The concept of arraigo has become one of the main administrative pathways for regularizing immigration status in Spain. According to the latest official data, as of 30 September 2025, a total of 376,179 foreign nationals held a valid residence permit granted on the grounds of ties to Spain ‘arraigo’, representing a year-on-year increase of 22.3%.
This growth confirms a sustained upward trend in recent years and reflects the impact of successive reforms to the Immigration Regulations, particularly following the changes introduced since 2022 and the entry into force of the new Immigration Regulation approved by Royal Decree 1155/2024.
⏺️ Family-based arraigo: the most widely used option
Of all arraigo-based residence permits currently in force, family-based arraigo remains by far the most common. It accounts for 67% of the total, with 252,250 beneficiaries. This is followed by arraigo for training purposes, which represents 18%, and social arraigo, at 13%.
The remaining categories — socio-labour arraigo, labour arraigo, socio-educational arraigo and second-chance arraigo — still represent a relatively small proportion of the total. However, some of these newer categories are beginning to gain traction following their recent regulatory introduction.
⏺️ Most represented nationalities
The most common nationalities among foreign nationals holding an arraigo-based residence permit are:
- Colombia
- Morocco
- Peru
Together, these three nationalities account for more than half of all valid arraigo permits. This distribution remains broadly stable compared to previous years, although certain nationalities have experienced notable increases over the past year.
⏺️ A key mechanism within the immigration system
Arraigo-based residence permits now represent 11% of all foreign nationals holding a residence authorization under Spain’s general immigration regime, compared to just 3% four years ago. This evolution highlights the structural role that arraigo has acquired as a permanent regularization mechanism, replacing the extraordinary regularization models used in the past.
⏺️ Labour market integration: more than half are registered with Social Security
As of 30 September 2025, 197,342 individuals holding an arraigo-based residence permit were registered with the Spanish Social Security system. This represents 54% of all individuals over the age of 16 with this type of residence authorization. Social Security affiliation has increased by more than 21% over the past year, particularly among holders of family-based and social arraigo permits.
💡 If you would like to consult the latest statistics on foreign nationals registered with the Spanish Social Security system, you can access them here: Social Security statistics – Foreign nationals.
⏺️ How ARC Legal Abogados can assist you
If you are in Spain and are considering regularizing your immigration status through one of the available arraigo options, a prior legal assessment is essential. Each type of arraigo — family-based, social, socio-labour, socio-educational or second-chance — has specific legal requirements, and proper preparation of the application can make a decisive difference.
At ARC Legal, we provide comprehensive legal assistance in arraigo procedures. We assess your personal, employment and documentary circumstances to determine the most appropriate pathway and support you throughout the entire administrative process.
If you need to confirm whether you meet the requirements or would like to start your application with legal certainty, you are welcome to contact our firm for an initial assessment of your case.
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Prefer to read this article in Spanish 🇪🇸? You can find it here: Más de 376.000 personas tienen una autorización de residencia por arraigo en España
The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Although we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, immigration regulations are subject to change and interpretation by the competent authorities. For personalized and current legal advice, we recommend consulting with a specialized immigration lawyer.