Spain introduced an extraordinary regularisation process in 2026 for certain migrants already living in the country.

The measure was created by Royal Decree 316/2026 and covered two main groups:

The process could provide a temporary residence permit and the right to work in Spain.

However, the application period has now closed.

Applications were accepted from 16 April until 30 June 2026.

People who did not submit an application before the deadline cannot start a new application under this specific process. They should review other immigration routes, such as the normal arraigo procedures, family residence or a modification of an existing status.

People who submitted their application on time may still need to:

Add missing documents
Reply to an official request
Check the application status
Use their provisional work authorisation
Complete the TIE process after approval
Prepare for changing to another residence permit before the first permit expires

Important: This article explains the extraordinary regularisation process and the current position after the application deadline. It is not a substitute for individual legal advice.

Current status of the process #

Stage	Current position
New applications	Closed
Application period	16 April to 30 June 2026
Number of applications received	1,174,978
Correction of documents	Available for applications submitted on time
Correction period through participating Correos offices	Until 30 September 2026
Provisional work rights	Available after official communication that processing has started
Maximum legal decision period	Generally three months, subject to suspension
Initial permit after approval	One year
Work rights after approval	Employment and self-employment throughout Spain

The legal basis is Royal Decree 316/2026.

Official information, forms and guides are available through the extraordinary regularisation portal.

1. What was the extraordinary regularisation? #

The extraordinary regularisation was a temporary immigration process created for people who were already living in Spain before 2026 but could not access a normal residence permit.

It was not a new visa for people living abroad.

It was also not an automatic residence permit for every undocumented person.

Applicants had to show that they:

Were already in Spain
Met the required period of continuous presence
Belonged to one of the eligible categories
Did not hold another valid stay or residence authorisation
Met criminal record requirements
Submitted the application before the deadline

The process created two related residence routes:

An exceptional arraigo permit for applicants for international protection
An extraordinary arraigo permit for other migrants in an irregular situation

Both routes could provide provisional residence and work rights during processing.

2. Can a new application still be submitted? #

No.

The final day for submitting a new application was:

30 June 2026

The deadline applied to:

Online applications
Applications submitted in person
Applications submitted through authorised representatives
Applications submitted through participating public offices
Applications submitted with support from Correos

There was no maximum quota, but the application had to be registered before the deadline.

An appointment requested before 30 June did not necessarily replace the need to submit the actual application on time.

Anyone who missed the deadline must now review another legal route.

3. Who could apply? #

A person could generally apply if they:

Were a foreign national
Were in Spain when submitting the application
Had arrived in Spain before 1 January 2026
Had remained continuously in Spain for at least the five months immediately before applying
Did not have a valid stay or residence permit
Were not already applying for the issue, renewal, extension or modification of another stay or residence authorisation
Met the criminal record conditions

The person also needed to fall into one of the two main categories.

Category 1: applicants for international protection #

This route covered people who had taken steps to request international protection before 1 January 2026.

This could include a person who had:

Declared the intention to request protection
Registered a request
Formally submitted an asylum application
Filed an appeal that was still unresolved

The person needed to remain an applicant for international protection while the regularisation case was being processed.

If the residence application was approved, the person then had to withdraw the international protection application or pending appeal.

A person who requested international protection after 1 January 2026 could still qualify in certain cases if they had entered Spain before that date and met the remaining requirements.

Category 2: people in an irregular administrative situation #

This category was for people who did not hold a valid permission to stay or reside in Spain.

In addition to the general conditions, the applicant normally had to show at least one of the following situations:

Previous employment or self-employed activity in Spain
A real intention or opportunity to work
A qualifying family unit in Spain
A recognised situation of vulnerability

The exact evidence depended on the category used.

4. Who was excluded? #

The process was not intended for every foreign national living in Spain.

A person was generally excluded if they:

Held a valid residence or stay authorisation
Had an active procedure for another residence or stay permit
Had requested renewal, extension or modification of another authorisation
Was covered by temporary protection for people displaced from Ukraine
Had received temporary protection under the relevant EU decision
Was outside Spain when applying
Had not completed five months of continuous residence
Arrived in Spain on or after 1 January 2026
Had disqualifying criminal records
Submitted the application after 30 June 2026

A person with a pending arraigo application normally could not submit a second application under the extraordinary process.

A person whose previous arraigo application had already been refused could still qualify, provided there was no current competing procedure and all other requirements were met.

5. The five-month continuous residence requirement #

Applicants had to show that they had remained in Spain continuously for at least five months immediately before submitting the application.

For example:

Application submitted on 16 April 2026: presence generally needed from 16 November 2025
Application submitted on 15 May 2026: presence generally needed from 15 December 2025
Application submitted on 30 June 2026: presence generally needed from 30 January 2026

The applicant also needed to have entered Spain before 1 January 2026.

This means the two tests were connected but not identical:

Entry before 1 January 2026
Five continuous months before the date of application

Did travel outside Spain break continuity? #

The official easy-language guide stated that the applicant should not have left Spain during the required five-month period.

Even a short trip could create questions about whether the person met the continuous-presence rule.

Applicants should keep all evidence of:

Entry dates
Passport stamps
Boarding passes
Travel bookings
Medical or family emergencies
Any alleged absence

6. How could continuous presence be proved? #

Spain allowed applicants to use any legally valid evidence that:

Identified the applicant
Included a date
Connected the applicant to Spain

The evidence did not need to come only from public authorities.

Possible documents included:

Padrón certificates
Medical appointments
Hospital records
Pharmacy records
School records
Training certificates
Bank transactions
Money transfer receipts
Mobile phone contracts
Utility bills
Rental documents
Transport tickets
Public transport cards
Employment records
Payslips
Social service documents
NGO certificates
Municipal documents
Police or court documents
Postal receipts
Dated invoices
Insurance records
Applications made to public authorities

A single document from five months earlier was not always enough.

A stronger file showed a continuous timeline with several dated documents.

What made evidence stronger? #

Strong evidence normally included:

Full name
Passport or identity number
Exact date
Spanish address
Name of the issuing organisation
Contact or verification details
Secure verification code where available

Documents without the applicant’s name or date were weaker.

Screenshots, private messages and photographs could support the case but were normally safer when combined with more formal evidence.

7. Employment and intention to work #

An applicant in the irregular-status category could qualify through work-related evidence.

This could include evidence of:

Previous employment in Spain
Previous self-employed activity
A current employment opportunity
A genuine intention and ability to work

Possible supporting documents included:

Employment contract
Previous employment contract
Payslips
Social Security records
Employer declaration
Labour inspection documents
Court judgment
Conciliation documents
Invoices
Autónomo records
Client contracts
Business activity documents
A formal employment offer

The work evidence needed to be real.

A false contract or invented employer could lead to:

Refusal
Criminal investigation
Immigration consequences
Penalties for the employer
Loss of provisional work rights

8. Family-unit route #

An applicant could also qualify through a family unit in Spain.

The relevant family unit could include:

Minor children
Adult children with disabilities who required support
First-degree ascendants, such as parents

The applicant needed to show the family relationship and actual family situation in Spain.

Possible evidence included:

Birth certificates
Family registration documents
Padrón certificates
Proof of shared address
Disability certificates
Dependency evidence
School records
Medical evidence
Financial support documents

Foreign public documents could require:

Apostille
Legalisation
Sworn translation into Spanish

Names and dates needed to match the applicant’s passport and other immigration documents.

9. Vulnerability route #

A person who could not qualify through work or family might have used the vulnerability route.

Vulnerability needed to be formally recognised.

It was not enough to write a personal statement saying that life was difficult.

The applicant normally needed a certificate issued or validated by:

Competent social services
An eligible municipality
A social organisation registered in the Foreigners’ Collaborators Register
An authorised trade union
Another competent entity recognised for the process

The certificate could consider matters such as:

Homelessness
Risk of exploitation
Serious poverty
Health problems
Disability
Gender-based violence
Family dependency
Social exclusion
Lack of a support network
Other serious personal circumstances

The official certificate model was available through the regularisation portal.

10. Criminal record requirements #

Applicants needed to meet Spain’s criminal-record conditions.

The process could require checks covering:

Spain
Country of nationality or origin
Countries where the person had lived during the five years before entering Spain

The applicant could be asked to provide:

Foreign criminal record certificate
Proof that the certificate had been requested
Authorisation allowing Spanish authorities to request it
Responsible declaration when no answer had been received within the required period
Apostille or legalisation
Translation into Spanish

The process included a special mechanism for cases where obtaining a foreign certificate was difficult.

However, asking the Spanish authorities to obtain the certificate did not guarantee that the requirement would disappear.

If the foreign certificate could not be obtained through the official channel, the applicant could later be required to provide it within a specific period.

Criminal records that may be cancelled #

Spanish criminal records that were legally eligible for cancellation were not necessarily treated in the same way as active disqualifying records.

The applicant was expected to request cancellation before the residence decision where appropriate.

A person with any criminal history should obtain legal advice rather than assuming the record is irrelevant.

11. Which forms were used? #

Different forms applied to different applicants.

The main forms included:

EX-31 for applicants for international protection
The specific extraordinary arraigo application form for people in an irregular situation
Forms for accompanying children
Authorisation forms for criminal record checks
Vulnerability certificates
Representation forms

Current forms and instructions remain available through the official regularisation portal.

Applicants should keep the exact version submitted.

12. How applications were submitted #

During the application period, applications could be presented:

Online
In person
Personally
Through an authorised representative
Through participating Correos offices
Through Social Security offices
Through participating immigration offices
With support from registered social organisations or unions

Online submission generally required:

Electronic certificate
Cl@ve or accepted digital identification
Authorised professional representative
Registered collaborating organisation

The process was designed to be free apart from the cost of obtaining or translating personal documents.

Applicants should be cautious about anyone charging money for an appointment or promising guaranteed approval.

13. What can applicants do now? #

The new-application stage has finished.

Current applicants should focus on:

Checking whether the application was correctly registered
Saving the submission receipt
Monitoring official notifications
Correcting missing or incorrect documents
Keeping contact information updated
Using provisional work rights only after receiving the correct communication
Preparing for the TIE after approval
Planning the next residence modification before the one-year permit expires

14. The correction period #

After 30 June 2026, Spain entered the document-correction stage.

People who applied on time may be able to submit:

Missing documents
Corrected documents
Clearer copies
Updated evidence
A reply to a formal request
Additional information supporting the application

Participating Correos offices accept supplementary documentation until:

30 September 2026

This service is only for people who submitted the original residence application before the deadline.

It cannot be used to start a new regularisation case.

Official information is available on the Correos extraordinary regularisation page.

Correction on your own initiative #

Applicants do not always need to wait for an official request if they know that an important document was:

Missing
Incorrect
Unreadable
Incomplete
Submitted under the wrong category

Any additional submission should clearly include:

Full name
Passport or identity number
Application reference
Date of original submission
Province
List of attached documents
Short explanation of why they are being added

Keep proof of delivery.

Replying to an official request #

An official request normally contains a deadline.

The deadline may be short.

Read the full notification and confirm:

What is missing
Required format
Deadline
Submission channel
Whether translation or legalisation is required
Whether the document must be original
Consequences of not replying

Failure to answer can lead to the application being treated as withdrawn or closed.

15. How to check notifications #

Applicants should monitor:

Electronic notifications
Email
Postal address
Representative’s inbox
Application portal
Messages from the immigration authority

An email alert may not be the legal notification itself.

The deadline can begin when the notification is opened or after the legal access period ends.

Applicants represented by a lawyer, administrative manager or social organisation should confirm who is responsible for checking notifications.

16. Provisional right to work #

One of the most important features of the process was provisional work authorisation.

The applicant was allowed to reside and work provisionally after receiving the official communication that processing had started.

The provisional authorisation could allow:

Employment
Self-employment
Work in any occupation
Work in any sector
Work anywhere in Spain

Submitting an application did not always mean that provisional work rights started immediately at the exact second of submission.

The applicant needed the official communication confirming the start or admission of the procedure.

What document should be shown to an employer? #

The applicant should keep and show the official document stating that they are provisionally authorised to work.

It may include:

Application reference
Applicant’s identity
Confirmation that processing has started
Statement of provisional residence and work rights
Verification code

An employer should verify the document and complete normal Social Security registration.

A screenshot of the application receipt without a work-authorisation statement may not be enough.

Can the applicant change employers? #

Yes.

The authorisation is not limited to one employer.

A person may work:

For different employers
In different sectors
In different parts of Spain
As an employee
As self-employed

Normal tax, Social Security and professional rules still apply.

What happens if the application is refused? #

If the application is refused, the provisional work authorisation ends automatically.

An employee must inform the employer immediately after receiving the decision.

The applicant should review:

Administrative appeal
Court appeal
Another immigration route
Impact on Social Security registration
Any return or expulsion procedure

Legal deadlines for challenging a decision can be short.

17. How long should a decision take? #

The legal maximum decision period is generally:

Three months

The period runs from the day after the application enters the register of the authority responsible for processing it.

However, the period may be suspended in situations such as:

Request for missing documents
Foreign criminal record checks
Reports from another authority
Delay caused by the applicant
Another legal reason under administrative procedure rules

A request for additional documents can therefore extend the practical waiting time.

What if there is no decision after three months? #

Under the regulation, no decision after the maximum period is treated as a refusal through negative administrative silence.

This does not always mean that the authority will stop processing the file.

However, it can affect appeal rights and legal strategy.

Applicants waiting longer than three months should consider professional advice, especially when:

Work rights are affected
The employer requests certainty
Family members are waiting
A removal procedure exists
A deadline for appeal may be running

18. What happens after approval? #

An approved applicant receives a temporary residence permit for exceptional circumstances.

The initial permit:

Is valid for one year
Allows residence throughout Spain
Allows employment
Allows self-employment
Allows work in any sector
Is not limited to the original employer
Does not give the right to reside or work in another EU country

The authorisation is valid only for Spain.

Normal short visits to other Schengen countries may be possible under Schengen travel rules once the person has valid travel and residence documents, but the Spanish permit does not create work rights abroad.

19. Applying for the TIE #

After approval, the applicant normally needs a physical foreigner identity card:

Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero, or TIE.

The process usually includes:

Receive the positive residence decision.
Complete Social Security registration if the approval requires it.
Book a police fingerprint appointment.
Complete form EX-17.
Pay form 790, code 012.
Bring the passport and approval.
Provide a recent photograph.
Give fingerprints.
Collect the card later.

Check the official Police immigration procedures portal.

Keep:

Approval decision
Fingerprint receipt
Fee receipt
Passport
TIE

20. Accompanying children #

The 2026 process included special protection for certain accompanying children.

Children in Spain could receive a residence authorisation under more flexible conditions.

This could cover:

Children born in Spain
Accompanying minors born outside Spain
Certain adults with disabilities who required support

Some normal requirements were relaxed during the extraordinary process.

For qualifying children, the residence permit could be valid for:

Five years

Applications for children needed to be connected correctly to the parents’ or guardians’ situation.

Each child required their own:

Application
Identity documents
Birth certificate
Family evidence
Residence evidence
Legal representation
TIE after approval where applicable

21. Does approval cancel an expulsion procedure? #

When an applicant was affected by certain return or expulsion procedures based on irregular residence or work without authorisation, approval of the extraordinary residence permit could result in:

Closure of the pending procedure
Revocation of the relevant return or expulsion order

This protection was not necessarily available for every type of expulsion case.

Cases involving:

Criminal conduct
Public order
National security
Other serious immigration violations

required individual review.

22. What happens to an asylum application after approval? #

An applicant for international protection needed to keep the protection case active during the residence application.

After a positive regularisation decision, the person had to withdraw:

The international protection application, or
The pending appeal

Do not withdraw the asylum case before receiving a positive decision unless a qualified professional confirms that it is safe.

Withdrawing too early could remove the legal basis for the extraordinary application.

23. What happens after the one-year permit? #

The permit is temporary.

During the two months before it expires, the holder should normally apply to modify it into another residence authorisation.

Possible routes may include:

Employee residence and work
Self-employed residence and work
Residence based on family circumstances
Another qualifying temporary residence permit
Long-term planning through a normal immigration category

The application may also be submitted during the three months after expiry, but late submission can lead to a penalty procedure.

It is much safer to apply before expiry.

What if modification is not possible? #

In exceptional cases, the one-year authorisation may be extended.

Possible grounds can include:

Active job search
Registration with the public employment service
Positive integration report
Serious illness
Disability
Caring for an affected spouse or child
Reaching legal retirement age

The extension rules depend on the applicant’s circumstances.

Do not assume that the one-year permit automatically renews for another year.

24. Does the permit count toward permanent residence? #

The permit is a legal Spanish temporary residence authorisation.

Time held under the permit can generally form part of a future legal residence history.

However, eligibility for long-term residence depends on additional conditions, including:

Five years of legal and continuous residence
Limits on absences
Valid successive permits
Correct renewals or modifications
No serious public-order concerns

Keep copies of all residence cards and decisions.

25. Does it count toward Spanish citizenship? #

Legal residence may also contribute toward a future nationality application.

The normal residence period for Spanish nationality is often ten years, but shorter periods apply to some people, including certain nationalities and family situations.

Citizenship has separate requirements relating to:

Continuous residence
Absences
Criminal record
Language
Integration tests
Civil registration documents

Approval under the extraordinary process does not guarantee Spanish citizenship.

26. What if the application was submitted incorrectly? #

Common errors included:

Wrong form
Missing passport pages
No proof of five months in Spain
Documents without names or dates
Missing criminal record authorisation
Incorrect category
Missing family certificates
Untranslated foreign documents
Unclear employment evidence
Missing vulnerability certificate
Incorrect representative details
Wrong province
Duplicate applications

Where possible, applicants should correct these issues during the correction stage.

Do not submit unrelated documents without explaining their purpose.

27. What if the applicant changed address? #

Keep the immigration authority informed when the correspondence address changes.

Failure to update the address can cause the applicant to miss:

Requests for documents
Decisions
Appeal deadlines
TIE information

Useful evidence of a new address includes:

Updated padrón
Rental contract
Owner authorisation
Utility bill
Municipal certificate

Also update contact information with the representative.

28. Beware of fraud #

The extraordinary process created opportunities for fraud.

Warning signs include someone who:

Sells government appointments
Guarantees approval
Creates fake contracts
Offers fake padrón registration
Requests the applicant’s digital certificate password
Keeps the original passport
Charges for a free social organisation service
Refuses to provide an invoice
Claims the deadline can be reopened privately
Offers to backdate evidence
Creates false vulnerability certificates

False evidence can cause refusal and serious legal problems.

Use:

Licensed lawyers
Registered administrative managers
Registered social organisations
Recognised trade unions
Official public offices

29. What can people who missed the deadline do? #

Missing the extraordinary deadline does not mean that no legal route exists.

Possible alternatives include:

Arraigo sociolaboral
Arraigo social
Arraigo socioformativo
Arraigo de segunda oportunidad
Family residence
Residence as a family member of a Spanish citizen
Residence as a family member of an EU citizen
Humanitarian residence
Study-related modification
International protection
Residence under Law 14/2013
Another exceptional-circumstances route

The correct option depends on:

Time in Spain
Current status
Work history
Family
Training
Previous permits
Criminal record
Nationality
Protection needs

Do not submit an unsuitable arraigo application only because the extraordinary process is closed.

30. Checklist for people with a pending application #

Keep the original submission receipt.
Check that the application reference is correct.
Monitor electronic notifications.
Check email and postal mail.
Confirm who receives notifications.
Review all documents submitted.
Add missing documents before 30 September where appropriate.
Answer every official request within the deadline.
Keep evidence of additional submissions.
Save the provisional work communication.
Register correctly with Social Security before working.
Inform the authority about address changes.
Get legal advice after a refusal.
Apply for the TIE after approval.
Prepare the next residence modification before the one-year permit expires.

31. Documents to keep #

Create a secure folder containing:

Passport copy
Full passport pages submitted
Application form
Submission receipt
Application reference
Proof of entry before 1 January 2026
Proof of five months in Spain
Padrón documents
Employment documents
Family documents
Vulnerability certificate
Criminal record documents
Apostilles
Translations
Representative authorisation
Official notifications
Provisional work authorisation
Additional documents submitted
Approval or refusal
Appeal documents
TIE documents

Use dated file names.

Example:

2026-05-14_Regularisation_Application_Receipt.pdf
2026-07-28_Additional_Presence_Evidence.pdf
2026-08-04_Official_Document_Request.pdf

Common mistakes #

Thinking applications are still open #

The deadline ended on 30 June 2026.

Trying to use the correction stage as a new application #

Additional documents can only support a case submitted on time.

Working with only a submission receipt #

Wait for the official communication confirming provisional work rights.

Ignoring an electronic notification #

A missed deadline can cause the application to be closed.

Sending evidence without names or dates #

Presence evidence must identify the applicant and show when the event occurred.

Withdrawing an asylum application too early #

Protection applicants should normally wait for a positive residence decision.

Assuming the permit is permanent #

The first authorisation lasts one year.

Forgetting the next modification #

Planning for the next residence route should begin before the first card expires.

Believing the permit allows work across the EU #

It allows residence and work in Spain, not in every EU country.

Paying for fake contracts or padrón registration #

False documents can lead to refusal and legal consequences.

Final advice #

Spain’s extraordinary regularisation was a limited process for people already established in the country.

The application window is now closed.

For people who applied on time, the priorities are:

Keep proof of the original application.
Check notifications regularly.
Correct missing documents before the available deadline.
Use provisional work rights only after receiving official confirmation.
Prepare for the TIE after approval.
Plan the next residence modification before the one-year permit expires.

For people who missed the deadline, the correct step is not to search for a private way to reopen the process.

Instead, review the normal immigration routes available under Spain’s current Foreigners Regulation.