Social Arraigo in Spain
Requirements, documents and when you may need a sworn translation
Social Arraigo (Arraigo Social) remains one of the most common routes for regularising immigration status in Spain. However, since the new Immigration Regulation came into force in May 2025, several important aspects have changed. It is no longer enough to repeat what appears in outdated articles. To explain this residence permit correctly, it is necessary to start with the current legislation. The Spanish Government defines it as a temporary residence authorisation based on exceptional circumstances for foreign nationals who have lived in Spain for at least two years, have family ties or can demonstrate social integration, and meet the remaining legal requirements.
For Easytrads, this topic is particularly relevant. In practice, many applications are delayed not because applicants fail to meet the legal requirements, but because the documentation has not been prepared correctly. Foreign certificates that have not been properly translated, criminal record certificates with formal issues, family documents issued outside Spain or documents requiring legalisation or an apostille before submission are among the most common problems. This is precisely where a blog article can provide genuine value while attracting highly qualified traffic.
What Is Social Arraigo and Who Can Apply?
Social Arraigo is a temporary residence authorisation intended for foreign nationals who are already living in Spain and can demonstrate a sufficient degree of integration or connection with the country. According to the official guidance published by the Spanish Government, applicants must have lived continuously in Spain for at least two years, not three, as many outdated websites still incorrectly state. In addition, applicants must be physically present in Spain when submitting the application and must not have the status of an applicant for international protection either at the time of application or during the processing of their case.
Social Arraigo Requirements in 2026
In practical terms, the main requirements for Social Arraigo are very specific. Applicants must not be citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland, nor family members of citizens of those countries where EU free movement rules apply. They must also have no criminal record in Spain or in any country where they have lived during the previous five years, must not be subject to an entry ban, and must not represent a threat to public order, public security or public health.
The key requirement remains continuous residence in Spain for at least two years immediately before submitting the application. Absences from Spanish territory must not exceed 90 days during that period. Furthermore, if the applicant has previously sought international protection, the period spent in Spain while that application was being processed does not count until a final administrative decision has been issued and, where applicable, any judicial proceedings have concluded.
Applicants must also qualify under one of the recognised Social Arraigo pathways: having family ties with legally resident foreign nationals who have sufficient financial means, possessing their own financial resources, or proposing a self-employed business activity, depending on the circumstances established in the official guidance and current administrative practice.
How to Prove Two Years of Continuous Residence in Spain
This is often one of the most sensitive parts of the application. On paper it seems straightforward: prove that you have lived in Spain for two years. In practice, however, this is where many applications encounter difficulties. The Spanish Government requires continuous residence and limits absences to 90 days, but proving this residence is rarely achieved with a single document. Instead, applicants usually need to provide a consistent body of evidence demonstrating their genuine and uninterrupted presence in Spain.
Documents Required to Apply for Social Arraigo
The official guidance published by the Spanish Government establishes a clear list of required documents: the EX-10 application form, a complete valid passport or travel document, evidence of continuous residence in Spain, a criminal record certificate where applicable, proof of family ties or a social integration report, together with the financial documentation required for the relevant category of application. Applications may be submitted in person at the Immigration Office or electronically, and the corresponding fee must be paid using Form 790, Code 052. The official processing period is three months.
Passport and EX-10 Application Form
These documents form the foundation of the application. Without proper identification and the correct application form, the application cannot be properly submitted. The EX-10 remains the official form used for residence authorisations granted on the basis of exceptional circumstances, including Social Arraigo.
Criminal Record Certificate
This is one of the most important documents in the application. The Spanish Government requires applicants to have no criminal record in Spain or in any country where they have lived during the previous five years. As a result, foreign criminal record certificates frequently form part of the application.
Evidence of Residence in Spain
A personal declaration alone is not sufficient. Applicants must provide a coherent documentary record enabling the authorities to verify continuous residence in Spain and compliance with the maximum permitted period of absence.
Family Ties or Social Integration Report
The Spanish Government recognises either family ties with legally resident foreign nationals or evidence of social integration through a report issued by the relevant Autonomous Community or, where appropriate, the local council. The official guidance also includes a specific section explaining the social integration report.
Financial Means, Business Activity or Personal Resources
The current Social Arraigo framework is no longer based solely on a traditional job offer. Immigration specialists explain that, under the updated regulations, greater emphasis is placed on family ties supported by sufficient financial means, the applicant’s own financial resources or a genuine self-employed business project, depending on the specific circumstances.
When Do You Need a Certified Translation for a Social Arraigo Application?
The Ministry expressly includes an information page on the translation and legalisation of documents, making it clear that this is not a minor detail within the application. When a foreign document is intended to have legal effect in Spain, it may require an official certified translation and, depending on the country of origin and the type of document, legalisation or an Apostille.
In practice, these are the most common situations:
Foreign Criminal Record Certificates
If the certificate has been issued in another language, you should check whether it requires a certified translation before submitting it to the Immigration Office. It is also advisable to ensure that the applicant’s name, date of birth and all other details match exactly with the passport and the rest of the application.
Birth and Marriage Certificates
These documents may be essential when the Social Arraigo application is based on family ties. If they were issued outside Spain, their acceptance by the authorities will usually depend both on their formal validity and on being accompanied by an accurate certified translation.
Family Documents Issued Outside Spain
Birth records, consular certificates, proof of family relationship or other civil status documents issued abroad may all be accepted, provided they are submitted in the format required by the Spanish authorities.
Apostille and Legalisation
Not every foreign document requires exactly the same formalities, but many applications are delayed because applicants assume that translation alone is sufficient. In many cases, a Hague Apostille or consular legalisation is also required. A certified translation and an Apostille serve different legal purposes, and one does not replace the other.
This is precisely where Easytrads can help—not simply as a translation provider, but as a partner ensuring that your documents are properly prepared for official immigration procedures.
Common Mistakes That Can Delay or Block a Social Arraigo Application
The most frequent problems are usually small mistakes that, when combined, weaken the application: expired criminal record certificates, names that do not match the passport, certificates submitted without the required legalisation, inconsistent evidence of residence in Spain or translations that do not meet the official requirements.
Although the official processing time is three months, an incorrectly prepared application may result in requests for additional documents, significant delays or even refusal if the legal requirements cannot be properly demonstrated.
How to Prepare Your Social Arraigo Documentation Efficiently
Good document preparation often makes the difference between a smooth application and one that encounters problems from the outset. A practical checklist includes the following:
- Confirm that you genuinely meet the two-year continuous residence requirement and the permitted absence limit.
- Organise your evidence of residence in Spain in chronological order.
- Identify all documents issued outside Spain.
- Check which documents require a certified translation, which require an Apostille or legalisation, and which need updating because of expiry dates.
- Verify that all names, dates and document numbers are identical across every document in the application.
How Easytrads Can Help with Certified Translations for Immigration Procedures
This is where Easytrads can genuinely support your application. We do not replace legal advice, but we help with one of the most important parts of the process: preparing foreign documents for use in Spanish immigration procedures.
If your Social Arraigo application includes foreign criminal record certificates, civil status certificates, family documents or any other documents that must be officially submitted in Spain, our certified translations, prepared by sworn translators officially authorised in Spain, help save time and reduce the risk of formal errors.
Do You Need a Certified Translation for Your Social Arraigo Application?
If you are applying for Social Arraigo and need to submit foreign criminal record certificates, birth certificates, marriage certificates or any other documents issued outside Spain, Easytrads can help you prepare your paperwork with an official certified translation accepted for Spanish immigration procedures.
We work with officially authorised sworn translators, offer a 100% online process, fast turnaround times and personal support to help you avoid formal errors that could delay your application.
Upload your documents today and receive your certified translation quickly, securely and with complete peace of mind.
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