What Is Arraigo Segunda Oportunidad?
This route, created by Royal Decree 1155/2024, is designed for people who held legal residency in Spain in the recent past but lost it, without necessarily having left the country. The goal is that these people should not have to start from scratch and go through years of unauthorized residence again in order to begin settling their status.
Before Royal Decree 1155/2024, anyone who lost their residency had to go through another two years of continuous residence for Arraigo Social or Arraigo Sociolaboral. Arraigo Segunda Oportunidad now closes this gap.
Main Requirement
- Having held legal residency in Spain at some point during the past two years (for example, a residence or residence-and-work permit that has expired)
- Having lost that legal residency, usually due to not renewing the permit on time
- No criminal record in Spain
With Arraigo Social or Arraigo Sociolaboral, continuous unauthorized residence over two years is what matters. With Arraigo Segunda Oportunidad, what matters is having previously held legal residency and having recently lost it, not continuous physical presence.
Application Steps
- Carefully review your history of prior legal residency and its expiration date
- Gather documents relating to the previous residence permit and the reason it was lost
- Submit the application to the local immigration office (Oficina de Extranjería)
- Receive a new residence and work permit if approved
Frequently Asked Questions
Who exactly is Arraigo Segunda Oportunidad for?
For people who, at any point during the past two years, held legal residency in Spain but lost it, for example due to not renewing their permit on time.
Do I need to have stayed continuously in Spain during these two years?
No. What matters is having held legal residency at some point during this two-year period and having lost it, not continuous physical presence.
Why is this route useful for people who didn't renew their residency?
Before the 2025 reform, these people had to go through another two years of unauthorized residence from scratch; now they can use this route directly.
How long is this new permit valid?
As with other Arraigo routes, a one-year residence and work permit is usually issued, which can then be renewed.