Royal Decree 316/2026, of 14 April, published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) on 15 April 2026, has launched the 2026 extraordinary regularisation process. For the first time in more than 20 years, hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals already living in Spain will be able to obtain a residence and work permit without having to meet the timeframes of the ordinary arraigo procedures. The deadline to submit applications is non-extendable: 30 June 2026.
For many people who have been living in Spain for months or years in an irregular administrative situation, this is a unique opportunity that is unlikely to be repeated in the short term. For companies that have or expect to have foreign workers on their payroll, it is also a relevant moment: the regularisation opens the door to bringing on board people who are already in the country but who until now could not work legally. Managing this process correctly, with all requirements met and documentation in order, is decisive for the application to succeed.
Who can benefit from the regularisation
The Royal Decree establishes two requirements to access the extraordinary regularisation process: being in Spain before 1 January 2026 and proving uninterrupted residence of at least five months at the time of application. Applicants must also have no criminal record and must not represent a threat to public order, public security or public health.
In addition to these general requirements, the applicant must be in one of the following situations: able to demonstrate an employment contract, or combination of contracts, with a duration exceeding 90 days per year; having minor children in Spain, dependent adult children in their care, or living with their parents; having submitted an international protection application before 1 January 2026; or being in a situation of particular vulnerability.
It will also be necessary to have no criminal record either in Spain or, where applicable, in the country of origin or previous residence, and to have no residence or stay application currently being processed, except for arraigo applications submitted before the Regulations approved in 2025.
What the regularisation means in practice
The effects of the authorisation are immediate and far-reaching. Those who meet the requirements will be able to obtain a residence and work authorisation, as well as access to the Social Security system and the healthcare card of the territory in which they reside, with an initial validity of one year.
One of the most significant aspects of the process is that from the moment the start of the procedure is communicated, the applicant will be provisionally authorised to reside and work, whether as an employee or self-employed, until a resolution is issued, with a maximum processing time of three months. In other words, there is no need to wait for the final resolution to begin working legally.
The authorisation automatically enables the holder to work in any sector across the entire national territory. Simultaneous regularisation of minor children already in Spain is also permitted.
The deadlines: what cannot be left for later
Applications can be submitted electronically from 16 April 2026, and in person by prior appointment from 20 April. The deadline for submitting applications is 30 June 2026. This deadline is non-extendable. Once it closes, there will be no second opportunity within this extraordinary process.
The Administration has a maximum of three months from the date of entry into the competent body’s register to issue a resolution. Administrative silence is negative: if no resolution is issued within that period, the application is deemed rejected. This makes the quality of the submitted application decisive: there is no margin to complete documentation after submission.
Why managing this process with professional support matters
The extraordinary regularisation is a genuine opportunity, but it is also an administrative process with specific requirements, strict deadlines and direct consequences in the event of errors or omissions. The range of situations is wide: the type of situation of the applicant, the most appropriate access route, the documentation required in each case and the way of evidencing continuous residence all vary according to individual profiles.
At Expat Feliu, we have extensive experience managing regularization processes, residence permits, and work permits for individuals and companies throughout Spain. If you or someone you know is undocumented and meets the requirements of Royal Decree 316/2026, now is the time to act: the deadline is June 30th and no extensions will be granted.
Contact us to analyse your specific situation and manage your application with full legal guarantees.
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