Humanitarian and other exceptional residence routes (circunstancias excepcionales)

Key rules

• Separate from arraigo: Humanitarian, victim and cooperation routes are separate from the arraigo routes and each has its own proof.
• Official proof: Most victim routes rely on an official document, such as a protection order, a court judgment or a police or Prosecutor report.
• Humanitarian route: Serious illness or other serious circumstances must be backed by evidence such as medical reports.
• Always needed: Every route needs a valid passport, proof of identity and proof of no criminal record.

Proof requirements for each route should be confirmed against the current immigration rules with your provincial immigration office or an immigration adviser before you apply.

What these routes are

Besides the arraigo routes, Spain offers a temporary residence permit for exceptional circumstances (autorización de residencia temporal por circunstancias excepcionales) to people in Spain without a residence permit. These routes are less common. Each one has its own proof, and you must show that your situation fits.

The routes outside arraigo are:

• Humanitarian reasons (razones humanitarias)
• Cooperation with the authorities, courts or public interest
• National security or public interest
• Victims of gender-based violence
• Victims of sexual violence
• Victims of human trafficking
• Victims of workplace exploitation
• Victims of hate crimes or racist offences

The arraigo routes (social, labour, socio-formative, family and, since 2025, second chance) are a separate group. If your situation looks more like long residence, work or family ties, the decision block below points you there.

What proof each route needs

Which proof you need depends on the route:

• Humanitarian reasons: proof of a serious illness or other serious circumstances, such as medical reports.
• Gender-based violence: a protection order, a report from the Public Prosecutor, or a court judgment.
• Human trafficking: a report from the police or the Prosecutor.
• Cooperation with the authorities: a report from the authority concerned.
• Hate crime or workplace exploitation: a court proceeding or a report.

For every route you also need a valid passport, proof of identity and proof of no criminal record. The documents list below has the full set.

How to choose

Start with the reason you cannot return or why you are in contact with the authorities. Then match it to the proof you already hold or can get. If you have no official report, order or judgment, ask for one first. A strong claim without paperwork is hard to support.

The decision block below walks you through the options. The FAQ answers common questions on violence, trafficking and illness.

Before you apply

These rules came into force on 20 May 2025, and the details of each route can change. Check the current rules and the exact list of accepted proof with an immigration lawyer, an NGO that supports migrants, or the immigration office (Oficina de Extranjería) in your province. If you are a victim of violence or trafficking, support services can also help you get the right report.

Choosing between options

Which exceptional-circumstances route fits your situation?

• Humanitarian reasons: You have a serious illness or other serious personal circumstances you can prove, for example with medical reports.

• Victim of violence, trafficking or exploitation: You are a victim of gender-based or sexual violence, human trafficking, workplace exploitation, or a hate crime or racist offence, and have a court or official report.

• Cooperation with the authorities: You are helping the authorities or courts, or acting in the public interest or national security, and the authority concerned can give you a report.

• An arraigo route instead: None of the above fits, but you have social, work, training or family ties, or qualify for the second chance route.

Pick the route whose proof you can actually produce. If your situation is a victim or humanitarian case, start there, because it does not depend on the time you have lived in Spain. If not, look at the arraigo routes.

Documents you need

• Passport, valid and in your name

• Proof of identity

• Proof of no criminal record, issued by the relevant authorities

• Humanitarian route: medical reports or other proof of your serious illness or circumstances

• Gender-based violence route: a protection order, a report from the Public Prosecutor, or a court judgment

• Human trafficking route: a report from the police or the Prosecutor

• Cooperation with authorities route: a report from the authority concerned

• Hate crime or workplace exploitation route: a court proceeding or report

Frequently asked questions

Which proof do I need if I am a victim of gender-based violence?

You need a protection order, a report from the Public Prosecutor, or a court judgment. Any one of these shows your situation to the immigration office.

What proof does a human trafficking case need?

A human trafficking case needs a report from the police or from the Prosecutor.

Can I apply for a humanitarian permit if I am seriously ill?

Yes, serious illness can support a humanitarian permit if you can prove it with medical reports. Other serious circumstances can also count, and they need their own evidence.