Residency permits
Information and practical advice about residency permits in Spain.
Spain to allow trans foreigners to change name and gender on official documents
Spain’s Interior Ministry has approved a new police protocol which will allow transgender migrants in the country to change their name and gender on their official documents such as the TIE or the EU green residency certificate.
Spain clarifies 183-day rule for Digital Nomad Visa renewals
If you're living in Spain on certain types of visas such as the Digital Nomad Visa, you will no longer be denied a renewal for absences longer than 183 days in a year. The Local spoke to visa experts about the latest court ruling.
EXCLUSIVE: British child born in Spain before Brexit denied residency
A British child born and raised in Spain has been denied residency despite his mother being legally resident in the country. The Local spoke to their lawyer about why they believe a mistake has been made over their Brexit Withdrawal Agreement rights.
The vocab you'll need when applying for Spanish residency
If you've had your visa approved and you've newly arrived in Spain, you'll need to apply for your Spanish residency. As your Spanish language skills may not be up to scratch yet, you'll need some help in knowing what all the terms mean.
What’s the difference between a gestor, a lawyer and a notary in Spain?
It’s impossible to live in Spain and not have to deal with its often frustrating bureaucracy, and for that you’ll usually need professional help. So for which official matters should you hire a gestor, a lawyer or a notary? What can they do and not do?
Gestor who charged foreigners €400 for residency appointments arrested in Spain
A registered gestor agent has been arrested in western Spain for blocking out all citas previas (appointments) on the immigration website and then charging foreigners €300 to €400 to get seen, proof that it’s not only clandestine agents exploiting the system.
The Spanish residency breaches that can lead to €10,000 fines
Spain's Interior Ministry outlines several offences and residency breaches that can result in €500 fines for minor infractions to €10,000 sanctions for serious offences, ranging from failure to notify a change of address to faking paperwork.
EXCLUSIVE: Unregistered Brits are applying for Spain's migrant amnesty
Immigration law firms in Spain have told The Local that there are UK nationals without residency papers among the 800,000+ undocumented migrants in the country who are looking to regularise their status through Spain's soon-to-end migration amnesty.
Brits in Spain rejected when renewing residency cards before expiry
Scores of UK nationals attempting to renew their Brexit-proof TIE Spanish residency cards before they expire continue to be told by Spanish police to wait until after the expiration date even though the law states they can renew before then.
What you can and cannot do as a non-resident in Spain
If you're a non-resident in Spain, there are certain services and rights you will have access to and others that you won't. Read on if you're on the fence about whether you should become a Spanish resident or remain a non-resident.
Spain's 'cita previa' scams grow ahead of mass regularisation process
Immigration campaigners have warned that undocumented migrants wanting to regularise their legal status, as part of Spain's migration amnesty, are facing an increased number of scammers when trying to book appointments.
Do I need to get a new TIE residency card if I change address in Spain?
Does a change of address within Spain mean that you’re legally obligated to get a duplicate of your TIE residency card for non-EU citizens? Here’s what the law says.
'A nightmare': Lives of foreigners across Europe hit by residency card delays
Bureaucratic backlogs and rule changes on residency rights are having an increasing impact on the lives of foreigners living around Europe. Many say they have been left in legal limbo with their lives effectively on hold.
Do Spain's green residency certificates for EU nationals expire?
If you're an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen living in Spain you will probably have a green residency card or certificate. But do these documents ever expire? And do you need to renew them?
How to get a duplicate TIE residency card in Spain if it's lost or stolen
Need to get a duplicate TIE card in Spain because you've lost the document or your wallet has been stolen? How about if you've changed address in Spain? Here's how to apply and why this process differs from renewing your card.
Which countries in Europe impose language tests for residency permits?
Certain countries across Europe demand foreign citizens pass a language test to qualify for certain residency permits. But how does each country compare and what level of language do they require?
EXPLAINED: How to officially give up your Spanish residency
If you're leaving Spain for good or for a long period of time, then you will need to make sure that you deregister before you leave, essentially giving up or renouncing your Spanish residency. Here's how to do it.
IT glitch causes residency permit delays for 150,000 foreigners in Spain
Tens of thousands of applications for Spanish residency and work permits have been put on hold due to a failure in the computer system used to check whether the applicant has a criminal record or not.
Can unregistered Brits in Spain get residency under new regularisation?
The Local has spoken to two lawyers to find out if the new decree promising to give the legal right to work and reside in Spain to 500,000 undocumented migrants could apply to 'under-the-radar' Brits in Spain who never registered as residents.
How to travel back to Spain on an expired or soon-to-be-expired residency card
What happens when a non-EU national residing in Spain has travel plans but their TIE card has expired already, is due to expire while they're out of the country or expires soon after returning? What steps should they take in each scenario?
Which nationalities get the most EU Blue Cards and where do they go?
The EU hands out thousands of Blue Cards to highly-skilled third country nationals each year, according to the latest figures. But which nationalities receive the most and which EU country gives out the most?
'It took three appointments to get my TIE card renewed in Spain'
The Local Spain's reporter Esme Fox goes over the trials and tribulations of renewing her TIE residency card in Spain, comparing her experiences to that of other foreigners who've faced issues and contradictory information from immigration officials.
Why Spanish residency processing times could be even longer in 2026
Unions have warned that Spain's proposed regularisation of over 500,000 undocumented migrants could "collapse" immigration offices in the country, something likely to have a knock-on effect and hinder processing times overall for foreigners.