Available from April 1 to June 30, 2026
Extraordinary Regularization
A new legal opportunity for people currently in an irregular situation in Spain. This extraordinary process will allow eligible applicants to obtain a one-year residence and work permit.
Information
The second draft of the Regularization project has been published and establishes several new features (you can read the full text at the end of the article).
First, the exact date to be proven has been clarified. It will no longer be from December 31, 2025, but rather the applicant must demonstrate that they have been in Spain since before January 1, 2026.
Those who are currently in a temporary stay or residence permit will NOT be eligible for regularization. This includes students who have worked, job seekers, non-lucrative residents, etc.
Those with a pending application for residency, whether initial, renewal, extension, or modification, will also not be eligible for regularization.
Those who have a pending application for a permit based on exceptional circumstances (Arraigo) will be granted it, unless it is a permit for humanitarian reasons, without needing to submit another application, unless they have or have been unable to prove the absence of a criminal or police record.
This measure applies to applications submitted from May 20, 2025, until the reform of the Regulation comes into effect. Therefore, they will not have to withdraw their Arraigo application, nor apply for extraordinary regularization.
Applicants must prove that they have been in Spain for five uninterrupted months at the time of application, NOT continuously. The fundamental difference is that they cannot have left the country, whereas residency permits allow brief and justified absences.
Criminal record checks must be provided, except if the applicant has resided in Spain for the last five years or if they were submitted in another application initiated less than six months ago.
In addition, you will need to meet one of these three criteria:
Have worked or be currently working for at least 90 days, or have an employment contract.
Have family in Spain (children or ascendants).
Or, the most common criterion, being in a vulnerable situation, meaning being undocumented.
Asylum seekers must prove they submitted their application before January 1, 2026. Their ascendants and minor children may also be eligible for residency.
The permit granted will be a one-year “Arraigo” (rooted connection) permit, which can be modified or extended later.
The process will begin in April and run until June 30, but more details will be released in the coming days.
If you are undocumented, you can start gathering documentation to prove your legal status in Spain, register with the local municipality, and seek professional advice if you have any questions.
From our immigration law firm, we will continuously monitor the regulations:
• Official requirements
• Actual deadlines
• Valid documentation
• Strategy for submitting applications with confidence
• Potential reasons for rejection and how to avoid them
This regularization process could be the most important legal opportunity in years for thousands of migrants in Spain.
In previous regularization processes, many applications were rejected due to errors in the documentation or for not properly meeting the requirements. Therefore, having specialized legal advice will be key to taking advantage of this opportunity.
We will update this information as more details become available, as the final text has not yet been approved and modifications may be made.
Requirements for Extraordinary Regularization
The Royal Decree establishes clear requirements to ensure legal certainty. The main requirement is to prove continuous presence in Spain for at least five months at the time of the application and to have resided in the country before December 31, 2025.
In the case of international protection (asylum) applicants, it will be sufficient that the application was submitted before January 1, 2026, and that this can be properly demonstrated.
Another essential requirement is having no criminal record. The measure regularises an already existing reality, using reasonable criteria that ensure proper system control and effective integration.
Applications are expected to start being submitted at the beginning of April, once the necessary procedures to definitively approve the Royal Decree have been completed. The process will remain open until June 30, 2026.
It is very important not to leave Spain until you receive the resolution of your application.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
From April until 30 June.
To have arrived in Spain before January 1, 2026, and to have resided in the country continuously for 5 months at the time of application.
Any public document or private documents that include the applicant’s name and the date are acceptable (plane ticket, proof of address, money transfer receipts, invoices, medical reports, course certificates, public transport pass top-ups, etc.).
Yes, provided they submitted their application for international protection before January 1, 2026.
You must prove you have no criminal record in both Spain and your country of origin. Criminal records from Spain will be checked automatically; you only need to provide valid, legalized, and translated criminal records from your country of origin. This document is valid for three months. It will not be necessary to provide them if you can prove you have resided in Spain for the last five years, or if they were submitted in another application less than six months ago.
Yes, the draft text states that the applicant must not pose a threat to public order, safety, or public health. This means having no police record, which is generated by a mere arrest, even without a subsequent conviction
The permit will be valid for one year and is renewable.
Applications for minor children can be submitted at the same time as those for their parents, and the permit will be valid for five years.
Once the application is accepted, it will allow the applicant to work temporarily, either as an employee or self-employed.
The proceedings will be suspended and cannot be grounds for denial.
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