Arraigo familiar: residencia por vínculo con español o español de origen

What you need to have to hand

1. Cl@ve or certificado digital that works.
2. Full passport in PDF (all pages, yes even blank ones).
3. DNI of the Spanish relative and the literal birth certificate proving the link.
4. Recent certificado de empadronamiento (better a joint one if you live together).
5. Criminal record certificate apostilled and translated if needed.
6. Modelo 790-052 paid and the receipt.
7. A decent scanner: readable, light PDFs (under 5 MB per file).
8. A browser that doesn’t break (Chrome usually behaves better with Mercurio).

Documentation

1. EX-10 completed (if you upload it as PDF).
2. Pasaporte and, if you have one, your NIE.
3. Proof of the link: literal birth certificate of the Spanish minor or your literal proving parent is Spanish of origin (request at https://sede.mjusticia.gob.es/es/tramites/certificado-nacimiento).
4. DNI of the Spanish or certificado de nacionalidad española.
5. Empadronamiento recent.
6. Medidas paterno-filiales or proof of maintenance payments if you’re the parent.
7. Criminal records for the last 5 years (apostille + sworn translation if not in Spanish).
8. Tasa 790-052 paid.

Step by step

1. Go to https://sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/tasasExtranjeria/, pick Código 052, generate the fee and pay it. Keep the NRC if you pay online.
2. Have the EX-10 ready (https://extranjeros.inclusion.gob.es/ficheros/archivos/modelos_solicitudes/mod_solicitudes2/EX_10.pdf) and all PDFs organised.
3. Access Mercurio with Cl@ve: https://mercurio.delegaciondelgobierno.gob.es/mercurio/modoAcceso.html and select Arraigo familiar. Upload everything and sign.
4. Watch the Mercurio inbox. If there is a requerimiento, respond in time by uploading what’s missing.
5. Download the resolución. If it’s favourable, print the PDF with the CSV.
6. Book the fingerprint appointment at https://sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/icpco/index.html (Policía – Toma de huellas). Pay the 790-012 (https://sede.policia.gob.es/Tasa790_012/).
7. Bring to fingerprints: passport, resolution, empadronamiento, photo 32x26 mm, and the 790-012 receipt. Then pick up the TIE when told.

Time-savers

• Request the literal from the Registro Civil online; often they send it in days.
• Combine the maintenance proofs into one PDF (bank transfers ordered by date).
• If criminal records are delayed, submit and state in Alegaciones that you’re processing them; sometimes they give you extra time, but don’t rely on it.
• Name files sensibly: "03_DNI_espanol.pdf", "05_penales_apostilla.pdf". It will save you from requerimientos.

Common mistakes that can derail your file

1. Paying the wrong fee (790-012 instead of 790-052) for the application.
2. Uploading cut-off passports or not all passport pages.
3. Non-sworn translations or penal certificates without apostille: straight to requerimiento.
4. Expired certificates (empadronamiento from 6 months ago).
5. Missing the one month to go to fingerprints after the resolution.
6. Filing as family of an EU citizen when you don’t meet the rules and wasting time: check carefully if arraigo or Tarjeta de familiar UE fits better.