Checking your file before you submit it

Terms used

• apostille — An apostille is an international stamp certifying that a foreign-issued document is genuine, so Spain accepts it.
• NIE — The NIE is the identification number Spain gives to foreigners, used for tax, work, housing and official procedures.

Key rules

• Foreign documents: Each foreign document needs the apostille or legalisation and the sworn translation that its country of issue requires, as set out in How a Spanish residence application file is built.
• Insurance: Cover with co-payments, waiting periods or limits can lead to a notice.

Why audit your file first

Most problems come from small gaps, not from the substance of your case. The office answers a gap with a requerimiento, a formal notice to fix your file, and a missed reply costs you the application. A short audit before you file avoids both.

If a requerimiento arrives, the reply deadline is the one thing you cannot miss: 10 working days from the day after notification.

Audit in this order

The gaps below are listed from most to least common.

1. Proof of means. This is the most frequent weak point. Bank statements and employer letters must be recent, dated within 3 months of filing. Check that names match your passport and that the figures clearly show your income or savings.

2. Apostille and sworn translation. Check each foreign document against the rule for its country of issue in How a Spanish residence application file is built.

3. Certificate dates. Count from the issue date to the day you file. Criminal record and medical certificates must be issued no more than 3 months before you file. For visas, some consulates check the date again when the visa is issued, so do not file with certificates close to the limit.

4. Insurance. Your policy must give full cover with no co-payments, no waiting periods and no limited cover. A cheap policy often fails here. Ask the insurer for a certificate that states these points.

5. Names and dates. Compare the spelling of your name, your date of birth and your passport number across every document. A mismatch is a common reason for a notice.

6. Forms and fee. Use the national visa form for consular applications. For applications filed in Spain, use the EX form that matches your procedure. The office checks that the form code matches the procedure, that your NIE or passport number is right, and that the tasa payment amount and date are correct. Keep the stamped or electronic receipt. The residence authorisation fee is €73.78 in 2026, paid with modelo 790 code 052 (code 062 for some other procedures); a consular application also needs proof of the €80 consular visa fee.

If a notice still arrives

Read the notice itself. It states the period, and the day you were notified affects the count. Working days exclude Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. If you need more time to get a document, ask for an extension before the deadline runs out.

Timeline and deadlines

• Gather recent bank statements and employer letters: 3 months or less before filing

• Check the age of every dated document against your filing date; some consulates check again when the visa is issued: on the day you file

• Reply to a notice asking you to fix or complete your file: within 10 working days from the day after notification

• Ask for an extension if you need more time to get a document: before the 10 working days run out

• Apply again if the application was treated as withdrawn: after the withdrawal resolution

Pre-submission checklist for your residence file

Final checks before you submit

• Passport valid for the required time, every page copied.
• Form signed: the EX form or the national visa form.
• Fee paid with modelo 790 code 052, proof of payment kept.
• Proof of means: bank statements, an employment contract or a pension letter.
• Health insurance policy and payment receipts, with no co-payments, waiting periods or limited cover.
• Civil status documents, if family members apply with you.
• Proof of address or housing, and a photo if your route asks for one.
• Certificate dates inside the 3-month limit; names and dates identical across all documents, with proof linking any name that still differs.
• File in order, with originals and copies, and a valid appointment or digital certificate.