Return authorisations
An urgent trip doesn't have to put your residence at risk. We help you leave and return to Spain with the right documents.
What it involves
The return authorisation (autorización de regreso) is a permit that allows you to leave Spain and re-enter when you don't have a residence card (TIE) valid for travel: for example, because it is being renewed, because you have lost it or because it has been stolen. Without it, the receipt for your application is usually not enough to come back.
Is this your case?
- Your renewal is being processed and you have to travel to your country.
- A relative is ill or has died and you need to leave urgently.
- Your card has been stolen or you have lost it just before a trip.
- Your permit has been granted, but you don't have the physical card yet.
How we help
We check what stage your file is at and whether a return authorisation is what you need or there is another solution. We prepare the application with the right justification, arrange the appointment and explain which documents you should travel with. In urgent cases, we do everything we can to speed up the procedure. We can help you in Spanish, Arabic, Tamazight, French and English, at our offices in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Málaga and Barcelona or online, wherever you are in Spain.
If you have lost your card, we also handle the TIE card duplicate; and if you have already spent too long abroad, we look at residence recovery.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I travel with just the renewal receipt?
- Generally, the receipt is not valid for re-entering Spain or for passing through other countries. That is what the return authorisation is for. Apply for it before you leave.
- What do I do if I have to travel right away for a family emergency?
- Write to us as soon as possible and gather whatever proves the emergency, such as a medical report or a death certificate. We will see how to apply for the authorisation as quickly as possible.
- Does travelling with a return authorisation affect my renewal?
- It shouldn't, if you respect its conditions and come back in time. The important thing is not to spend more time abroad than your type of residence allows. We explain this to you before you travel.
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Tell us about your case.
A first conversation — confidential and without obligation — to understand whether we can help, and how.
We speak Spanish, Arabic, Tamazight (Berber), French and English.