Simply put, arraigo social is a work permit created to help foreigners that have been making Spain their temporary residence for at least three years. Also called “social roots,” this program is different than most legally recognized methods to create legal residence within a country because arraigo social does not require the filer to return to their own home or native country to complete it. This residency permit is necessary to change a temporary residence that is not legal to a residence that is documented and approved of by the government in Spain.