If you're in Spain without papers and you've been here for a while, this article is for you. The government has approved an extraordinary regularization that can give you residency and a work permit in a single process. It's not automatic — you have to apply for it, and the deadline is tight. But if you meet the requirements, it's absolutely worth trying.

The first thing you need to know: you have less than two and a half months. The deadline closes on June 30, 2026. If you wait too long, you could end up without an in-person appointment or without enough time to gather all your documents. So read this carefully and get started today.

Can you apply? Check in 2 minutes

Before getting into the details, check whether you meet the basic conditions. Not all of them apply to everyone — it depends on your situation. There are two different paths, and I'll explain which one is yours further below.

The two paths — which one is yours

This regularization has two different routes. Figure out which one applies to you before you start gathering documents, because what you need in each case is different.

Path 1 — If you applied for asylum before December 31, 2025

This path has simpler requirements. If you previously applied for international protection (asylum or refugee status) and that application was submitted before December 31, 2025, you can apply under three conditions:

• Be currently in Spain
• Have no criminal record
• Pay the fee of €38.28

You don't need to prove months of continuous stay or provide evidence of work or family ties. Your asylum application already acts as the starting point.

Path 2 — If you're in an irregular situation (the path for most people)

This is the path that affects the most people. If you've been in Spain for months without papers and have never applied for asylum, this is your option. To qualify for this path, you need to meet all of the following:

• Have arrived in Spain before January 1, 2026
• Have been in Spain for at least 5 uninterrupted months
• Have no criminal record — in Spain, in your home country, and in any country where you've lived in the last 5 years
• Be able to prove at least one of these three situations:

You only need to meet one of the three. If you meet several, even better — it makes your application stronger.

How to prove you've been in Spain for 5 months

This is the point where most people run into trouble. Five uninterrupted months sounds simple enough, but proving it on paper is a different story. The important thing is that there's no single valid document — you can prove it with anything that has your name and a date that places you in Spain.

Here are the documents you can use:

• Historical padrón certificate — useful, but not enough on its own. You need to combine it with other documents
• Bills of any kind: electricity, water, gas, mobile phone, shopping receipts
• Public transport card top-up receipts
• Money transfer receipts (Western Union, MoneyGram, etc.)
• Medical appointments or healthcare receipts
• School enrollment records for your children
• Plane or train tickets with dates
• Bank receipts for transactions made in Spain

The documents you need

On top of your proof of continuous stay, there are other documents you'll need to gather to submit a complete application.

Mandatory documents for everyone

• Valid passport or national ID from your home country
• Criminal record certificate from Spain (you can request it online)
• Criminal record certificate from your home country — legalized or with an apostille
• Criminal record certificate from every country where you've lived in the last 5 years
• Proof of payment of the fee: €38.28
• Application form (official template from the Ministry of Inclusion)

Documents to prove your situation (Path 2)

• If you're proving work: a registered employment contract or your work history certificate (vida laboral)
• If you're proving family ties: family record book, marriage certificate, or documents that prove your connection to the regularized family member
• If you're proving asylum: the admission-to-process resolution for your international protection application

How to submit your application

You have two ways to submit your application, and you can choose whichever works best for you.

Online — available now, 24 hours a day

From April 16, 2026, you can submit your application online through the electronic portal of the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration. It's available 24 hours a day, every day. You'll need all your documents scanned and in good condition.

In person — with a prior appointment from April 20

If you'd prefer to go in person or don't have the means to complete the process online, you can book an in-person appointment at the Foreigners' Offices (Oficinas de Extranjería). In-person appointments have been available since Monday, April 20, but they're filling up fast. Book yours as soon as you can.

How to book an appointment and get information

Call 060 to get information or to manage your in-person appointment. The service is available Monday to Friday, from 9:30 to 14:00 and from 16:30 to 19:30.

What you get if you're approved

It's no small thing. If your application is successful, here's what you get:

• Combined residency and work authorization for 1 year — meaning you can work legally in Spain from day one
• Social Security registration from the moment your application is admitted — you don't have to wait for approval: as soon as your application is accepted for processing, you can already work with coverage
• For minors: a 5-year authorization instead of one year
• Your time counts toward nationality retroactively — the years you've already spent in Spain count from when you arrived, not from when your permit is approved

The resolution must arrive within a maximum of 3 months. If you don't receive a response within that timeframe, the application is considered denied. If you're approved, you have 1 month to apply for your TIE (Foreigner Identity Card) at the National Police.

The mistakes that can cost you your application

These are the most common errors that can waste your time or get your application denied outright:

• Thinking the padrón alone is enough. Being registered on the padrón is useful, but the Administration won't accept it as the only proof of continuous stay. You need to combine it with other evidence.
• Not requesting your home country criminal record in time. It's the document that takes the longest. If you're slow to request it, it might not arrive before June 30.
• Having a pending application without realizing it. If at some point you applied for an arraigo or another permit and never received a response, it may still be in process. Check before submitting this application.
• Waiting until the last minute. In-person appointments run out. Other people are gathering the same documents as you. The longer you wait, the greater the risk of running out of time.

Your next step — do it today

If you think you can apply for this regularization, there's only one thing you should do right now: start.

The deadline closes on June 30, 2026. There's no confirmed extension, and there's no reason to assume there will be one. If you qualify, now is the time. Two and a half months might seem like a lot, but documents take time, appointments run out, and time flies.

If you have any doubts about whether you meet the requirements or how to submit your application, we'll keep updating this information at emigraespana.com as new developments arise. And if you know someone who could benefit from this regularization, share this article with them. It could change their life.