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Socio-labour arraigo (arraigo sociolaboral)

Official name: Temporary residence authorisation for exceptional circumstances based on socio-labour arraigo (Autorización de residencia temporal por circunstancias excepcionales por razón de arraigo sociolaboral)

€445VAT included

+ €54.36 in government fees · Estimated total cost: €499.36

See the price breakdown

Socio-labour arraigo (arraigo sociolaboral) is the authorisation for people who have lived in Spain for 2 years and have a job contract. The contract, or several added together, must reach 20 hours a week. The pay must reach the minimum wage or the one in the collective agreement. Once your application is accepted for processing, you can work on a provisional basis.

In short

Who it is for
People who have lived in Spain for 2 continuous years and have a job contract of 20 hours a week or more
Duration
1 year, can be extended
Can I work?
Yes. As an employee from the moment the application is accepted for processing, on a provisional basis; 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
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 have lived in Spain for at least 2 continuous years.
  • You have a signed job contract, or several, adding up to 20 hours a week or more.
  • The pay reaches at least the SMI (Spain's national minimum wage) or the wage in your collective agreement, in proportion to your hours.
  • You work part-time for several employers at once, or you have back-to-back seasonal contracts with different employers.

It is not for you if…

  • You have no contract, but you do have close family with residence or an integration report: see social arraigo.

    See: Social arraigo

  • You are going to study for the bachillerato (upper secondary school), vocational training or a professional certificate and want to combine it with a job of up to 30 hours: see socio-training arraigo.

    See: Socio-training arraigo

  • You have the authorisation from the 2026 extraordinary regularisation: you do not apply for a new arraigo.

    See: Extraordinary arraigo

  • You already have a residence authorisation or a residence application in progress: you cannot apply for arraigo (art. 126.h).

If you were looking for…

«arraigo laboral»
Since 20 May 2025 you can no longer apply for it. Socio-labour arraigo is its alternative, but they are not the same. Arraigo laboral required at least 6 months of past work; socio-labour arraigo requires a contract to work.
«social arraigo with a 30-hour contract»
That was the old social arraigo, which required 3 years and a 30-hour contract. Now, if you have a contract, the procedure is socio-labour arraigo: 2 years and 20 hours a week.

The common requirements

Socio-labour 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 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

  • Have one or more signed job contracts adding up to at least 20 hours a week.

    RD 1155/2024, art. 127.b

  • The pay must reach at least the SMI, or the wage in the collective agreement if one applies, in proportion to the working hours.

    RD 1155/2024, art. 127.b

  • You can provide several contracts in two cases: back-to-back seasonal jobs with different employers, or part-time work for several employers at once.

    RD 1155/2024, art. 127.b, 1st and 2nd

  • The employer must be up to date with the Tax Agency (Hacienda) and Social Security, and have the means to fulfil the contract.

    RD 1155/2024, arts. 127.b and 74.1.d and e

  • If your profession requires it, have the necessary training or qualification, with official recognition (homologación) when needed.

    RD 1155/2024, arts. 127.b and 74.1.f

  • 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.
  • The contract or contracts, signed by the employer and by you.
  • From the employer: its NIF (tax identification number) and, if it is a company, the deeds or articles of association showing who can sign the contract.
  • Proof that the employer is solvent. Its income tax (IRPF), VAT or corporate tax return, or its employment history report (informe de vida laboral), is accepted.
  • If your profession requires it, the degree or qualification, recognised when needed.

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

Provisional work
Once your application is accepted for processing, you can work as an employee until a decision is made. The notice that processing has started says so (art. 130.5).
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).
Registration with Social Security
If it is granted, you must be registered with Social Security within 1 month of the notification. Without that registration, the authorisation has no effect (art. 130.5).
Foreigner identity card
You have 1 month from the notification to apply in person for your TIE (foreigner identity card). Fingerprinting is done in person (art. 130.6).
Government fee
The fee is paid within 10 working days after you submit the application (information sheet 29 of the Ministry of Inclusion).
If they ask for more
If a document is missing, you get up to 15 days to provide it. If you do not, the application is closed (art. 130.3).

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

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 province

Frequently asked questions

Can I work while I wait for the answer?

Yes, as an employee, from the moment your application is accepted for processing until a decision is made. The notice that processing has started says so explicitly (art. 130.5).

How much does the contract have to pay me?

At least the SMI, or the wage in your collective agreement if one applies, in proportion to your hours. In 2026 the SMI is 1,221 € a month in 14 payments for full-time work. With 20 hours out of a 40-hour week, that is at least 610.50 € a month in 14 payments.

Are several part-time contracts accepted?

Yes, if you work for several employers at the same time or have back-to-back seasonal contracts with different employers. Together they must reach 20 hours a week (art. 127.b).

What does the employer have to meet?

It must be up to date with the Tax Agency and Social Security and have the means to pay the contract (arts. 127.b and 74). If it does not, the application may be refused. That is why we review its documents before we start.

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

Social arraigo

For people who have lived in Spain for 2 years and have close family with residence, or a favourable integration report.

€445VAT included · government fees not included

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

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

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

Tell us about your situation

Before we start, we tell you which procedure fits your situation and what it costs.

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