Foreign citizens may acquire a temporary residence permit on the grounds of exceptional circumstances by applying for what we call an arraigo social. When going this route, it is understood that the foreigner has resided in our country for a certain amount of time presuming that he or she has personal connections or family ties or is socially integrated in Spanish society.
The following are some of the requirements that must be fulfilled in order to apply for an arraigo social:
- The applicant may not be be a citizen of the European Union nor the European Economic Area or Switzerland (There are other rules and regulations that apply to citizens of these territories).
- The applicant must be clear of any criminal record either in Spain or country of origin.
- The applicant may not be prohibited from entering Spain.
- The applicant must have lived in Spain for at least three years without a gap exceeding 120 days.
The applicant must provide evidence of family ties with either family members or other foreign Spanish residents. In other cases, the applicant may provide a report isued by the Autonomous Community on his behalf regarding his social integration in Spanish society.
Translated by: Katherine Pascal
