If you are planning to apply for residency by roots (arraigo), it's important to remember one of the key conditions — you need to have actually lived in Spain for a minimum of 2 years before submitting your documents. It doesn't matter whether you previously had a residence permit, student visa, expired visa, or nothing at all.
✈️ You can leave the country, but no more than 90 days total during these 2 years.
Exception: Arraigo familiar — for this type of residency by roots, there is no requirement for a minimum period of stay in Spain
Important: if during these 2 years you applied for international protection (received a red card), this period does not count toward the residency period. However, the days accumulated before applying for asylum are preserved.
List of documents to confirm the period of residence in Spain
You can prove residence in Spain with any official documents that show you were in the country on specific dates:
1. Empadronamiento (registration)
Ideally — for the entire period. If you moved, you will need certificates from all municipalities.
2. Certificates from schools and courses
Your education or your children's — the main thing is that there are dates and the name of the institution.
3. Bank statements
Payments and purchases in Spain with dates and locations of transactions.
4. Contracts and bills
Housing rental, utilities, internet, mobile phone — everything that has your name and the period.
5. Medical documents
Doctor visits, prescriptions, medical reports — an excellent way to confirm your presence in the country.
5. Tickets
Train and plane tickets with your name, dates, and routes.
The more diverse the documents and the more evenly they cover these 2 years — the smoother the verification process.
If you have doubts about what's best to add or how to fill in "empty" periods — contact us, we'll advise you on how to properly prepare the document package for submission.
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