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Extraordinary arraigo: what to do before it expires

Official name: Change (art. 191) or extension of the temporary residence authorisation for exceptional circumstances based on extraordinary arraigo (additional provision 21) and of the arraigo authorisation for applicants for international protection (additional provision 20), RD 1155/2024 (Modificación o prórroga de la autorización por razón de arraigo extraordinario)

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+ €10.94 in government fees

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The extraordinary regularisation closed on 30 June 2026: you cannot apply for it today. This page is for people who already have that authorisation, under additional provision 21 (extraordinary arraigo) or 20. It lasts 1 year. In the 2 months before it expires, you need to apply for the change to residence and work. If that is not possible, there is an exceptional extension.

In short

Who it is for
Holders of the authorisation under additional provision (DA) 21, extraordinary arraigo, or DA 20, granted in the 2026 regularisation.
Duration
Change: 1 or 4 years, under art. 191. Exceptional extension: 1 year, or 4 with serious illness, disability or retirement.
Can I work?
Yes. Your authorisation already lets you work as an employee and self-employed anywhere in Spain (DA 21.10 and DA 20.10).
Where to apply
At the competent Immigration Office (Oficina de Extranjería), in person or electronically (RD 1155/2024, art. 197.1).
Message us on WhatsApp
Tell us about your situation

To talk about your case, at any time (24 hours). Please don't send documents on WhatsApp: if we need any, we'll give you a secure way to send them.

Is this your procedure?

It is for you if…

  • You were granted extraordinary arraigo (additional provision 21) and it expires in the next few months.
  • You were granted the authorisation under additional provision 20, for people who had applied for international protection before 1 January 2026.
  • You have a job contract or self-employed activity and want to move to residence and work.
  • You cannot apply for the change and want to know whether the exceptional extension applies to you.

It is not for you if…

  • You want to apply for the regularisation now: the deadline ended on 30-06-2026 and you can no longer apply. See which types of arraigo exist.

    See: Arraigo

  • Your regularisation application was refused and you want to appeal.

    See: Appeal for reconsideration

  • You have another type of arraigo (socio-labour, social, socio-training or second-chance): its next step is the extension or the change.

    See: Arraigo extension

  • Your question is about an asylum or international protection application: we do not handle it. We recommend a specialised organisation or a lawyer.

If you were looking for…

«2026 extraordinary regularisation»
You could apply until 30-06-2026 and the deadline has closed (DA 20.6 and DA 21.6). Here we explain what to do if you already have the authorisation.
«renew extraordinary arraigo»
It is not a renewal. The rules provide for a change under art. 191 and, only if that is not possible, an exceptional extension.
«extraordinary arraigo 2026»
It is the authorisation under additional provision 21, added to the Regulation by RD 316/2026. It lasts 1 year.

The regularisation is closed

You could apply until 30 June 2026. This page is not for applying: it is for people who already have the authorisation. If you do not have it, see the types of arraigo or take the “Which procedure do I need?” test.

What to apply for before it expires, step by step

  1. Check your expiry date. It is on your TIE. If you are unsure, we check it against your decision.
  2. First, the change under art. 191 (modificación), in the 2 months before it expires. You move to residence and work, for 1 or 4 years depending on your case.
  3. If you cannot apply for the change, the exceptional 1-year extension (prórroga): active job searching with registration at the public employment service, or an integration effort report.
  4. If a serious illness, a disability or retirement prevents you from working, the extension can be for 4 years without those requirements.

Work out your 2-month window with the deadline calculator.

Please don’t send documents on WhatsApp. If we need any, we’ll give you a secure way to send them.

Requirements

  • Additional provision 21 (extraordinary arraigo): in the 2 months before it expires, its holders “must” apply for the change under art. 191.

    RD 1155/2024, DA 21.10 (added by RD 316/2026)

  • Additional provision 20 (the rules treat it as a social arraigo authorisation): in the same 2 months, its holders “may” apply for the change under art. 191.

    RD 1155/2024, DA 20.10 (added by RD 316/2026)

  • For the change: meet the requirements of art. 191 that apply to your case. For example, a contract and the requirements of the initial authorisation, or those for renewal.

    RD 1155/2024, art. 191 (and arts. 74, 80, 84 and 86)

  • Exceptional 1-year extension, only if you cannot apply for the change. You need one of these two things: actively looking for work and registered with the public employment service, or an integration effort report from your autonomous community recommending the extension.

    RD 1155/2024, DA 21.10 and DA 20.10

  • 4-year extension without those requirements: if you cannot take up employment because of a serious illness, a disability or because you have reached the legal retirement age. The illness or disability can be yours, your spouse's or that of a son or daughter under 18 (or an adult child who cannot look after themselves because of their health).

    RD 1155/2024, DA 21.10 and DA 20.10

  • Pay the government fee that applies to what you request (form 790-052).

    Order PJC/617/2025

Documents

Guide list only. Before we start, we tell you exactly which ones you need in your case.

  • The decision granting your authorisation and your TIE (foreigner identity card): with them we can see the exact expiry date.
  • Full copy of your passport.
  • For the change: a signed job contract, or documents of your self-employed activity, depending on your art. 191 case.
  • For the exceptional extension: registration as a jobseeker and proof of active job searching, or the integration effort report.
  • For the 4-year extension: reports proving the serious illness or disability (yours or your family member's), or your retirement age.
  • Receipt for payment of fee 790-052.

Please don't send documents on WhatsApp or by email. If we need any, we'll give you a secure way to send them.

Deadlines

The regularisation is closed
You could apply until 30 June 2026 (DA 20.6 and DA 21.6). You cannot apply for it today.
When your authorisation expires
It lasts 1 year (DA 21.10 and DA 20.10). Once granted, it takes effect from the day you submitted the application (DA 21.4 and DA 20.3). The TIE is issued for the validity period of the authorisation (section 7 of both): the expiry date on your TIE is the reference.
Window for the change
The 2 months before the expiry date. If you apply within that period, your authorisation remains valid until a decision is made (DA 21.10 and DA 20.10).
If you miss the date
Applications are accepted up to 3 months after it expires. Your authorisation is extended until the decision, but disciplinary proceedings for a minor offence may be opened against you (DA 21.10 and DA 20.10; LO 4/2000, art. 52.b).
Exceptional extension
The rules do not set a specific window for it. To avoid being left without an authorisation, apply before it expires.

How we work

  1. 1. You tell us about your situation

    On WhatsApp, by phone or with the form. A few lines are enough.

  2. 2. We tell you which procedure, which documents and what it costs

    Before we start, with a fixed price and government fees on top. If it isn't the right procedure for you, we tell you.

  3. 3. We prepare your application file

    We review your documents and make sure the file is complete and well explained. Once we have everything, we tell you the date it will be ready.

    Online submission on your behalf when the procedure allows it.

  4. 4. Follow-up and an update on every development

    We follow your file until the decision. If the authorities ask for anything else, we prepare it with you.

Fingerprinting for the TIE is done in person, by you: that part is yours.

In Barcelona and Catalonia

In Catalonia, the integration effort report is issued by the competent bodies of the Generalitat de Catalunya (the Catalan government). Registration as a jobseeker is done with the Catalan public employment service, the Servei Públic d'Ocupació de Catalunya (SOC).

Immigration in Barcelona: offices and data for the province

Frequently asked questions

Can I still apply for the regularisation?

No. The deadline ended on 30 June 2026 and the BOE (Spain's Official State Gazette) shows no extension: we checked the consolidated text on 13-10-2026. If you do not have an authorisation yet, see the types of arraigo.

Is it compulsory to apply for the change?

For additional provision 21, the rules say that its holders “must” apply for it in the 2 months before it expires. For provision 20 they say “may”. If you cannot apply for it, there is the exceptional extension.

How do I know when my authorisation expires?

Check the expiry date on your TIE: it is issued for the validity period of the authorisation. Bear in mind that, once granted, the authorisation takes effect from the day you submitted the application (DA 21.4 and DA 20.3). We use that date to work out your 2-month window.

I applied and have not had an answer yet. What happens?

The rules allow 3 months for a decision. If that time passes without any notification, the application is deemed refused (negative administrative silence) and you can appeal. That period can be suspended and, meanwhile, the provisional permission remains valid (DA 21.4 and DA 20.3). Tell us about your case.

Can I keep working while the change is being decided?

Yes, if you apply in the 2 months before or the 3 months after it expires. In that case, your authorisation is extended until the decision (DA 21.10 and DA 20.10).

What is the integration effort report?

A report from your autonomous community recommending the extension. If it is favourable, it certifies, among other things, that you have learned the official languages of the place where you live (DA 21.10 and DA 20.10).

My regularisation was refused. Can I appeal?

The decision must state which appeals are possible, to whom and within what time limit (Law 39/2015, art. 88.3). The appeal for reconsideration (recurso de reposición) is filed within 1 month if the decision is explicit (art. 124).

Review and sources

Written with the help of AI and reviewed by the Un Papel Menos team on 13 October 2026.

Last updated: .

Legislation

Sources

Related procedures

Change to residence and work

To move from temporary residence, such as arraigo, to a residence and work authorisation without leaving Spain.

Fixed price before we start

Arraigo extension

To apply for 1 more year of your socio-labour, social, second-chance or socio-training arraigo before it expires.

Fixed price before we start

Appeal for reconsideration

To ask the same authority to review an immigration refusal, within the month after the notification.

From €540VAT included · government fees not included

Arraigo

Residence authorisation for people who already live in Spain and have work, family or training ties here.

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