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Renewals and cards

Renewal of your residence permit card and TIE (Foreigner Identity Card)

The application that looks routine until it goes wrong. A refused renewal puts you back into irregularity after years of doing everything right, so it deserves the same attention as the first application.

Countries that have signed the Hague Convention (PDF) (opens in a new tab)

Renewing is not repeating. Each renewal requires evidencing that the conditions behind the permit still hold, and those may have changed without you noticing: a contract that ended, an unreported change of address, periods without social security contributions. What was enough for the first application may not be enough now.

What is assessed on renewal

  • Continuity of employment or, failing that, contribution periods and benefits evidencing a link to the labour market.
  • No criminal record arising during the period of validity.
  • Effective long-term residence in Spain, without absences exceeding the permitted limits.
  • Continued means of support and, for family permits, continued housing conditions.
  • School enrolment of dependent minors of compulsory school age.
  • You must be up to date with your obligations to the tax office and social security: a debt with either of them, for whatever reason, means LOSING your residence in Spain (if you cannot pay the whole debt, you can apply to pay it in instalments).
  • If you have children under 18 and you have moved house, you MUST apply for A NEW ADEQUATE HOUSING REPORT.

Long-term residence

After five years of legal, continuous residence you can move to long-term residence, which authorises you to live and work on equal terms with Spanish nationals and is currently granted for a renewable period of 10 years.

EU long-term residence

Similar to long-term residence, but it allows you to work in ANY EU COUNTRY. To obtain it you must be REGISTERED WITH SOCIAL SECURITY OR IN AN EQUIVALENT SITUATION when you apply, and meet the same requirements as for LONG-TERM RESIDENCE.

You can apply at any time to change a LONG-TERM card FOR AN EU LONG-TERM card.

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Frequently asked questions

My card expired months ago. What do I do?

Do not leave it any longer. There is a window after expiry for filing a renewal, and even once that has passed, depending on how long it has been and your circumstances there may be routes to restore continuity. Time is what makes the problem worse, so the sooner it is looked at the more options there are. For example, you might qualify for SECOND-CHANCE ARRAIGO.

I lost my job. Will my renewal be refused?

Not automatically. The whole trajectory is assessed, not your situation on a given day: contribution periods, unemployment benefit, active job-seeking or the income of other household members can carry the file. This is a case where preparing the application well changes the outcome considerably.

I have spent a lot of time outside Spain. Is that a problem?

It can be. Long absences could affect your renewal. It is best not to spend long periods outside Spain: depending on the permit you hold, different time limits apply.

How long does it take to get my TIE (the physical residence card)?

Once granted you must book an appointment for fingerprints and issue of the TIE, and that step depends on appointment availability at the relevant police station, which varies a great deal. It is the part of the process least open to speeding up, so book the appointment as soon as the favourable decision arrives. Do not buy appointments from any intermediary: with your digital certificate you can get one yourself.