Transition from temporary protection to residency in Spain: a complete guide 2026

UPDATE 03.07.2026
I have already submitted an online application for the replacement of temporary protection with residence - via the autonomous route (EX-26) through Mercurio. Without help, by myself, step by step. In parallel, I recorded a video of the entire process. Now I am editing a detailed video instruction from it. As soon as my application is accepted - I will post this instruction in the section "«For your own» of this article. There are already some instructions for filling out EX forms and step-by-step guides there. Stay tuned for updates - there will be even more information and instructions from my own experience.

Temporary protection has been extended, but this is not the end point. We are analyzing all legal ways to transition - a decision tree, 8 routes, EX forms, fees, documents, deadlines, apostille and what to do in case of refusal. The article will be supplemented when there are specific cases of transition and our own experience.

Subscribe to our Telegram channel https://t.me/ucranianos_spain - we regularly publish useful tips, news, and instructions for Ukrainians in Spain there.

For those who want to go the whole way confidently, in the section "«For your own» are waiting for you step-by-step guides and checklists for each crossing route ‒ separately for modification to autonomous, arraigo, family residence, larga duración and child. For each item ‒ a list of documents, what and where to take, what to apostillize and translate, and in what order to act. Ibid. ‒ examples of filling out EX forms (EX-26, EX-10, EX-25 and others): we show you field by field what to write, which boxes to check. Everything is put together so that you can submit it yourself, without overpaying intermediaries. Soon there will also be full ones VIDEO INSTRUCTIONS for each item.

What changed in 2026

Briefly about the legal basis on which this entire guide is based.

Temporary protection for Ukrainians (protección temporal) has been extended: by order Orden INT/96/2026, the status is automatically valid until March 4, 2027, and TIE cards remain valid without any action by the holder. Separately, on June 26, 2026, the European Commission proposed to extend the protection for another year - until March 4, 2028 (this is still a proposal to the EU Council; those already residing in the EU under a TC are not subject to the new restrictions).

In parallel, the new Foreigners Regulation RD 1155/2024, supplemented by RD 316/2026, is in force. Its nineteenth additional regulation (DA19) for the first time explicitly allows persons with Ukrainian driver's licenses to apply from Spanish territory for permits whose procedure can be initiated within the country. Instruction SEM 2/2026 (signed on 22.06.2026) explains how to apply this.

The whole point of these latest updates
The doors have opened: from a TK, you can move on to arraigo, work permits, autonomous, family and other residences - without leaving Spain. But the requirements for each category remain. There is no universal "Ukrainian button": first the basis, then the procedure, form, fee and submission channel.

Main idea + list of solutions

Start by asking yourself "How can I prove my right to stay in Spain?"«

The phrase «you can switch to any residence permit» is incorrect. The official logic is: you can request those permits whose procedure can be started from Spain, and only if you meet the requirements of that specific permit. Here is a quick decision tree – find your line:

Already 5 years legal residence (vehicle registration is counted)	long duration · EX-11
Have a job / stable autonomously, alta, vida laboral, contract	modification of article 191 · EX-26
There is a contract, but the story is weak, and there is 2 years in Spain	socio-labor roots · EX-10
Є 2 years, integration / family ties, but the work situation is not ideal	social roots EX-10
Studying/enrolling in eligible studies (FP, certificate) + 2 years	arraigo socioformativo · EX-10
Have a spouse or child - Spanish citizen	Spaniard's family · EX-24
Income from foreign company, remote work, high qualification, startup	Law 14/2013 · UGE
You are making out child (born in Spain or not)	children EX-25

No job, no studies, no family, no 5 years or UGE basis?

Don't give up on the TK
«"After 2 years, everyone will be given arraigo" is incomplete. 2 years of residence is only one condition. For a specific arraigo, more evidence is needed: contract, training, integration, family ties, no criminal record, and correct translations.

Why time in temporary protection is your main asset

In my opinion, this is the most important news of the SEM 2/2026 instruction, which is often underestimated: the time you have legally lived in Spain under temporary protection is counted:

• for root ‒ for crediting 2 years of residence (and the requirement «not to have another residence» does not apply in this part);
• for long duration - 5 years in credit, with the periods of the vehicle registration and the new permit being added together.

Simply put: your years here will no longer "burn out.".

Years in temporary protection are not «lost time.» They are the foundation for future permanent residency.

7 types of transition: a complete breakdown

For everyone - who is suitable, the EX form and what to pay attention to. This is only a guideline, and the final basis is determined by your specific story.

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Modification to residence and work [EX-26]

Basis: Art. 191 RD 1155/2024 · Form: EX-26 · Collection: 790-052

The main route for those who actually work or operate independently. The TK already gives the right to work, and SEM 2/2026 removes the obstacle (Article 191.7 is not valid). The duration of the new permit depends on the length of service:

• Less than 1 year residence, allowing work → art. 191.2, usually cuenta ajena, initial permit ~1 year.
• Over 1 year (this is your case if you have been on the TK for a long time) → art. 191.3, cuenta ajena і own, permission for 4 years.

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Work for hire [cuenta ajena]

Form: EX-26 · possible employer fee 790-062

Basic evidence: contract, Social Security registration, work life, payslips, company certificate, employer details (NIF/CIF) and solvency. The contract must comply with SMI or convenio according to the required jornada. A weak contract is one of the most common reasons for refusals.

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Autonomous [cuenta propia]

Form: EX-26 (art. 191.3) · Collection: 790-052 (2.5.2, €10.94) + 790-062

It is important to distinguish between two cases here:

• You are already autonomous - the main thing is to show real activity: register in RETA, high census (model 036), invoices, customer contracts, IRPF/IVA, bank receipts, current certificates. The business plan is not the main thing here.
• You are not autonomous yet, but you want to - prove project viability: description of the activity / business plan, confirmation of funds for start-up, experience/qualifications, licenses (if required), understanding of customers and revenues.

Importantly
For autonomous arraigo sociolaboral is not suitable - this line is for employees; autonomously look at the modification (EX-26) or arraigo social. And also: Modelo 037 has been canceled (from February 3, 2025) - only Modelo 036 is valid. If somewhere they advise 037 - this is outdated information.

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Arraigo: social, sociolabor, socioformativo, familiar [EX-10]

Basis: art. 125 RD 1155/2024 · Form: EX-10 · Collection: 790-052, epigraph 2.3.1

Thanks to SEM 2/2026, the time on the vehicle is counted as 2 years, and the restriction of art. 126.h) does not apply. What is arraigo:

• Sociolaboral ‒ a contract of 20 hours/week with a salary not lower than the SMI (for employees).
• Social ‒ period of stay + integration / family ties; a social integration report may be required.
• Socio-formative - through education or professional training (matrícula / compromiso de formación).
• Familiar - when there is a family reason expressly provided for by law.

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Family of a Spanish citizen [EX-24]

Section: Chapter VII, Title IV · Form: EX-24 · 5 year permit

Suitable if you are the spouse, registered partner of a Spanish citizen, or father/mother of a minor-Spanish. For Hoja 18, the application itself is free of charge, but the physical TIE at the police station is paid (790-012). Do not mix up reagrupación familiar, arraigo familiar and familiar de ciudadano UE - these are different procedures.

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Children and minors [EX-25]

Basis: art. 159 / 160 RD 1155/2024 · Form: EX-25

Child born in Spain - art. 159; child who arrived with parents - art. 160 (with exemption from 2 years of residence, funds and housing). An application for a child can be submitted even if neither parent has yet transferred to another permit. Ukrainian birth certificate - with apostille + sworn translation.

Strategic chain for children
A child born in Spain after 1 year of legal residence can be submitted to nationality by residence (citizenship by residence, Código Civil art. 22). And when the child becomes a Spanish citizen, it is already parents receive a strong EX-24 route as a family of a Spaniard. Sequence: EX-25 → 1 year → child citizenship → EX-24 for parents. But don’t base your entire strategy on this alone – the timing of citizenship is unpredictable.

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Permanent Residence [EX-11]

Chapter: capítulo III, título X · Form: EX-11 · Collection: 790-052, epígrafe 2.6

Permission to reside and work indefinitely, on conditions similar to those of Spanish citizens. The main condition: 5 years of legal continuous residence, completed until the day of submission (time on the vehicle is counted). This is not automatic: a separate application is required, confirmation of continuity (absence of up to 6 months in a row / 10 months in total) and no criminal record.

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EX Form Map

Which form is suitable for which procedure?.

Form	For what?
EX-10	Residencia por circunstancias exceptionales ‒ different types of arraigo.
EX-11	Residencia de larga duración / larga duración-UE (permanent residence).
EX-17	TIE Application - issuing a physical card after a positive decision.
EX-24	Residencia de familiares de personas con nationalidad española.
EX-25	Procedures for minors (art. 159/160).
EX-26	Modificación ‒ transitions from TK to residencia y trabajo.
EX-31 / EX-32	Regularization (DA20/DA21). Not for Ukrainians with a vehicle registration.

Critically important
For a person with temporary protection, the path is through DA19, not DA20/DA21. Therefore, EX-31 and EX-32 are not suitable: EX-32 directly excludes those who are or were the owner of a residence under EU Decision 2022/382. And do not use EX-03/EX-07 for modification - that is what EX-26 is for.

For an example and instructions on filling out EX-10, EX-25, EX-26, see the section “For your own” in this article.

Fees: tasas 052 / 062 / 012

Each procedure has its own fee (tasa) and its own item (epígrafe).

Tasa	For what?	Landmark epigraph
790-052	Many procedures of Extranjería (residency, modification, arraigo, larga).	modification 2.5.2 (10.94 €) · root 2.3.1 · large 2.6
790-062	Work permit; often filled out by the employer.	‒
790-012	Police: TIE registration, fingerprints, card issuance.	‒

Determine the exact item based on your procedure. Always generate the amount on the current form, not from a screenshot on social networks.

Often the fee is not charged immediately, but upon admission to procedure (acceptance of the application for consideration) - then it must be paid within 10 working days.

Documents, apostille and translations

Basic package - and when an apostille and sworn translation are needed.

Basic adult package

• Full copy of passport – all pages
• TIE Temporary Protection Card – Both Sides
• Empadronamiento (preferably historical ‒ for residence history)
• Documents for your reason: work, self-employment, studies, income or family circumstances
• Autonomous: register in RETA, modelo 036, invoices, declarations, current certificates
• Hired labor: contract, Social Security registration, work life, payroll
• Certificate of no criminal record from Ukraine - if required by the chosen procedure
• Apostille + sworn translation for documents issued outside Spain
• Digital certificate or Cl@ve + AutoFirma for electronic signature
• Fee paid (tasa), if provided for by the procedure

What requires an apostille + sworn translation

Ukrainian official documents are accepted only from apostille і sworn translation (traductor jurado MAEC). These are different procedures - translation does not replace an apostille. Most often: child's birth certificate, criminal record certificate, marriage certificate, documents of guardianship/consent of the other parent, diplomas (if you prove qualifications).

We have already written a list of sworn translators (jurado) in Spain in the post Sworn translators of the Ukrainian language in Spain: official list 2026, translation jurado.

About the certificate of no criminal record: Spanish The certificate is usually not attached - the administration checks this data itself (but the requirement to have no criminal record remains). But the certificate from Ukraine For some procedures, they may ask for a certificate from the Ministry of Internal Affairs with an apostille and a sworn translation. Not all provinces accept electronic versions, so it's better not to risk it.

More details about how I obtained criminal record certificates (with an apostille) for myself and my wife online will be described in the section “For your own“".

Correct order
1) Obtain a document (if necessary, a duplicate of the new sample in Ukraine).
2) Put apostille in Ukraine.
3) Make sworn translation in Spain (the translation will also include the apostille).
4) Collect the original + apostille + translation into one PDF.
Attention! The certificate of no criminal record is valid 3 months - do it last.
Passports and Spanish documents are not translated or apostilled.

Consideration periods and administrative silence

Time guidelines. For exact timing and type of "silence", see the Hoja of your procedure.

What is administrative silence?
This is a situation where the consideration period has expired and there is no official decision - the administration is "silent." The law says how to interpret this silence: negative ("silencio negativo") means that the statement is considered rejected ‒ typically for first serves (initial); positive ("silencio positivo") - that the statement is considered approved - it happens for some renewals and larga duración. In practice, even with positive silence, it is better to wait for written confirmation, because for TIE it is usually required.

Procedure	Guide	Comment
Modification EX-26 (p. 191)	~3 months	Usually negative silence after a deadline.
Arraigo EX-10	~3 months	After favorable - TIE for 1 month.
Children EX-25	~1 month	The child goes to TIE with a parent/representative.
Family of the Spaniard EX-24	~2 months	Keep an eye on emails.
Long duration EX-11	~3 months	Positive silence is possible, but it is better to wait for confirmation.

A rule of thumb: start collecting documents 4-6 months before your desired filing date. If you already meet the requirements, you can file earlier without waiting for the expiration of the TOR.

Renunciation of temporary protection (renuncia)

When, where, and how - so as not to harm yourself by premature refusal.

Do not refuse the vehicle in advance. According to the logic of DA19, you apply while still having status. The refusal (renuncia expresa) is made only after after the new permit has received a favorable resolution - and its confirmation (resguardo) is presented when issuing a new TIE.

• Not before applying for a new permit.
• Not while waiting for a decision.
• Only after a positive decision → file a renuncia → get a resguardo → go to TIE with him.

Submitted through the Common Electronic Registry or in person, addressing to the Office of Asylum and Refuge (OAR), with reference to Instrucciones SEM 2/2026. The completed application template is in the practical block below.

Where to serve: Mercurio, UGE, DEHú

Foreign Affairs	considers the application and makes a decision.
Police	issues TIE, fingerprints (huellas), NIE.
Mercury / electronic headquarters	online submission channel EX-10/11/25/26 (not a separate body).
UGE	separate sede Inclusión for permits under Ley 14/2013.
DEHú	a single email box where messages and solutions appear.

For most procedures (including offline modifications), submission is often online only - you need digital certificate or Cl@ve + AutoFirma, prepared in advance (and for each adult separately). How to get them - we have discussed in the articles «"Digital certificate in Spain: how to get it and what it is for"» і «"What is Cl@ve PIN and how to get it in Spain"».

Mercurio: Feed EX-10 / EX-11 / EX-25 / EX-26

1. Log in to mercurio.delegaciondelgobierno.gob.es via certificado digital or Cl@ve.
2. Choose to submit a new application or aportación de documentación (if you are submitting documents to an existing case).
3. Select the province where you actually reside according to the padrón.
4. Select the type of application: EX-10 (arraigo), EX-11 (larga), EX-25 (children), EX-26 (modification). The name in the system may be longer - check with Hoja.
5. Fill in the applicant's details: NIE, address, email, phone (email must be stable and accessible daily).
6. Attach PDFs in order: passport, TIE, padrón, certificates, translations, contract, school/tax documents. Scans, not photos; no passwords on files.
7. Sign via AutoFirma and send.
8. Download the presentation slip and save the number expedient.

Cita previa: registration for TIE or presentation in person

1. Go to icp.administracionelectronica.gob.es and select the province.
2. For a new card after favorable ‒ select POLICÍA ‒ TOMA DE HUELLAS (EXPEDICIÓN DE TARJETA) or a similar name.
3. Enter your NIE, name, country, date of birth and contact details.
4. Select office - not all offices have the necessary procedure.
5. Confirm the appointment and save the justificante as a PDF.
6. A separate cita is usually required for each family member, including children.

DEHú: message control

1. Log in to dehu.redsara.es via certificado digital or Cl@ve.
2. Check the Notificaciones and Communications.
3. After serving, check 2-3 times a week, or preferably daily.
4. Opening a message may trigger a deadline for a response or appeal.
5. A message that is not read within the deadline may be considered delivered automatically.

The most dangerous mistake
Submit an application and do not check the message. Check DEHú and sede at least 2-3 times a week: opening an electronic message starts the deadline, and an unread email within the deadline can be considered automatically served. Missed requerimiento = lost case.

The province decides: the submission channel and the method of appointment depend on your Oficina de Extranjería. What works in Valencia or Barcelona does not necessarily work in other regions - check the official hoja informativa of your specific office.

After the decision: new TIE (form EX-17)

A positive decision is not a plastic card. The TIE is issued separately at the police station.

After you receive a favorable resolution, you take a picture at the police station (procedure "POLICÍA ‒ TOMA DE HUELLAS / EXPEDICIÓN DE TARJETA"), give your fingerprints and receive a card. What to bring with you:

• EX-17 (TIE Application), completed and signed.
• Passport (original + copy) and positive decision.
• Photo on a white background + current padrón registration (they may not ask for it, but it's better to have it).
• Tasa 790-012 (generate the current form on the police website).
• To switch from the TK - resguardo about the submitted renuncia.

Estimated amounts 790-012
The amounts vary - this is only a guideline, not a guarantee (always generate the current form): first TIE ≈ €16, renewal ≈ €19, long-term ≈ €22, TIE familiares de españoles ≈ €12. A separate appointment is usually required for each family member, including children.

If you receive a refusal: appeal

Rejection is not always the end. First, understand the motives, do not resubmit the same application without correction.

Download the full resolution of denial, compare the reasons with the Hoja of your permit and SEM 2/2026. Then there are two ways:

• Recurso de reposición - optional administrative appeal to the same authority. The deadline according to the general rule (Ley 39/2015) is 1 month from the notification. Attach: refusal, resguardo of the initial submission, corrected documents and argumentation with reference to SEM 2/2026.
• Recurso contencioso-administrativo - judicial appeal (Ley 29/1998), 2 months. The court usually requires an advocaat and a procurador.

When you need a specialist
If the issue concerns a court, criminal records, expulsion or entry ban, acting independently is risky. The main thing: do not miss the deadline for appealing, even if you later contact an abogado.

Common mistakes that waste people's time

«"Anti-checklist"»

• Search for "Ukrainian point" instead of a specific procedure.
• Confusing Extranjería and Policía; paying 790-012 instead of 790-052 or vice versa.
• Choose EX-03/EX-07 where EX-26 is needed; recommend EX-31/EX-32 to everyone.
• Submit arraigo socioformativo without admissible education, or EX-24 when the child is not yet Spanish.
• Submit without apostille/translation where required; incorrect order (translation before apostille).
• Refuse the vehicle in advance, before obtaining a new permit.
• Do not check DEHú / Carpeta Ciudadana and skip requirement.
• Apply in a province where you don't live; contract below SMI/convenio; autonomously "on paper" without invoices.
• Believe those who sell "guaranteed permanent residence" without analyzing the documents.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)