Arraigo Sociolaboral in Spain: Requirements and Application in 2026

By Nodisea Legal Team·January 14, 2026·4 min read

Updated: 3 October 2026

Arraigo sociolaboral is a temporary residence route for eligible foreign nationals already in Spain who meet the required period of presence and have qualifying employment contracts. Living in Spain for two years does not, on its own, establish eligibility.

Who can apply for arraigo sociolaboral?

This route is intended for people outside the applicable EU, EEA and Swiss residence regimes. The ordinary requirements include:

At least two years of continuous presence in Spain immediately before applying. Under the Ministry’s instructions, total absences must not exceed 90 calendar days during those two years.
Meeting the criminal-record and public-order conditions, together with the applicable entry restrictions and any commitment not to return to Spain.
Meeting the employment requirements explained below.

Under the ordinary rules, you must not be an applicant for international protection when applying or during processing. Time spent in Spain while an asylum application was pending does not count towards the required period.

There are also restrictions where you already hold a stay or residence authorisation, or have another application pending to obtain, extend, renew or modify one. Your immigration history and any special regime must therefore be checked before filing.

What employment contracts do you need?

The application requires one or more contracts signed by the employer and worker:

Working hours: the contracts must amount to at least 20 hours per week in total.
Pay: they must guarantee the applicable minimum wage or collective-agreement salary, in proportion to the working hours.
Duration: where fixed-term contracts are used, Ministry instructions require the contract or combined contracts to last more than 90 days.

Multiple contracts can be accepted in the situations permitted by the regulations, including simultaneous part-time work for different employers and qualifying consecutive seasonal contracts.

The employer must be up to date with tax and Social Security obligations and have sufficient resources to fulfil the employment commitments. Evidence of previous work does not replace the qualifying contracts required for this application. Self-employment is not the contractual basis for this route.

A social integration report is not a general requirement for arraigo sociolaboral.

Which documents should you prepare?

The application normally includes:

The completed and signed EX-10 form and a full copy of your valid passport.
Evidence of the required continuous presence in Spain.
The signed employment contract or contracts.
Employer identification and evidence of financial capacity.
Where required, criminal-record certificates from the countries where you lived during the five years before entering Spain.
Any professional qualifications or recognition required for a regulated occupation.

Foreign public documents may require an apostille or legalisation and a sworn translation, subject to applicable exemptions.

Our guide to Spanish immigration forms explains the purpose of EX-10 and links to the official form.

Where do you submit the application?

Submit the application to the Immigration Office responsible for your province of residence, through the applicable in-person procedure or electronically through Mercurio. The relevant application fee uses Modelo 790, code 052.

The ordinary decision period is three months, counted from the day after the application reaches the competent authority’s register. Without notification within the applicable period, it may be treated as refused for administrative-silence purposes. Keep your receipt and monitor official notifications.

Can you work while the application is pending?

Once the arraigo sociolaboral application is admitted for processing, the current rules provide provisional permission to reside and work as an employee until the procedure is resolved. The official communication starting the procedure must state that provisional work permission. Check that communication before relying on it.

If approved, the authorisation’s effectiveness is conditional on being registered with Social Security within one month of notification. You must also request your foreigner identity card, or TIE, within one month of notification.

The residence authorisation lasts one year. Review the applicable modification or extension requirements before it expires.

Need help checking your eligibility?

Nodisea can review your time in Spain, immigration history, contracts and employer documents before you apply. Book an immigration consultation to discuss your circumstances.

If employment is not the appropriate basis for your application, our guide to residence options for people without a residence permit explains other routes that may require assessment.

Legal review: Francisco Javier Theuer Carmona, immigration lawyer and member of the Granada Bar Association (ICAGR 7984).

Last reviewed: 3 October 2026