If your work, family reunification or non-lucrative residence is about to expire: renewal of the authorisation and a new TIE.
€245VAT included · government fees not included
Second-chance arraigo (arraigo de segunda oportunidad)
Official name: Temporary residence authorisation for exceptional circumstances based on second-chance arraigo (Autorización de residencia temporal por circunstancias excepcionales por razón de arraigo de segunda oportunidad)
Second-chance arraigo (arraigo de segunda oportunidad) is for people who had a residence authorisation and lost it because it was not renewed. It must have been in the previous 2 years, and not for reasons of public order, public security or public health. It also requires 2 continuous years in Spain.
In short
- Who it is for
- People who had a non-exceptional residence authorisation in the last 2 years that was not renewed
- Duration
- 1 year, can be extended
- Can I work?
- Yes, as an employee or self-employed, once it is granted
- Where to apply
- The Immigration Office (Oficina de Extranjería) of your province, in person or online through the Mercurio platform
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…
- In the last 2 years you had a residence authorisation that was not for exceptional circumstances. For example, for work, for family reunification or non-lucrative residence.
- It was not renewed for reasons other than public order, public security or public health. For example, you could not meet the requirements or you did not apply in time.
- You have lived in Spain for at least 2 continuous years.
It is not for you if…
You still have time to renew your authorisation: what you need is the renewal.
See: Residence renewalYour renewal was refused recently: you may still be able to appeal that decision.
See: Appeal for reconsiderationYour previous authorisation was an arraigo or another one for exceptional circumstances: this route does not work for you (art. 127.a). See socio-labour or social arraigo.
See: Socio-labour arraigoYou lost your authorisation more than 2 years ago: this route no longer fits. See the other types of arraigo.
See: Arraigo
If you were looking for…
- «my card expired and I did not renew it»
- If your authorisation was not renewed in the last 2 years, second-chance arraigo may be your route. If you are still within the time limit, what you need is to renew.
The common requirements
This arraigo also requires the requirements common to all types of arraigo. For example, having no criminal record and no open asylum application. You can find them all in types of arraigo.
After the first year
You can move to residence and work with the article 191 change. Or you can apply for the arraigo extension in the 2 months before it expires (art. 132.3).
To extend it, you must be actively looking for work and registered as a jobseeker with the public employment service. There are exceptions, such as illness, disability or retirement age (art. 132.2.a).
Requirements
Have held a residence authorisation, not granted for exceptional circumstances, in the 2 years immediately before the application.
RD 1155/2024, art. 127.a
It was not renewed for reasons other than public order, public security or public health.
RD 1155/2024, art. 127.a
If the reason was public order, the rules still allow you to apply when the case was dismissed (sobreseimiento) or you were acquitted.
RD 1155/2024, art. 127.a
Have lived in Spain for at least 2 continuous years before applying. Time as an applicant for international protection does not count.
RD 1155/2024, art. 126.b
Not have another stay or residence authorisation or another residence application in progress.
RD 1155/2024, art. 126.h (added by RD 316/2026)
Documents
Guide list only. Before we start, we tell you exactly which ones you need in your case.
- Form EX-10, filled in and signed.
- Full copy of your passport (or of your registration certificate, cédula de inscripción, or travel document).
- Proof that you have lived in Spain for 2 years. For example: the padrón (your town hall's register of residents) or care in the public health system.
- Criminal record certificate from the countries where you lived in the 5 years before arriving, translated and legalised or apostilled.
- Documents of the authorisation you had, such as your old TIE (foreigner identity card) or the decision granting it (art. 130.1.c).
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 2-year window
- The authorisation you had must fall within the 2 years immediately before your application (art. 127.a). If you are close to that limit, it is best to prepare the application in good time.
- Legal time limit for a reply
- The authorities have 3 months from the date your application enters their register. If they do not reply, it is deemed refused (negative administrative silence) and you can appeal (additional provisions 7 and 8).
- Government fee
- The fee is paid within 10 working days after you submit the application (information sheet 27 of the Ministry of Inclusion).
- Foreigner identity card
- You have 1 month from the notification to apply in person for your new TIE. Fingerprinting is done in person (art. 130.6).
How we work
1. You tell us about your situation
On WhatsApp, by phone or with the form. A few lines are enough.
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. 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. 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
If you live in the province of Barcelona, the application goes to its Immigration Office. It can be in person or online through the Mercurio platform. In the rest of Catalonia, it goes to the Immigration Office of your province.
Immigration in Barcelona: offices and data for the provinceFrequently asked questions
Which previous authorisations count?
Any residence authorisation that was not for exceptional circumstances. For example, for work, for family reunification or non-lucrative residence (art. 127.a).
I had an arraigo and did not extend it. Does this apply to me?
No. Arraigo is an authorisation for exceptional circumstances, so it falls outside this route. Socio-labour or social arraigo may fit you.
What if I lost the authorisation more than 2 years ago?
Then second-chance arraigo no longer fits (art. 127.a). Another type of arraigo may apply to you, such as socio-labour or social arraigo.
What if it was not renewed because of criminal proceedings?
If the reason was public order, public security or public health, in principle this route does not fit. The rules make an exception if the case was dismissed (sobreseimiento) or you were acquitted (art. 127.a). Every case is different: we review it before we start.
Can I work?
Yes, once it is granted: as an employee or self-employed, in any sector and anywhere in Spain (art. 131).
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
- BOE, RD 1155/2024, consolidated text (update published on 22 September 2026), arts. 126, 127, 130, 131, 132 and 191 · accessed on 13-10-2026
- Ministry of Inclusion, Information sheet 27: second-chance arraigo (April 2026) · accessed on 13-10-2026
Related procedures
For people who have lived in Spain for 2 years and have one or more job contracts adding up to 20 hours a week or more.
€445VAT included · government fees not included
To ask the same authority to review an immigration refusal, within the month after the notification.
From €540VAT included · government fees not included
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
Tell us about your situation
Before we start, we tell you which procedure fits your situation and what it costs.
Or, if you prefer:
- Message us on WhatsApp
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.
Phone
+34 623 82 89 38At any time, 24 hours a day, every day.