Regularize Your Status in Spain

You can only regularize your status from inside Spain if you apply through an arraigo pathway. The main options are:

• Arraigo Social (Social Ties Regularization)
• Arraigo Laboral (Employment Ties Regularization)
• Arraigo Familiar (Family Ties Regularization)

Each pathway has its own legal basis and application form. Picking the correct category is the first step.

Eligibility depends on whether you can show the specific ties required under the category. Social ties focus on your integration and connections in Spain.

Employment ties relate to your work situation. Family ties depend on your relationship to qualifying relatives.

You’ll need to check the requirements published by the State Secretariat for Migration (Secretaría de Estado de Migraciones, SEM). Requirements change, and you must meet the version in force on the day you apply.

Approval is not guaranteed, even if you meet every listed condition. The immigration authority reviews each file individually.

You’ll also need to plan for government fees. The amounts vary by category:

These fees apply to the categories listed above. If you apply under a different arraigo route, confirm the exact fee with SEM before filing.

You must complete the application form that matches your chosen residence type. Submitting the wrong form can cause delays or rejection.

Before filing, make sure you:

• Are physically present in Spain
• Qualify under one specific arraigo category
• Can submit the correct application form
• Can pay the required government fee in euros (€)

Arraigo Familiar has its own legal framework and may involve different documentation and fees. Review SEM guidance carefully before preparing your file.

Rely only on official criteria published by SEM. Advice from friends or online forums can be outdated or simply wrong.

If you’re not sure which category applies to you, review each arraigo option against your own situation. Choose the one that matches your actual ties in Spain.

You apply for regularization through the framework managed by the State Secretariat for Migration (Secretaría de Estado de Migraciones, SEM). The steps depend on whether you qualify under Arraigo Social, Arraigo Laboral, or Arraigo Familiar.

processing times aren’t fixed. They vary by category and by the office handling your case.

Step‑by‑Step Procedure

Confirm Your Eligibility Category.

Identify whether your situation fits Arraigo Social, Arraigo Laboral, or Arraigo Familiar. Each route has different legal grounds, and you must apply under the correct category from the start.

Prepare Your Supporting Documentation.

Gather evidence that supports the specific arraigo category you choose. Your documents must clearly match the legal basis of your application.

Submit Your Application to the Competent Office.

File your request with the authority responsible for immigration matters under SEM. If you apply from abroad, a Spanish consulate handles visa issuance. If your application is approved in Spain, the National Police issue your NIE or TIE.

Pay the Applicable Fee.

For Arraigo Laboral, the verified government fee is €100. Confirm whether your category requires a fee and the current amount with SEM before payment.

Monitor Processing and Respond to Requests.

Authorities may ask for additional documents. Respond within the stated deadline to avoid delays or rejection.

Fees and Timing

Processing times differ depending on:

• The arraigo category
• The province or office reviewing your case
• Current administrative workload

Check current processing estimates directly with SEM, as timelines change.

Practical Points to Watch

Submit a complete and consistent file. Incomplete documentation often leads to delays.

Track your case status through the channel indicated by the immigration office handling your application. Keep copies of everything you submit.

If your application is approved, follow the instructions provided for identification issuance through the National Police.

You cannot regularize your status under these procedures if you are a citizen of the European Union, the European Economic Area, or Switzerland.

Many applicants overlook this basic rule and prepare a full file only to face rejection.

Confirm your nationality status before you start. If you hold EU, EEA, or Swiss citizenship, you must follow a different legal pathway.

This mistake affects applicants across Arraigo Social, Arraigo Laboral, and Arraigo Familiar alike.

Ignoring Criminal Record Requirements

You must not have a criminal record in Spain. You also must not have a criminal record in any country where you lived during the last five years.

Applicants sometimes assume that minor or old offenses do not matter. SEM examines this requirement carefully.

If you fail to address prior records or omit information, SEM can deny your application. Review your history before filing.

Submitting an Incomplete EX-10 Form

You must submit a properly completed Form EX-10 form. Incomplete or inconsistent answers delay processing and can lead to rejection.

Common errors include:

• Leaving sections blank
• Providing inconsistent personal details
• Forgetting to sign the form

Review every page before submission. Your name, identification details, and selected regularization category must match the rest of your documentation.

Choosing the Wrong Arraigo Category

Each pathway—Arraigo Social, Arraigo Laboral, and Arraigo Familiar—serves a different legal situation. Applicants sometimes select a category based on assumptions rather than their actual circumstances.

You should confirm that your personal situation aligns with the specific category you claim. Filing under the wrong basis creates delays and possible refusal.

Do not rely on informal advice from friends or online forums. Base your decision on the legal requirements that apply to your case.

Overlooking the Reviewing Authority

SEM is the authority responsible for immigration policy and case review. Some applicants misunderstand which body evaluates their request and send documents incorrectly or fail to follow official procedures.

Always verify current procedural instructions through official Spanish government sources. Administrative errors can cost time and, in some cases, your opportunity to regularize your stay.

When you apply to regularize your status in Spain, the State Secretariat for Migration (Secretaría de Estado de Migraciones – SEM) oversees the immigration framework that governs your case.

You have the right to submit your application under the category that fits your situation and to have it reviewed according to the rules in force.

You may apply under one of the recognized exceptional circumstances pathways, including:

• Arraigo Social (Social Ties Regularization)
• Arraigo Laboral (Employment Ties Regularization)
• Arraigo Familiar (Family Ties Regularization)

Each pathway is designed for specific social, employment, or family connections in Spain.

You also have the right to use the correct official forms for your situation. These include:

• EX-01 Form – Application for a non-lucrative residence authorization (residence without work, based on sufficient economic means).
• EX-02 Form – Application related to family reunification.
• EX-13 Form – Authorization to leave and re-enter Spain while your residence card is being processed or renewed.
• EX-14 Form – Request for a prior report for the temporary movement of foreign minors.
• EX-15 Form – General immigration-related administrative use.

Your application must match your purpose.

Using the wrong form can delay processing.

If you regularize your stay under a Schengen visa context, current processing times are approximately 15 days (as of February 2026).

Processing times may change, and you should confirm updates directly with SEM.

You also retain the right to:

• Receive formal notification of the decision on your application.
• Request authorization to travel, if eligible, while your residence card is pending.
• Submit documentation supporting your social, employment, or family ties.

If your case involves family members, you may initiate procedures that allow reunification under the applicable rules.

All immigration policy decisions fall under SEM’s authority.

Spanish consulates handle visa issuance abroad, and the National Police manage the issuance of your foreigner identity documentation once your status is approved.

Your rights depend on submitting a complete and accurate application.

Incomplete filings can delay review or lead to refusal.