Arraigo Familiar (Family-Based Residence)
Residence authorisation via arraigo familiar (Spain's rooted residence permit for parents of Spanish minors or children of Spanish citizens, with no minimum stay requirement). For parents of a Spanish minor, or children of a parent who is Spanish by origin (not naturalised).
Requisitos generales
Be the parent of a Spanish minor (a child under 18 holding Spanish nationality), or be the child of a Spanish parent by origin.
No criminal record in Spain or in your country of origin.
You must not be subject to an active return order, expulsion order, or entry ban.
Complete valid passport.
Birth certificate of the Spanish child (registered with the Registro Civil — Spain's Civil Registry) proving parentage, or your own birth certificate showing that you are the child of a Spanish parent.
Proceso paso a paso
Errores que llevan a la denegación
⚠️ The child does not hold Spanish nationality or is not registered with the Registro Civil
Consecuencia: You cannot prove the required family tie
Solución: First register the minor with the Registro Civil and obtain Spanish nationality. Only then can you apply for arraigo familiar.
⚠️ The Spanish child is over 18
Consecuencia: Arraigo familiar as parent of a Spanish minor only applies if the child is under 18
Solución: If the child is over 18, consider other routes such as arraigo social (Spain's rooted residence permit based on social integration, 2 years of stay) or reagrupación familiar (family reunification — a different procedure for relatives of foreign residents).
⚠️ Confusing arraigo familiar with reagrupación familiar (family reunification)
Consecuencia: They are different procedures. Arraigo familiar: parent/child of a Spanish citizen. Reagrupación: relative of a foreign legal resident.
Solución: Arraigo familiar requires no prior stay and grants 5 years directly. It is the better option if you meet the family tie requirement with a Spanish citizen.
Fuentes oficiales
Última actualización: 2026-04-15