Spain’s 2026 extraordinary regularisation: now closed
The RD 316/2026 regularisation ran from 16 April to 30 June 2026 and was not extended. What it offered, who qualified, and which routes are still open now.
Extranjería Palma ·
A necessary warning, because out-of-date information is still circulating: the deadline to apply for the extraordinary arraigo under RD 316/2026 was 30 June 2026, and it has not been extended. If a website tells you that you can still apply, that page has not been updated since the spring.
This matters if you overstayed a tourist stamp, if your residence permit lapsed, or if you employ non-EU staff in Mallorca who were hoping to use this window.
What it was
Royal Decree 316/2026 of 14 April, in force since 16 April 2026, amended the Immigration Regulation by adding two provisions that opened a temporary regularisation window:
- Twentieth additional provision: arraigo for international protection applicants who had lodged an asylum claim before 1 January 2026.
- Twenty-first additional provision: the extraordinary arraigo itself.
For the extraordinary arraigo you had to be an adult, be in Spain, have stayed without interruption for the previous five months, have no criminal record, and meet at least one of the following:
- have worked, or hold a job offer covering contracts of more than 90 days a year;
- live with minor children, adult children with a disability, or first-degree ascendants;
- be in a situation of vulnerability certified by the competent bodies.
The permit granted is valid for one year and allows both employed and self-employed work, anywhere in Spain, in any occupation or sector.
The window: 16 April – 30 June 2026
Just over two months. The deadline was non-extendable and it has passed. No second round has been announced.
If you filed in time and are still waiting, note that the decree provides for a provisional authorisation from the moment the procedure is opened, allowing you to live and work while it is decided, with a maximum of three months for a decision.
What is still open
The window closing does not close every door. The Immigration Regulation keeps the five ordinary arraigo routes fully available:
| Route | Who it is for |
|---|---|
| Arraigo social | Two years in Spain plus a family link or a regional integration report |
| Arraigo sociolaboral | Two years plus a contract or offer of ≥ 20 hours a week |
| Arraigo socioformativo | Two years plus enrolment on a recognised course |
| Arraigo familiar | Family members of EU/EEA/Swiss citizens in the cases provided |
| Second chance | People who held a permit and could not renew it |
We set them out one by one in Arraigo in Spain 2026: the five routes under the new Regulation.
For British and other non-EU nationals working in Mallorca’s hospitality sector, arraigo sociolaboral is usually the realistic route: 20 contracted hours a week is now enough, though the employer must be solvent and up to date with social security and tax.
FAQ
Will there be another extraordinary regularisation? None has been announced. Any site promising otherwise is misleading you.
I applied before 30 June and have had no answer. Am I illegal? No, provided the application was filed in time and the procedure is live. Keep your filing receipt.
I’ve been in Spain four years and missed the window. Have I lost my chance? Quite the opposite: four years of residence comfortably exceeds the two required for ordinary arraigo. The task now is choosing the right route and assembling the evidence.
Sources
If your application is pending, or you want to know which ordinary route now applies, tell us about your case and we will set out the evidence needed and the cost. See also our arraigo service page.