Immigration Advice in Spain
Arraigo, Spanish citizenship, asylum, family reunification and renewals, with a free first consultation
ExtraMixSR helps foreigners get and keep legal residence in Spain. We study your case, explain which route fits, and prepare and file the application with you: arraigo, Spanish citizenship by residence, asylum, family reunification or your TIE renewal. We work in person in Carabanchel (Madrid) and online across Spain. When your case needs a lawyer, for example for a court appeal, we work with collaborating registered lawyers.
What Does It Include?
- A review of your situation and the best route to legal residence.
- All five types of arraigo: second chance, socio-labour, social, socio-training and family.
- Spanish citizenship by residence, including DELE A2 and CCSE exam preparation.
- Asylum and international protection, family reunification and EU family member cards.
- Renewals, changes of permit and appeals against refusals, with collaborating registered lawyers.
What Are the Benefits?
- ● Free first consultation: find out your options and the documents you need before you pay anything.
- ● Instalments: the quote fits your case and you can pay it in several instalments.
- ● Up to date with the new Regulation: we apply the requirements of Royal Decree 1155/2024, in force since 20 May 2025.
- ● Easy to reach: WhatsApp support Monday to Saturday, 8am to 8pm, in person in Madrid or online.
- ● Real experience: we have guided asylum cases for Latin American clients and citizenship applications through to resolution.
Immigration procedures we help with
- Arraigo (settlement): Residence for people already living in Spain with ties here. Under the new Regulation there are five types, and most require two years in Spain.
- Spanish citizenship by residence: We check you meet the legal residence period, prepare the file and submit it online to the Ministry of Justice.
- Asylum and international protection: Guidance from the initial request through the interview and red card, and alternatives if it is refused.
- Family reunification: To bring your spouse or partner, children or dependent parents once your residence has been renewed.
- Family of Spanish or EU citizens: Since May 2025, relatives of Spanish citizens have their own five-year permit; relatives of other EU citizens apply for the EU family member card.
- Renewals, changes and long-term residence: TIE renewals, switching from student to work permits, self-employment and long-term residence.
- Appeals: Administrative appeals against refusals. If the case has to go to court, a collaborating registered lawyer handles it.
The five types of arraigo under the new Regulation
Royal Decree 1155/2024 changed arraigo on 20 May 2025: the general minimum stay dropped from three to two years, and the old 'arraigo laboral' no longer exists as a separate type. These are the current types:
- Socio-labour arraigo (sociolaboral): Two years in Spain and one or more employment contracts that meet the legal minimums.
- Social arraigo: Two years in Spain and family ties with foreign residents (spouse, partner or first-degree relatives) plus means of at least 100% of the IPREM or, without those ties, a favourable social integration report.
- Socio-training arraigo (socioformativo): Two years in Spain, enrolment in training that leads to a recognised qualification (or a commitment to Public Employment Service training) and a social integration report.
- Family arraigo: For the parent or guardian of a minor who is a national of another EU/EEA country or Switzerland, or a relative supporting a person with a disability from those countries. No minimum stay is required, and the permit lasts five years.
- Second-chance arraigo: For people who held a residence permit (not granted on exceptional grounds) in the previous two years and could not renew it for reasons other than public order, security or health.
Arraigo permits last one year (five years for family arraigo). You cannot have an international protection application pending when you apply, and time spent waiting for an asylum decision does not count towards the two years. We check which type fits your case in the first consultation.
Spanish citizenship by residence: how long you need
The period of legal, continuous residence you need depends on your situation:
- 10 years: The general rule.
- 5 years: Recognised refugees.
- 2 years: Nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal, and Sephardic Jews.
- 1 year: For example, people born in Spain, or married to a Spanish citizen for one year without separation.
You also need to pass the CCSE civics exam and the DELE A2 Spanish exam (not required for nationals of Spanish-speaking countries) and show good civic conduct.
How we work, step by step
- Free first consultation: By WhatsApp, phone, in person in Madrid or online. Tell us your situation and we explain your options.
- Fixed quote: We explain the procedure, timelines and cost, with the option to pay in instalments.
- Documents: You get a personalised checklist, and we review each document: apostilles, sworn translations, padrón and certificates.
- Filing: We submit the application, usually online, and send you the receipt.
- Follow-up: We monitor the file and answer any information requests on time.
- Decision and next steps: We help with fingerprints and your TIE. If it is refused, we assess an appeal with a collaborating registered lawyer.
Common mistakes that lead to refusals
- Criminal record certificates without an apostille or sworn translation, or past their validity date.
- Gaps in the padrón (municipal registration) or proof of stay that doesn't cover the whole period.
- Job contracts that don't meet the minimum hours or salary for arraigo.
- Renewing late: renewals must be filed in the two months before expiry or, at the latest, the three months after (a fine may apply).
- Missing the deadline for an information request, or answering with incomplete documents.
Official sources
- Immigration Regulation (Royal Decree 1155/2024), BOE
- Migration portal and information sheets: Ministry of Inclusion
- Spanish citizenship by residence: Ministry of Justice
- International protection and asylum: Ministry of the Interior
Information reviewed in November 2026. Spanish immigration rules change often, so we confirm current requirements for every case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the first immigration consultation free?
Yes. Your first consultation is free, in person in Madrid, by phone, WhatsApp or video call. We explain which route fits and what documents you need, then give you a quote you can pay in instalments.
Can I still get a Golden Visa in Spain?
No. Spain abolished the investor residence visa linked to buying property (the 'Golden Visa') in April 2025. We can look at other routes, such as non-lucrative residence, the digital nomad permit or arraigo, depending on your situation.
How long does it take to get Spanish citizenship?
You can apply after 10 years of legal residence in general, 5 for refugees, 2 for nationals of Ibero-American countries and 1 in cases such as marriage to a Spanish citizen. You also need to pass the CCSE exam and, unless your language is Spanish, the DELE A2.
When should I renew my residence permit?
File it in the two months before your permit expires. It is also accepted in the three months after, although you may face a fine. Filing on time extends your current permit until the decision.
Can I still apply for the 2026 extraordinary regularisation?
No. Applications for the extraordinary regularisation (Royal Decree 316/2026) were open from 16 April to 30 June 2026. If you applied, we can help with information requests and with moving to an ordinary permit after the first year. If not, we check whether you qualify for arraigo.
Is ExtraMixSR a law firm?
No. ExtraMixSR is a legal advisory run by Sandra Roman Cardona, a legal advisor. When a case needs a lawyer, such as a court appeal, we work with collaborating registered lawyers.