Modelos

EX-10 Form Spain: Arraigo and Residence for Exceptional Circumstances

EX-10 is Spain’s official immigration form for many residence applications based on exceptional circumstances, including the five standard types of arraigo.

Under Spain’s current Immigration Regulation, the principal standard arraigo routes are:

Arraigo de segunda oportunidad
Arraigo sociolaboral
Arraigo social
Arraigo socioformativo
Arraigo familiar

EX-10 is also used for several other exceptional-circumstances procedures involving humanitarian grounds, cooperation with authorities, public interest, national security, victims of certain crimes, gender-based violence, sexual violence, organized networks and human trafficking.

However, not every procedure described as “arraigo” in 2026 uses EX-10.

Two special routes introduced in 2026 use separate forms:

the special arraigo route for certain applicants for international protection uses EX-31;
the 2026 extraordinary arraigo procedure uses EX-32.

If you want to understand the five standard arraigo routes before focusing on the form itself, read our complete Arraigo in Spain guide.

You can also compare EX-10 with all other Spanish immigration forms in our Spain Immigration Forms: EX-00 to EX-32 guide.

What Is Form EX-10?

The official EX-10 is the:

Solicitud de autorización de residencia por circunstancias excepcionales

or application for residence authorization due to exceptional circumstances.

Unlike ordinary residence routes that often begin through a Spanish consulate abroad, EX-10 is particularly important for foreign nationals who are already in Spain and qualify for residence because of specific exceptional circumstances.

The form itself does not determine whether you qualify.

The first step is identifying the correct legal category.

Only then should you select the corresponding option on EX-10 and prepare the evidence required for that category.

EX-10 at a Glance

Question	Answer
Form	EX-10
Main purpose	Residence due to exceptional circumstances
Standard arraigo categories	5
Standard minimum stay for most arraigo routes	2 years
Arraigo familiar minimum stay	None
Standard arraigo validity	Generally 1 year
Arraigo familiar validity	Generally 5 years
Application from Spain	Yes
Visa required before applying	No
In-person filing	Oficina de Extranjería
Electronic filing	Mercurio
Standard decision period	Generally 3 months
Standard administrative silence	Negative
Work rights	Generally included, subject to specific exceptions
TIE after approval	Yes
Main current regulation	Royal Decree 1155/2024, as amended

What Does Arraigo Mean in Spain?

The Spanish word arraigo broadly refers to roots, attachment or an established connection with Spain.

In immigration law, arraigo allows qualifying foreign nationals already in Spain to obtain temporary residence because they have developed sufficient connections with the country.

Those connections can be based on:

previous legal residence;
employment;
social integration;
family;
education or training.

Spain significantly reorganized the arraigo system when the new Immigration Regulation entered into force in May 2025.

Further changes were introduced in April 2026.

Older articles describing only arraigo social, arraigo laboral, arraigo familiar and arraigo para la formación should therefore not be relied upon without checking whether they reflect the current rules.

What Are the Five Standard Types of Arraigo?

The current permanent framework contains five standard categories.

Type	Main basis
Arraigo de segunda oportunidad	Previous qualifying Spanish residence
Arraigo sociolaboral	One or more qualifying employment contracts
Arraigo social	Family ties or demonstrated social integration plus economic means
Arraigo socioformativo	Qualifying education or vocational training plus integration
Arraigo familiar	Specific relationship with qualifying EU/EEA/Swiss citizen

The correct category determines:

required time in Spain;
documents;
financial requirements;
employment evidence;
integration evidence;
work rights;
duration;
later immigration options.

General Requirements for Standard Arraigo

Most standard arraigo applications share several requirements.

The applicant generally must:

be physically present in Spain;
not be an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen covered by the EU free-movement regime;
not currently hold a residence or stay authorization;
not have another qualifying residence, renewal, extension or modification procedure pending;
not be an applicant for international protection when submitting the standard arraigo application or during its processing;
satisfy the required continuous-presence period where applicable;
not represent a threat to public order, public security or public health;
satisfy the criminal-record requirements;
not be prohibited from entering Spain under the applicable rules;
not be within an applicable voluntary-return no-return period;
pay the required administrative fee.

The precise requirements differ depending on the type of arraigo.

The Two-Year Rule

For most standard arraigo categories, the applicant must demonstrate at least two years of continuous presence in Spain immediately before applying.

This applies to:

arraigo de segunda oportunidad;
arraigo sociolaboral;
arraigo social;
arraigo socioformativo.

Arraigo Familiar Is Different

Standard arraigo familiar does not require a minimum period of previous residence in Spain.

This is one of the biggest differences between arraigo familiar and the other standard routes.

How Much Time Can You Spend Outside Spain During the Two Years?

For purposes of establishing continuous presence under the standard arraigo framework, absences from Spain generally cannot exceed 90 days during the relevant two-year period.

Applicants should therefore reconstruct their travel history carefully.

Passport stamps, flight records and other evidence can become relevant when there are questions about continuous presence.

How Do You Prove Two Years in Spain?

Evidence should clearly identify you and help establish your physical presence in Spain throughout the required period.

Useful evidence can include documents produced or registered by Spanish public authorities.

Examples can include:

padrón records;
public healthcare records;
municipal documents;
administrative applications;
government correspondence;
official registrations;
public transport or education records where sufficiently reliable;
other dated documentation establishing presence.

A padrón is useful, but it should not automatically be treated as the only possible evidence.

Read our Empadronamiento in Spain guide if you need to understand municipal registration.

Do Asylum or International-Protection Periods Count Toward Standard Arraigo?

This is particularly important.

Under the standard arraigo rules, an applicant cannot have the status of an international-protection applicant when submitting the application or during its processing.

In addition, time spent in Spain while an international-protection application was being processed generally does not count toward the standard two-year continuous-presence requirement until the international-protection procedure has reached the required final stage.

However, special 2026 rules now exist for certain people connected with international protection.

Those procedures should not be confused with ordinary EX-10 arraigo.

Important 2026 Change: Special International-Protection Arraigo Uses EX-31

Spain introduced a special transitional arraigo procedure in 2026 for certain foreign nationals who had submitted an international-protection application in Spain before 1 January 2026 and satisfy the specific conditions of the transitional framework.

This is not the ordinary EX-10 process.

The official application form for that special 2026 route is EX-31.

Do not select ordinary arraigo social or another EX-10 category simply because you previously applied for asylum.

The special transitional procedure has its own:

eligibility rules;
presence requirements;
documentation;
application form;
extension rules.

Important 2026 Change: Arraigo Extraordinario Uses EX-32

Spain also introduced a separate arraigo extraordinario framework in 2026.

This procedure can apply to qualifying foreign nationals who were already in Spain before 1 January 2026 and satisfy the specific requirements of the extraordinary regularization framework.

Again, this is not an EX-10 application.

The official application form is EX-32.

The 2026 extraordinary route includes several possible bases connected with matters such as:

employment or intention to work;
self-employed activity;
family circumstances;
vulnerability.

Because this is a special 2026 measure, it should remain clearly separated from the five permanent standard arraigo categories.

Arraigo de Segunda Oportunidad

Arraigo de segunda oportunidad, or second-chance arraigo, is designed for certain people who previously held legal Spanish residence but were unable to renew it.

The applicant must generally have held a qualifying residence authorization during the two years immediately before the new application.

The previous authorization cannot itself have been granted through exceptional circumstances.

The failure to renew must also fit the current legal conditions.

This route can therefore help some people who moved from:

legal residence → loss of residence → irregular status

return to lawful residence without restarting the entire immigration process from abroad.

Can Former Students Use Arraigo de Segunda Oportunidad?

Not simply because they previously held a long-duration student stay.

The current second-chance rule specifically refers to a previous residence authorization.

A long-duration stay for studies is legally classified differently from ordinary residence.

Students should therefore not assume that their previous EX-00 student status automatically makes them eligible for second-chance arraigo.

How Long Does Arraigo de Segunda Oportunidad Last?

The standard authorization is generally valid for one year.

Afterwards, the holder needs to examine the appropriate extension or modification route.

Arraigo Sociolaboral

Arraigo sociolaboral is the current employment-contract-based arraigo route.

It replaced much of the search intent previously associated with the old arraigo laboral terminology.

The applicant generally needs:

at least two years of qualifying continuous presence in Spain;
one or more qualifying employment contracts;
compliant employer or employers;
sufficient contracted working hours;
appropriate salary conditions.

How Many Hours Are Required for Arraigo Sociolaboral?

The contract or combined contracts must generally represent at least:

20 hours per week in total

calculated under the applicable rules.

The salary must meet at least the applicable:

Spanish minimum wage; or
collective-agreement salary,

in proportion to the working hours.

Can You Use More Than One Contract?

Yes.

The current rules allow multiple contracts in qualifying circumstances.

For example, this can include simultaneous part-time work for more than one employer.

It can also include certain seasonal or sequential contracts.

What matters is that the combined employment structure satisfies the requirements of the sociolaboral route.

Can a Temporary Contract Be Used?

Potentially.

Where a fixed-duration contract is used, current guidance requires the contract or combined qualifying temporary contracts to provide activity lasting more than 90 days.

The employment arrangement must be genuine and legally valid.

Employer Requirements for Arraigo Sociolaboral

The employer or employers must also satisfy immigration requirements.

Among other things, they should generally:

be compliant with tax obligations;
be compliant with Social Security obligations;
have sufficient economic, material or personnel resources;
be capable of meeting the obligations contained in the employment contract.

EX-10 approval is therefore not based only on the foreign worker.

The proposed employment itself is examined.

Can You Work While Arraigo Sociolaboral Is Being Processed?

The current rules provide an important benefit.

Once a qualifying arraigo sociolaboral application has been admitted for processing, the applicant can receive provisional authorization to reside and work as an employee while the procedure is being decided.

The communication opening the procedure should indicate this provisional work authorization.

If the application is ultimately approved, effectiveness of the final authorization is linked to the worker being registered with the corresponding Spanish Social Security regime within the required period.

Arraigo Social

Arraigo social is aimed at applicants who have established significant social or family connections in Spain and have sufficient economic resources.

The applicant normally needs at least two years of continuous presence.

There are then two principal ways of demonstrating the social connection.

Family Ties

The applicant can rely on qualifying relationships with another foreign national who legally resides in Spain.

The current qualifying relationships include:

spouse;
registered partner;
first-degree direct-line relatives.

Social Integration

Where those qualifying family ties do not exist, the applicant can instead rely on a favorable social integration report.

The report may be issued by the competent Autonomous Community or, where the regional system provides for it, the relevant Ayuntamiento.

It assesses the applicant’s integration into Spanish society.

Financial Requirements for Arraigo Social

Economic means are an important part of arraigo social.

The current rules require sufficient resources for the applicant’s maintenance, generally reaching at least 100% of IPREM for the applicant.

Where the application relies on qualifying family ties with a legally resident foreign relative, current official guidance requires sufficient resources covering both the resident family member and the applicant.

With the 2026 monthly IPREM at €600, the exact calculation should be made according to the structure of the application and the current official rules.

Do not use outdated articles that treat employment contracts as the only way to qualify for arraigo social.

Can Self-Employment Support Arraigo Social?

Potentially.

Current rules allow qualifying economic means to derive from a proposed self-employed activity where the requirements for that economic activity are satisfied.

This creates an important distinction between:

Arraigo sociolaboral → employment contracts

and:

Arraigo social → family/social integration + economic means, potentially including qualifying self-employment

The correct route depends on how the applicant actually intends to support themselves.

Arraigo Socioformativo

Arraigo socioformativo combines residence based on established presence in Spain with recognized education or vocational preparation.

The applicant normally needs:

at least two years of continuous presence;
qualifying education or training;
evidence of social integration.

The permitted training categories are defined by the Immigration Regulation.

They can include specified:

vocational education;
professional certification;
adult compulsory education;
qualifying training promoted by Spanish public employment services.

Not every private course or online program qualifies.

Social Integration Report for Arraigo Socioformativo

A social integration report is also required for the standard socioformativo route.

This should demonstrate the applicant’s integration into Spanish society.

Applicants should request the report early because the regional or municipal procedure can take time.

Can You Work With Arraigo Socioformativo?

Yes, but with an important restriction.

A holder of arraigo socioformativo may work as an employee for up to 30 hours per week in total.

The work must satisfy the applicable salary rules.

This is different from the broader work authorization attached to most other exceptional-circumstances residence permits.

What Happens If You Do Not Complete the Training?

The qualifying education or training is not merely decorative evidence.

Where the authorization depends on completing specified training, failure to demonstrate that the required training has been undertaken can lead to the authorization being extinguished under the applicable rules.

Applicants should therefore choose the education carefully before relying on socioformativo.

Arraigo Familiar

Arraigo familiar is now much narrower than many older online articles suggest.

Under the current standard framework, it applies principally in two situations.

Parent or Guardian of a Minor EU/EEA/Swiss Citizen

A qualifying third-country national can potentially apply when they are the:

parent;
mother;
father;
guardian;

of a minor who is a citizen of another EU Member State, EEA country or Switzerland.

The applicant must satisfy the family-care requirements, such as having the minor in their care and living with the child or fulfilling the relevant parental obligations.

Family Member Supporting a Disabled EU/EEA/Swiss Citizen

Another category concerns a qualifying family member who provides necessary support to a person with a disability who is an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen for the exercise of that person’s legal capacity.

Specific dependency, care and cohabitation conditions apply.

Does Arraigo Familiar Require Two Years in Spain?

No.

Arraigo familiar is the standard exception to the two-year continuous-presence rule.

A qualifying applicant does not need to demonstrate two years of previous residence.

How Long Does Arraigo Familiar Last?

The current standard arraigo familiar authorization is generally valid for five years.

This is substantially longer than the ordinary one-year duration applying to the other standard arraigo categories.

Is Arraigo Familiar Still the Main Route for Family Members of Spanish Citizens?

No.

This is one of the most important changes under Spain’s current Immigration Regulation.

Qualifying foreign relatives of Spanish citizens now generally have a dedicated residence framework.

They should not automatically use EX-10 arraigo familiar.

The relevant procedure commonly uses EX-24.

Read our EX-24 Family Members of Spanish Citizens guide if the qualifying family connection is with a Spanish citizen.

Does EX-10 Cover Only Arraigo?

No.

The official EX-10 has a much wider scope.

It also includes several other exceptional-circumstances residence categories.

These include various procedures connected with:

humanitarian reasons;
victims of specified crimes;
serious illness arising in Spain;
danger to the applicant or family if required to return abroad for a visa;
cooperation with administrative authorities;
cooperation with police, prosecutors or courts;
cooperation with labour authorities;
public-interest considerations;
national-security considerations;
gender-based violence;
sexual violence;
organized criminal networks;
human trafficking;
certain qualifying family members of protected victims.

Each of these routes has its own legal requirements.

They should not be treated as alternative versions of arraigo social.

Residence for Humanitarian Reasons

EX-10 can be used for certain humanitarian-residence situations.

Examples under the current framework include specified circumstances involving:

victims of particular crimes;
a serious illness arising in Spain requiring specialized healthcare unavailable in the country of origin;
qualifying situations where returning abroad to obtain the appropriate visa would create a danger to the applicant or family.

The evidence is completely different from ordinary arraigo evidence.

For example, a serious-health case may depend heavily on qualifying medical evidence rather than proof of two years of ordinary social integration.

Cooperation With Authorities

EX-10 also contains options involving cooperation with:

administrative authorities;
police;
prosecutors;
courts;
labour authorities.

Some of these procedures exist to protect or regularize people who have assisted Spanish authorities in important investigations or enforcement actions.

A specific current provision also concerns qualifying people who can demonstrate that they worked irregularly for at least six months during the two years before the relevant cooperation with labour or judicial authorities.

These are specialized procedures and should not be confused with arraigo sociolaboral.

Victims of Gender-Based or Sexual Violence

EX-10 is also used within Spain’s protective residence frameworks for foreign victims of:

gender-based violence;
sexual violence.

These procedures have special rules regarding:

provisional residence;
provisional work rights;
final authorization;
family members;
priority processing.

They should not be evaluated using the ordinary two-year arraigo requirements.

Victims of Human Trafficking and Organized Networks

EX-10 also appears in procedures protecting qualifying victims of:

trafficking in human beings;
organized criminal networks.

These procedures can involve police identification, investigation cooperation, personal protection considerations and specialized residence/work rules.

Again, they are legally separate from ordinary arraigo.

Does EX-10 Residence Allow You to Work?

In most cases, yes.

Under the current Immigration Regulation, granting residence due to exceptional circumstances under this framework generally includes authorization to work:

as an employee;
as self-employed;
throughout Spain;
without a geographic or occupational limitation.

There are important exceptions.

Arraigo Socioformativo

The principal standard exception is socioformativo.

It allows employee work for a maximum of 30 hours per week in total.

Applicants Below Working Age

Normal minimum working-age requirements also continue to apply.

Sociolaboral While the Application Is Pending

Sociolaboral has its own provisional rule allowing qualifying applicants to work as employees after the application has been admitted for processing.

How Long Is an EX-10 Arraigo Authorization Valid?

For the five standard arraigo routes:

Route	Normal validity
Segunda oportunidad	1 year
Sociolaboral	1 year
Social	1 year
Socioformativo	1 year
Familiar	5 years

Other exceptional-circumstances categories can have their own duration rules.

Can Arraigo Be Extended?

Yes, in qualifying circumstances.

For arraigo de segunda oportunidad, sociolaboral and social, current rules allow a one-year extension subject to the applicable conditions.

One of the key current requirements is generally demonstrating that the applicant is:

actively seeking employment; and
properly registered with the public employment service.

Exceptions can apply where circumstances such as illness, disability or legal retirement age justify inability to access employment.

Extension of Arraigo Socioformativo

Socioformativo has different extension conditions.

Where the applicant is continuing a qualifying multi-year educational program, the relevant educational centre may need to confirm progression.

Where the training has already been completed, extension can depend on:

proof of the qualification or certificate; and
active job-seeking registration.

Can You Modify Arraigo to a Normal Residence and Work Permit?

Yes, potentially.

Instead of repeatedly extending exceptional-circumstances residence, a holder may be able to modify into another immigration authorization.

The conditions depend partly on how long the person has already held residence.

Current rules distinguish between people with less than one year of residence and those with more than one year when assessing certain modifications to ordinary residence/work status.

Planning this transition before the arraigo permit expires is important.

Where Is EX-10 Submitted?

Standard arraigo is requested from inside Spain.

Applications can normally be submitted:

personally through the competent Oficina de Extranjería; or
electronically through Mercurio.

The competent immigration office is normally connected with the province where the applicant resides.

Electronic filing can be particularly convenient when handled by the applicant or an authorized representative with appropriate electronic access.

Our Digital Certificate in Spain guide explains one of the main electronic identification systems used for Spanish administration.

Does EX-10 Require a Visa?

No.

A residence authorization due to exceptional circumstances is fundamentally different from most ordinary visa-from-abroad routes.

Standard EX-10 applicants are already in Spain.

The procedure therefore does not normally require the person to obtain a residence visa before EX-10 is decided.

This is one reason arraigo can be so important for people who have developed qualifying ties to Spain while already living here.

Who Submits EX-10?

The foreign national generally submits the application personally.

Where legally permitted, a representative can act under the applicable representation rules.

Special provisions exist for:

minors;
people with disabilities requiring support;
specialized protected-victim procedures.

What Information Does EX-10 Ask For?

The current EX-10 contains several sections.

Applicant Details

The form requests information including:

passport;
NIE if already assigned;
surnames;
name;
date of birth;
place and country of birth;
nationality;
marital status;
Spanish address;
telephone;
email.

The details should correspond exactly with the applicant’s identity documents.

Family Member Details for Arraigo Familiar

The current form contains a specific family section for the EU, EEA or Swiss family member connected with the arraigo familiar application.

This reflects the current legal scope of arraigo familiar.

Representative Details

Where a representative is legally presenting the application, the appropriate information is entered separately.

Notification Details

The form includes an address for official communications and provides for electronic notifications through Spanish electronic administration where applicable.

Applicants should monitor official notifications carefully.

A missed requerimiento can lead to an otherwise viable application being archived or refused.

Type of Authorization Requested

This is the most important part of EX-10.

The current form allows the applicant to identify whether the application concerns:

initial residence;
extension;
provisional authorization where applicable;

and then select the specific exceptional-circumstances category.

Do not simply tick “arraigo” generally.

The exact legal basis must be selected.

Standard EX-10 Documents for Arraigo

The precise file depends on the chosen category, but common documentation can include:

current EX-10;
complete passport or qualifying travel document;
proof of continuous presence in Spain;
criminal-record documentation;
family documents where relevant;
employment contracts where relevant;
employer documents where relevant;
financial evidence;
social-integration report;
training enrollment or completion documents;
documents proving previous legal residence;
qualifying EU family-member documentation;
government fee payment;
sworn translations;
apostilles or legalization where required.

The document package should be built around the specific category rather than copying a generic arraigo checklist.

Criminal Record Requirements

For standard arraigo, applicants generally need to satisfy criminal-record requirements covering Spain and relevant countries where they previously lived.

The immigration office checks Spanish criminal records and police information through the applicable administrative process.

Foreign criminal-record certificates may also be required.

Under current rules, there are circumstances where an applicant may not need to produce a new foreign certificate, including certain cases where they have remained continuously in Spain for the previous five years or previously proved the same requirement and have not subsequently left Spain.

Each case should be checked carefully.

Translation, Apostille and Legalization

Foreign public documents may need:

Hague Apostille;
consular legalization;
or exemption under an applicable international agreement.

Documents in another language may require translation by an authorized sworn translator.

This frequently affects:

criminal-record certificates;
birth certificates;
marriage certificates;
foreign civil-status records.

Do not wait until the final week to prepare these documents.

EX-10 Government Fee

Standard arraigo applications normally use:

Modelo 790 Código 052

under the corresponding category for temporary residence due to exceptional circumstances based on arraigo.

The applicant pays the fee.

The payment should be completed within the required administrative period.

How Long Does an EX-10 Arraigo Application Take?

The official decision period for standard arraigo is generally three months from the day after the application enters the register of the competent authority.

If no express decision is notified within the statutory period, the application can generally be understood as refused through negative administrative silence.

This does not mean every case is actually resolved in exactly three months.

Processing can be affected by:

requests for additional evidence;
criminal-record checks;
social-integration reports;
employer verification;
document problems.

What Happens If Immigration Requests More Documents?

The immigration office can issue a requerimiento where documents are missing or further evidence is needed.

Do not ignore it.

The notice will establish a deadline for responding.

Typical issues can involve:

missing proof of presence;
inadequate criminal-record documents;
unclear employment contracts;
employer solvency;
insufficient economic means;
missing family documentation;
expired documents;
missing translations;
missing integration evidence.

Always save both the government request and your response.

What Happens After EX-10 Is Approved?

After approval, the applicant normally needs to complete the TIE procedure.

The current general rule requires the foreign national to request the Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero personally within one month of notification of approval.

For sociolaboral applications, the effectiveness of the authorization also depends on completing the required Social Security registration within the applicable period.

Read our TIE Card Spain guide before booking the physical-card appointment.

EX-10 vs EX-17

These forms have completely different functions.

Form	Purpose
EX-10	Residence due to exceptional circumstances
EX-17	Physical TIE application

The typical sequence after a successful arraigo application is:

EX-10 → Approval → EX-17 → Fingerprints → TIE

EX-10 vs EX-24

This distinction is particularly important after the immigration reform.

Form	Main purpose
EX-10	Arraigo and other exceptional-circumstances residence
EX-24	Residence for qualifying foreign relatives of Spanish citizens

Do not rely on older articles that automatically direct parents, spouses or other relatives of Spanish citizens to arraigo familiar.

The current Spanish-citizen family framework should be checked first.

EX-10 vs EX-31 and EX-32

The 2026 changes make this distinction essential.

Form	Main purpose
EX-10	Standard arraigo and other established exceptional-circumstances categories
EX-31	Special 2026 arraigo framework for qualifying international-protection applicants
EX-32	2026 extraordinary arraigo / extraordinary regularization procedure

These forms are not interchangeable.

A person potentially eligible for a 2026 special measure should identify that route before submitting ordinary EX-10.

Common EX-10 Mistakes

Using an Old Arraigo Category

Spain reorganized arraigo under Royal Decree 1155/2024.

Older references to the previous categories may now be misleading.

Assuming All Arraigo Requires Three Years in Spain

The standard period for most current routes is now two years.

Assuming Arraigo Familiar Requires Two Years

It does not.

Using Arraigo Familiar for a Spanish Citizen’s Relative

The dedicated Spanish-citizen family route should be examined instead.

Calling Arraigo Sociolaboral “Arraigo Laboral”

The current standard employment-contract route is arraigo sociolaboral.

Assuming Any Job Offer Is Enough

The contracts, hours, salary and employer must satisfy the current sociolaboral rules.

Using Only One Employer When Multiple Contracts Would Work Better

Multiple contracts are allowed in qualifying cases.

Choosing Any Course for Socioformativo

Only specified training categories qualify.

Assuming Socioformativo Gives Unlimited Work Rights

It generally permits employee work for a maximum of 30 hours per week.

Treating Padrón as the Only Proof of Presence

Continuous presence can be supported by multiple forms of reliable evidence.

Counting Asylum Processing Time Automatically

Ordinary arraigo has specific rules concerning international-protection applicants and the calculation of presence.

Using EX-10 for the New 2026 Special Routes

The international-protection transitional route uses EX-31 and extraordinary arraigo uses EX-32.

Missing a Requerimiento

Official electronic or administrative notifications must be monitored carefully.

Forgetting the TIE

Approval does not automatically produce the physical residence card.

EX-10 Arraigo Checklist

Before submitting a standard arraigo application, confirm that:

EX-10 is actually the correct form;
you have identified the correct arraigo category;
you do not qualify instead for a special EX-31 or EX-32 route;
you are physically in Spain;
your current immigration status permits the standard arraigo application;
the required continuous-presence period has been satisfied;
absences from Spain have been checked;
proof of presence is organized chronologically;
criminal-record requirements are satisfied;
employment contracts are compliant where required;
employer evidence is ready where required;
financial resources are documented where required;
family relationships are properly documented;
the social integration report is available where required;
qualifying training is documented where required;
previous residence is documented for second-chance arraigo;
foreign documents are apostilled or legalized where necessary;
sworn translations are ready;
the current EX-10 form is completed;
the correct category is selected;
Modelo 790 Código 052 has been prepared;
Mercurio or in-person filing arrangements are ready;
official notifications will be monitored;
copies of the entire submission are saved.

Frequently Asked Questions About EX-10

What is EX-10 in Spain?

EX-10 is the official Spanish immigration form used for many residence applications based on exceptional circumstances, including the five standard arraigo categories.

What are the five current standard arraigo routes?

They are:

arraigo de segunda oportunidad;
arraigo sociolaboral;
arraigo social;
arraigo socioformativo;
arraigo familiar.

How long do you need to live in Spain for arraigo?

Most standard arraigo categories require at least two years of continuous presence immediately before applying.

Arraigo familiar does not require a minimum period.

Can absences break the two-year period?

Yes. Under the standard rules, absences should generally not exceed 90 days during the relevant two-year period.

Can asylum seekers apply for normal EX-10 arraigo?

A standard arraigo applicant cannot normally have international-protection applicant status at the time of application or during processing.

Special 2026 rules exist for certain international-protection applicants, but those use EX-31.

What is arraigo sociolaboral?

It is the current employment-contract-based standard arraigo route for qualifying people who have generally remained continuously in Spain for at least two years.

How many hours are required for sociolaboral?

The qualifying contract or combined contracts must generally represent at least 20 hours per week in total.

Can I use several employment contracts?

Yes, in qualifying circumstances.

Can I work while sociolaboral is being processed?

Once a qualifying sociolaboral application is admitted for processing, current rules provide provisional permission to reside and work as an employee while the procedure is being decided.

What is arraigo social?

It is a route based on continuous presence plus qualifying family ties or social integration and sufficient economic means.

Is an employment contract required for arraigo social?

Not necessarily. Arraigo social is no longer simply a contract-based route. Financial resources and social or family integration are central.

What is arraigo socioformativo?

It is a residence route combining established presence in Spain with qualifying education or vocational training and social integration.

Can I work with socioformativo?

Yes, as an employee for up to 30 hours per week in total, subject to the applicable employment conditions.

What is arraigo de segunda oportunidad?

It provides a possible route back to legal residence for some people who recently held qualifying Spanish residence but were unable to renew it.

Does a previous student stay qualify for second-chance arraigo?

Not automatically. The route requires previous qualifying residence, and ordinary long-duration student stay is legally different from residence.

What is arraigo familiar?

Under the current standard regime, it applies to specific qualifying relationships involving an EU, EEA or Swiss minor or qualifying disabled EU/EEA/Swiss citizen.

Can a relative of a Spanish citizen use arraigo familiar?

Do not assume so. Spain now has a dedicated residence framework for qualifying foreign relatives of Spanish citizens, normally associated with EX-24.

How long is standard arraigo valid?

Most standard arraigo authorizations last one year.

Arraigo familiar generally lasts five years.

Does EX-10 allow you to work?

Most qualifying exceptional-circumstances residence authorizations carry broad work rights.

Socioformativo is the main standard exception because employment is limited to a maximum of 30 hours per week.

How long does EX-10 take?

The official decision period for standard arraigo is generally three months.

Is administrative silence positive?

For ordinary initial arraigo, administrative silence is generally negative.

Do I need to leave Spain for a visa after approval?

No. Standard residence due to exceptional circumstances does not require a prior residence visa.

Do I need a TIE?

Yes. After approval, the applicant normally requests the physical TIE within one month.

What is the 2026 extraordinary arraigo?

It is a special extraordinary regularization route introduced in 2026 for qualifying people meeting its specific transitional conditions.

It uses EX-32 rather than EX-10.

What is EX-31?

EX-31 is the form introduced for the special 2026 arraigo framework applicable to certain people who submitted international-protection applications in Spain before 1 January 2026 and meet its legal requirements.

Need Help Choosing the Correct Arraigo Route?

EX-10 is one of Spain’s most important immigration forms, but choosing the correct legal basis is more important than filling in the form itself.

The correct sequence is:

Current immigration status → Time in Spain → Family / employment / social / training circumstances → Correct arraigo category → Correct form → Supporting documents → EX-10 or special 2026 form → Decision → TIE → Extension or modification

Start with our complete Arraigo in Spain guide to compare the five permanent routes.

You can also review all Spanish immigration forms in our Spain Immigration Forms guide.

If your case involves a Spanish family member, review the EX-24 Family Members of Spanish Citizens guide.

For assistance identifying the correct immigration procedure and coordinating your documents, contact Newcomer.es.