Return authorisation (autorización de regreso) explained

Terms used

• Autorización de regreso — The autorización de regreso is a permit that lets you leave Spain and come back when you have no valid residence card.
• Cita previa — The cita previa is the appointment you must book before visiting most Spanish government offices.
• Oficina de Extranjería — The Oficina de Extranjería is the immigration office that handles foreigners' residence permits in each province.
• Policía Nacional — The Policía Nacional is Spain's national police, whose offices also process residence cards and fingerprints.
• Modelo 790 — The modelo 790 is the form used to pay the state fee for residence cards and related procedures.
• Denuncia — A denuncia is the police report you file when something is lost or stolen.

Key rules

• Approval resolution: Your approval resolution alone is not a travel document for re-entry.
• Card deadline: You must apply for your card in person within one month of the grant notification.
• When it is needed: You need an autorización de regreso if your card is expired, lost, stolen or not yet issued and you must travel.
• Valid card: With a valid card and passport, you do not need an autorización de regreso.

Processing times, fees and border practice vary by province, so confirm them with your local Oficina de Extranjería or police office before you travel.

What covers you between approval and card collection

No special travel document covers this gap. Your approval resolution is not a travel document for re-entry on its own. If you came on a visa, the valid visa is what normally gets you back in. Travelling before you collect your card is risky, so avoid it if you can.

If you must travel, carry your approval resolution and proof of your fingerprint appointment, along with your passport. Border officers may check that your permit is registered in the police database, but this is not guaranteed to work.

Collect your card first

You must apply for your card in person within one month of the grant notification. If your permit came after a visa, the month runs from the day you entered Spain with the visa, and always before the visa expires.

You apply by appointment (cita previa) at the Policía Nacional or the Oficina de Extranjería. Your fingerprints are taken and you pay the fee (modelo 790, code 012). If you miss the deadline, apply anyway. Late applications are usually accepted, but a fine is possible.

When you need an autorización de regreso

• Your card has expired.
• Your card was lost or stolen.
• Your first card has not been issued yet.

You do not need it if you hold a valid card and your passport.

How to apply

1. Book an appointment at the Oficina de Extranjería or Policía Nacional in your province of residence.
2. Take the official application form, your passport, your old card or proof of its loss, photographs and proof of why you are travelling.
3. If your card was lost or stolen, get a police report (denuncia) first.
4. If your first card is not issued yet, add your approval resolution and your fingerprint appointment proof.
5. A fee under modelo 790 may apply. Ask when you book.

Processing can take from a few days to several weeks. Proof that your trip is urgent helps, so apply well before you travel.

The lists and warnings below cover the documents, the timeline and common mistakes.

Timeline and deadlines

• Receive the notification that your residence permit is granted: when the permit is approved

• Book your appointment (cita previa) at the Policía Nacional or Oficina de Extranjería: as soon as you get the notification

• If you missed the deadline, apply anyway and be ready for a possible fine: as soon as you notice you are late

Documents you need

• Official application form for the autorización de regreso, filled in and submitted to the Oficina de Extranjería or Policía Nacional of your province.

• Your valid passport.

• Your old residence card (TIE), if you still have it. If you do not have it, bring proof of the loss instead.

• Police report (denuncia) of the loss or theft, if your card was lost or stolen.

• Passport-style photographs.

• Proof of the reason for your trip, such as a booking or a letter explaining the urgency.

• Proof of payment of the fee (modelo 790), if the office asks for it.

• If your first card is not issued yet: your approval resolution and proof of your fingerprint appointment, plus your valid visa if you arrived on one.

Checklist

• Check the date of your grant notification and count one month from it for your card application.

• Book your cita previa for the card application and fingerprints as soon as you can.

• Pay the fee (modelo 790, code 012) before your card appointment.

• Photograph or copy your approval resolution and your fingerprint appointment proof before you travel.

• Check whether your card is expired, lost or not yet issued, to know if you need an autorización de regreso.

• Ask for a police report (denuncia) straight away if your card was lost or stolen.

• Book an appointment at your province's Oficina de Extranjería or Policía Nacional to apply for the autorización de regreso.

• Take your passport, old card or proof of loss, photographs and proof of your reason for travel to the appointment.

• Confirm that you hold the authorisation before you book non-refundable travel.

What to watch out for

• Travelling before you collect your card: Your approval resolution is not a travel document on its own, so you could be stopped when you try to re-enter Spain. Collect your card before you travel. If you must go, carry your valid visa if you arrived on one, your resolution and your fingerprint appointment proof, and ask the Extranjería office about an autorización de regreso first.

• Missing the card application deadline: Applying for your card after the one-month deadline is a minor offence that is normally punished with a fine, and in some cases your authorisation can be treated as lapsed. Book your appointment as soon as you get the grant notification. If you are already late, apply right away.

• Leaving with an expired, lost or stolen card: Without a valid card you cannot simply re-enter Spain, and getting the autorización de regreso can take from days to several weeks. Apply for the autorización de regreso well before your trip and bring proof of the reason for travel.

Frequently asked questions

Can I travel with only my approval resolution while I wait for my card?

No, the approval resolution on its own is not a travel document for coming back into Spain. If you arrived on a visa, carry the valid visa. Many people also carry the resolution and proof of their fingerprint appointment, but travelling before you collect your card is still risky.

Do I need an autorización de regreso if my card is lost or stolen?

Yes, you need one if you must leave Spain and re-enter while your card is lost, stolen or expired. You normally need a police report (denuncia) of the loss or theft to apply.

Where do I apply for an autorización de regreso and how long does it take?

You apply at the Oficina de Extranjería or the Policía Nacional station in your province of residence, usually with an appointment (cita previa). It can take from a few days to several weeks, so show proof of urgent travel if you have it. A fee may apply.

What happens if I miss the one-month deadline to apply for my card?

Missing the deadline is a minor offence that is normally punished with a fine. In some cases your permit can be treated as lapsed. In practice late applications are usually accepted, so book your appointment as soon as you notice.