From temporary protection to a residence permit in Spain
After the legislative changes, many Ukrainians can already move to a residence permit. We explain who qualifies, how the procedure works and what to do if you have no basis yet.
What this article covers
The seven questions people ask most
We go through each of them in turn and show which route may fit your particular situation.
- 01Can I already move to a residence permit?
- 02What did instruction SEM 2/2026 change?
- 03Which route fits my case?
- 04What if I have no basis yet?
- 05For how many years is the permit issued?
- 06How does the procedure work, step by step?
- 07Why is it better not to postpone?
First, the scale
This concerns a very large number of people
According to the figures cited in instruction SEM 2/2026, more than 262,000 Ukrainians with temporary protection are officially registered in Spain.
Many Ukrainians already meet the requirements for moving to a residence permit — in particular those working under an employment contract, registered as autónomo, or with a long enough period of legal residence for certain permit types. Over time there will be more such people. The number of applications to the immigration service will grow accordingly, and with it the load on the system.
So if you already have a basis for the transition, it is worth assessing your situation in advance and not leaving the paperwork to the last moment.
262,800 Ukrainians registered in Spain in total
Within six months the share is expected to grow to roughly 50-60% — queues will get longer.
Instruction SEM 2/2026
What the instruction actually changed
Many people think that June 2026 is when Ukrainians were allowed to move from temporary protection to a residence permit. That is not the case. The instruction did not create a new right — it explained how to apply the rules already in force.
Before it appeared, immigration offices could interpret the rules differently, which produced a lot of questions and inconsistent practice in handling applications.
Not sure which basis applies to you?
We will tell you which route to a residence permit fits your case and which documents you will need.
Transition options
Which route may fit you
The first step before preparing documents is to understand which basis you can apply under. The document list, the timing and the whole procedure follow from it.
The final basis is determined after an analysis of your documents.
A note on larga duración
For most Ukrainians the first three routes are the most realistic. Larga duración stands apart: it requires 5 years of legal residence, and time under temporary protection counts in full. So for those who arrived in 2022 less than a year remains, and it is possible to wait for that status specifically. But waiting does not mean doing nothing. Temporary protection is valid until 4 March 2027, and for many the 5-year mark falls at roughly the same time. It is important to calculate your dates in advance so you do not end up in a gap where protection has ended and larga duración is not yet granted.
Why there is no single list of documents
From the immigration service's point of view there is no separate procedure specifically for Ukrainians with temporary protection — officers work with the concepts of initial permit, renewal and modification. That is why there is no single list of documents: it depends on the route and on what the particular officer asks for. A classic example is the criminal record certificate. Lawyers do not agree on whether it is required in this scenario, which is why the package is better prepared with both options in mind.
If there is no basis yet
What if I have no basis right now?
You already live in Spain but do not work formally and are not registered as autónomo. At first glance it may seem that moving to a residence permit is impossible for now. In many cases you can in fact prepare for it.
- 01Register as autónomo (self-employed).
- 02Run the activity for one quarter (about 3 months) and show income — the self-support benchmark is around €600 per month net.
- 03Once the quarter is closed, the right to apply via cuenta propia opens up.
So even if you do not meet the requirements today, it does not mean there is no route. It can often be planned in advance and prepared for.
Would you rather not spend months on forms and queues?
We handle the move to a residence permit end to end, from the basis to the approval.
Step by step
From preparation to the new card
First determine the basis for the transition, and only then assemble the document package.
- 01
Digital access
Online submission requires Cl@ve or an FNMT certificate and a Spanish phone number.
- 02
Preparing the documents
The set of documents depends on the basis. There is only a base package everyone needs:
- passport (all pages);
- TIE card (temporary protection), both sides;
- a current empadronamiento;
- employed work: employment contract (from 30 hours a week) and nóminas for the last 3 months;
- autónomo: Modelo 036 registration and tax reporting (Modelo 130 or 303, IRPF);
- arraigo sociolaboral: empadronamiento for 2+ years, proof of funds (around €7,200 in a Spanish account), informe de arraigo and a criminal record certificate with apostille and translation;
- children under 18: the child's passport, both parents' passports and the birth certificate with apostille and translation.
- 03
Submitting the application
Online with a digital certificate, or in person by appointment (cita previa). In practice this is the first difficulty: free cita slots disappear very quickly, especially in the larger provinces.
- 04
Waiting for the decision
The application is reviewed by the Oficina de Extranjería of your province. During the review the immigration service sends requests to your online account. People who applied on their own often simply do not know about these messages — and if a request goes unanswered in time, extranjería rejects the application.
- 05
Receiving the new permit card
The right order matters here:
- first you receive approval of the modification, i.e. the decision on the move to the new status;
- after that the formal renunciation of temporary protection is filed (Renuncia de Protección Temporal);
- then the document package for the new resident card (TIE) is submitted.
Legal support
Why many people choose support
Problems usually arise not from a lack of entitlement to a residence permit, but from mistakes in the documents or missed requests from the immigration service. If you fail to answer in time or submit an incomplete package, the procedure has to start over.
Mistakes in the documents
An incomplete or incorrectly assembled package is the most common reason the procedure has to be started again.
Missed requests
Requests arrive in your online account. If they go unanswered in time, extranjería rejects the application.
Why not to postpone
A few objective reasons to act earlier
We do not like last-chance pressure. But there are reasons why preparation is better started early.
- Assess your situation and basis in advance
- Collect the documents without rushing
- Keep a time buffer before temporary protection ends
Three reasons not to wait
An application filed in time is your insurance.
Want to go through the procedure without the extra bureaucracy?
We accompany the move to a residence permit from checking the basis to receiving the new resident card.
Questions and answers
What people ask most
First consultation is free
Find out your route
Leave a short request and a manager will check your situation and explain the available options.
- Analysis of your specific situation
- Identifying your possible route
- Clear next steps
This material is for information purposes and is not legal advice. Immigration legislation is updated regularly; requirements may differ depending on the province and the circumstances.