that the authorisation has been granted.
Can I apply for social and employment ties if I have applied for asylum?
No, you cannot apply for social and employment arraigo if you have an asylum application pending.
One of the requirements for being granted social and employment ties is that you are not an applicant for international protection, as you must be in an irregular situation, which means:
- Withdrawing your asylum application
- Meeting the requirements: you must prove two years’ continuous residence in Spain and have a job offer of at least 20 hours per week for a period of more than 90 days.
If you still have questions about arraigo sociolaboral or want to obtain yours, at ImmigrationSpain, we have professionals with years of experience who will guide you through the process and resolve all your doubts and concerns. Don’t hesitate to contact us today.
