Living undocumented and building your case

You will come away knowing where you stand and what to gather. Which arraigo route fits you, how to register on the padrón and how to avoid scams are covered elsewhere.

Start with "Your rights and limits while living in Spain without papers". It explains what you can access, including care, school, work, housing, banking and police protection. It also shows which risks are real, so the other pages make more sense.

From there, move to the page that matches your next step:

• Proving continuous presence in Spain when you have no papers
• Getting the integration report (informe de integración) for arraigo
• Is it safe to apply for regularisation if you are undocumented?
• Can you work while your regularisation file is pending?
• When your employer never registered you or a sponsor fails you

Key rules

• Absence abroad: Absences abroad of up to 90 days in total during the required period are not treated as breaking your continuous stay.
• Wage claim window: You have one year to file a labour court claim for unpaid wages, after first trying conciliation.
• Report validity: The integration report is typically valid for three months from issue, so file your application within that time.
• Spread of proof: Use dated documents issued by third parties, spread across the whole period, not a few strong papers or many weak ones.
• Anchor: Your padrón history is the main anchor, but it shows registration, not physical presence, so back it up.
• Emergency care: Emergency care is given to anyone, with or without a card or papers.

Living undocumented and building your case: the whole process, step by step

From first documents to a lawful job

• Start collecting dated proof of presence and register on the padrón (the municipal register): as early as you can, before you file anything

• Apply for your health card at the regional health service or local health centre: once your padrón certificate is ready; waiting times vary by region, and emergency care is given on request meanwhile

• Keep at least one dated document in each few-month period, with no gap of more than about three months: throughout the period you need to prove; see the article on proving continuous presence

• Request the integration report if you apply for arraigo social: allow from a few weeks to a month or two, depending on your region and office

• File your application with the report: within three months of the report being issued

• Start working lawfully once your application is admitted for processing: from admission, not just from filing; a provisional work authorisation covers you until the final decision

• If an employer never registered you, try conciliation, then file a labour court claim: within one year for unpaid wages

• If you report a crime or abuse, seek protection and legal aid: at any point it happens; see the article on your rights while living without papers

• If an earlier application was refused, appeal or file a new application under a different route: appeal within 1 month (recurso de reposición) or 2 months (court appeal) of the refusal

Documents you may need

Identity and residence

• Passport — Getting the integration report (informe de integración) for arraigo, Your rights and limits while living in Spain without papers

Other documents

• Proof of how long you have lived in Spain and of your family ties — Getting the integration report (informe de integración) for arraigo
• A declaration that you have no other health coverage — Your rights and limits while living in Spain without papers
• Vaccination record and previous school records for your child — Your rights and limits while living in Spain without papers
• Notice or resolution of admission for processing — Can you work while your regularisation file is pending?

Each article lists the other documents it asks for, where you need them.

Living undocumented and building your case: questions that cross several articles

How long must I prove I have been in Spain for arraigo?

Most arraigo routes ask for 2 years of continuous stay, counted back from the day you file. See Proving continuous presence in Spain when you have no papers.

Which documents prove my presence in Spain?

Offices accept dated official documents such as padrón certificates, health records, school enrolment, rental contracts, bank statements and travel tickets. Your first entry is best shown by a passport stamp, visa or boarding pass.

Who issues the integration report, and does it differ by region?

The report is issued by your region or by your town hall, depending on where you live. Where the region has no rules, the Government Delegation handles it.

Does registering or asking for help get me reported to immigration?

No, registering on the padrón does not by itself trigger action, and health services do not report your status to immigration. Police can use padrón data only for their immigration functions. Read "Is it safe to apply for regularisation if you are undocumented?" and "Your rights and limits while living in Spain without papers".

Can I claim unpaid wages if I worked without a contract?

Yes, you can claim unpaid wages even without a work authorisation, and filing a claim does not by itself lead to expulsion. See When your employer never registered you or a sponsor fails you.