What is Arraigo Social?
Arraigo Social is one of the processes about which we receive the most questions. This type of roots allows a person to apply for legal residence due to exceptional circumstances if they have continuously resided in Spain for at least three years.
It is very important to pay attention to the 3-year period. If you have not lived in Spain for 3 years, then you cannot apply for Arraigo Social. Likewise, these 3 years must be continuous.
Requirements to apply for Arraigo Social:
The main requirement is to have a job offer. This offer must be a contract of at least one year and full-time.
There are cases where the person has several part-time pre-contracts, and this is also allowed as long as the work is related to the same activity.
- Residence in Spain for three years, and not having legal stay or residence at the time of application.
- Criminal record certificate from your country of origin or the country where you have resided during the last 5 years (duly legalized and translated if necessary), and lack of criminal records in Spain.
Having family ties with other foreign residents, provided they are: parents, children, or spouse/partner with legal residence. If you do not have direct relatives with legal residence, you must present a Report that certifies sufficient social integration in Spain. - This report is prepared by the authorized local corporation according to the Autonomous Community where you are located. For this Report, you will be required to attend a talk called “Know Your Laws,” where you will learn about the Spanish legal system, your rights, and duties as a foreign citizen.
What is the next step?
As we mentioned earlier, the first step is to attend the “Know Your Laws” talk. Once you complete the talk, you must request the certificate that proves your attendance. Then you must request the “social roots report interview.” You must attach all the necessary documentation and then wait for your report, which will inform you if it is favorable or denied.
And if I don’t have a job offer…
If you do not have a job offer, you still have two options:
- When you do not have a job offer, you can apply for residence (without authorization to work). If you wish to do this, you must apply for residence with the economic means of the spouse or partner, ascendants or descendants, or legal resident in Spain. That is, we must comply with the requirement of a three-year stay and a Report that certifies the link and that the family unit has sufficient means for both.
- It is also possible to work on your own, that is, as a self-employed person because you are going to carry out a professional activity on your own or because you want to start a business in Spain. Here, the viability of the project reflected in your business plan is vitally important, because you have clients interested in your services or products and you have sufficient economic means to undertake.
If you still have questions about Arraigo Social, do not hesitate to contact us. We can help you in your process.