When to file your residence renewal

Key rules

• Window: You can file from 60 days before your permit expires until 90 days after it expires.
• Count from: Count from the expiry date in your grant resolution, not the date printed on your card.
• Last on-time day: The expiry date itself is the last day to file without risking a sanction.
• Too late: More than 90 days after expiry, you cannot renew and must apply for a new authorisation.

When can you file?

You can file a renewal from 60 days before your permit expires until 90 days after it expires, but filing after expiry can bring a sanction. The sensible plan is to file inside the 60 days before expiry, not after.

The rules for this window did not change with the 2025 immigration regulation. This page applies to the general regime for temporary residence permits (work, non-lucrative, family, student-type and similar). It is not for EU citizens or holders of an EU-family card.

Which expiry date do you count from?

Count from the expiry date in your grant resolution, the official decision that granted your permit. Do not count from the date printed on your card. The card is only the physical document.

If the dates on the card and the resolution differ, trust the resolution. Ask your local immigration office if you are unsure.

Your earliest date

Take the expiry date from your resolution and count back 60 calendar days. That is the first day you can file. Write it in your calendar, along with the expiry date.

Your latest sensible date

The last day to file on time is the expiry date itself. Do not plan to use the days after it.

What if you miss the expiry date?

You can still file for up to 90 days after expiry. Your application is then accepted, but you may be sanctioned for being in an irregular situation. In practice this is usually a warning or a small fine. Whether the office opens sanction proceedings depends on the local immigration office.

If you file more than 90 days after expiry, you cannot renew. You must apply for a new authorisation instead.

Applications filed before 20 May 2025

Applications filed before 20 May 2025 are generally handled under the old regulation's transitional rules. If you filed before that date, ask your immigration office which rules apply to you.

The calendar, document list and FAQ below help you track your dates and gather what you need.

Your residence status calendar of dates to track

Your renewal calendar

• Find the expiry date of your permit in your grant resolution and write it down: Before you plan anything else

• Gather your documents: application form, full passport copy, current card, proof of address, and the evidence for your permit type: Start about 30 days before the window opens (recommended 90 days before application date)

• Pay the renewal fee on modelo 790 código 052: Just before you file (recommended 1 days before application date)

• File your renewal inside the window: From 60 days before your permit expires until 90 days after it expires; filing after expiry can bring a sanction, so aim to file before expiry (earliest 60 days before application date; latest 90 days after application date)

• Check your electronic notifications regularly for the decision: Every few days after filing; an electronic notice counts as refused if you do not open it within 10 calendar days

• Book your fingerprint appointment and apply for your new card after approval: Within one month of being notified of the decision

• Collect your new card in person with your receipt: About 30 days after your fingerprints are taken

Documents you need

• Your grant resolution, the official decision that states when your permit expires. Use its expiry date to count your filing window, not the date printed on your card.

• Your current residence card (TIE), which is only the physical document. Keep it to hand, but do not count your window from its date.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if I file more than 90 days after my permit expired?

If you file more than 90 days after expiry, you can no longer renew and must apply for a new authorisation. Your earlier permit counts as expired, so you may be treated as living in Spain irregularly in the meantime.

Will I be fined if I file after my permit expires?

You may be sanctioned for an irregular situation, but a warning or a small fine is the usual result once a late application is admitted. Whether the office opens sanction proceedings depends on the local immigration office. Filing on or before the expiry date avoids the issue.

Did the 2025 immigration regulation change the renewal window?

No, the new regulation in force from 20 May 2025 kept the same renewal window as before.

Is the last safe day to file the expiry date itself?

Yes, the last day to file on time is the expiry date of your permit itself. Filing the day after puts you in the late period, where a sanction is possible.