Renewals

Is this your case?

• Your residence card (TIE) expires in the next two months or has already expired.
• You have a residence and work permit, as an employee or self-employed, and it is time to renew it.
• Your arraigo or extraordinary regularisation permit is about to reach its first year.
• You have lost your job or have few months of contributions and don't know whether you can renew.
• You have applied for renewal and have had no answer, or it has been refused.

What it involves

The NIE is your foreigner identification number and it never expires. What expires is your residence permit and the physical card that proves it, the TIE. So what everyone calls «renewing the NIE» is really renewing your residence permit and then getting a new card.

Since 20 May 2025 the new Immigration Regulation has applied, and it changed the rules: initial residence and work permits last 1 year and, when renewed, they are granted for 4 years.

Requirements

They depend on the permit you hold. These are the most common cases:

Residence and work as an employee. You need to show that you have worked: as a rule, at least 3 months registered with Social Security for each year. You can also renew if you keep the same contract or have a new one, if you lost your job for reasons beyond your control and are registered as a job seeker, if you receive unemployment benefit or an integration allowance, or if your spouse or partner has sufficient means.

Residence and work as self-employed. You need to keep your business going and be up to date with the Tax Agency and Social Security, or be receiving benefit for cessation of activity.

Arraigo and extraordinary regularisation. When the year is up, there are two routes:

• If you have worked, usually for at least 3 months, you apply to change to a residence and work permit. For the regularisation, that new permit lasts 4 years.
• If you have not worked, you can apply for a 1-year extension while registered as a job seeker. That is why it is worth registering from the start.
• Socio-educational arraigo (arraigo socioformativo) can only be extended once.

In all cases:

• Valid passport.
• No criminal record that prevents renewal.
• Not having spent more than 6 consecutive months outside Spain in a year, except for justified reasons.
• Paying the fees.

Documents

They vary depending on your permit. Usually:

• Official application form.
• Valid passport.
• Your current residence card (TIE).
• Proof of payment of the renewal fee (form 790, code 052) and, if you are an employee, the fee paid by the employer (code 062).
• Depending on your case: employment contract, Social Security work history (vida laboral), payslips, self-employment registration, job seeker registration or proof of benefit.
• If you have school-age children, you may be asked to show that they are enrolled at school.
• Once granted: the card fee (form 790, code 012) and the fingerprint appointment.

Process and timescales

1. We review your case in good time. We look at the permit you hold, what you need (renewal, extension or change of permit) and whether you meet the requirements.
2. We prepare the documents and fees with you.
3. We submit the application online, without you having to hunt for an appointment, within the deadline: from 60 days before your card expires up to 90 days after.
4. Your permit is extended while the decision is pending, so you can keep working with the proof of application.
5. Decision. The authorities have 3 months. If they don't answer, the renewal is deemed granted and we help you request the certificate.
6. Fingerprints and new card. Once approved, you book the fingerprint appointment within one month and then collect your new TIE.