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Legal Status While in Spain

If you are a permanent student or want to extend your visa to stay at SLU-Madrid for more than one semester, please review this page to understand what documents will be required. 

Two students laughing and strolling near the Royal Palace in Madrid.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Student Life at studentlife-madrid@slu.edu.

If it's your first time going through this process, we encourage you to visit the Office of Student Life within the first few weeks of entering Spain.

Application for TIE/Fingerprints

If you have a visa for 90 days, you must start the process to obtain a residency card (TIE) in the first 30 days of your arrival. To do so, you will be required to obtain the following documents:

  • Form EX-17 (PDF): This document will ask the police to convert your 90-day visa into a residency card that will last for a year. Fill out box number 1 with your data. Remember, the address has to be the one you will use in Spain. In box number 4, select "tarjeta inicial."
  • Form MOD 790 012: This document contains the fee you must pay before the appointment. This can be paid at any bank in Spain. You just need to fill out your information and select "TIE que documenta la primera concesión de la autorización de residencia temporal, de estancia o para trabajadores transfronterizos." Then go to the front desk of any bank with cash to pay the fee amount, and they will take care of the rest. 
  • Certificate for the residency card: This document proves that you are enrolled in the university and pursuing the number of credits required to obtain a residency card. Our registrar's office will issue this document here at SLU-Madrid (registrar-madrid@slu.edu). 
  • Originals and copy of passport.
  • Originals and copy of the visa.
  • Originals and copy of Sanitas card (health insurance card).
  • Passport-style photo.

Important Note: Once you have the residency card, always carry it on your person. Although the police won't fine you if they ask you to identify yourself and you don't have the card with you, they can order you to present yourself at any police station of their choice with the card within 24 hours.

Renewal

If you plan to stay in Spain for more than a year, your residency card must be renewed yearly. The period for renewal starts 60 days before the expiration date and lasts up to 90 days after the expiration date. If that is not possible, avoid being outside Spain during this period. If not possible, start the process before you leave and obtain the autorización de regreso. Be very mindful of the dates.

For this process, you will need to present the following documents:

  • Form EX-00 (PDF): This document will start your renewal process and helps Spanish authorities check that you meet the criteria for renewal. Fill out box number 1 with your personal data, box number 3 with your name - but the university address so we receive the notification - and in box number 4 check "prórroga" and "titular de autorización estancia por estudios, intercambio de alumnos, investigación/formación, prácticas no laborales o voluntariado (art. 40)".
  • Form MOD 790 052: This document contains the fee you must pay at any Spanish bank before the appointment. You just need to fill out your information and select 1.3 "prórroga de la autorización de estancia por estudios, movilidad de alumnos, prácticas no laborales o servicios de voluntariado (titular principal y sus familiares)". Then go to the front desk of any bank with cash to pay the fee amount, and they will take care of the rest. 
  • Certificate for the residency card: This document proves that you are enrolled in the university and pursuing the number of credits required to obtain a residency card. Our registrar's office at SLU-Madrid (registrar-madrid@slu.edu) will provide this document.
  • Bank statement: This should prove that you have enough resources to live in Spain without being a burden for the state (minimum income from the last 6 to 12 months of 570 euros/month or a total amount of 6,840 euros). If the bank account is not from Spain, the document must be translated by an official judicial translator here in Spain.
  • Original and copy of passport.
  • Original and copy of TIE
  • Originals and copy of Sanitas card (health insurance card).

Afterward, the Spanish authorities will send you a letter with the result of your application. No matter what the results are, contact the Office of Student Life. He can translate the document for you and explain the next steps you need to take.

If approved, you will be required to get your fingerprints retaken, as you did when you first applied. The only difference is you will be required to present new documents, such as the padrón. See below for information about this process.

As the renewal process will take several months, you may be required to leave Spain and re-enter with an expired visa. If that is the case, you must obtain an autorización de regreso.

Autorización de regreso

This document will allow you to travel outside and re-enter Spain while your residency card is renewed. The autorización de regreso only lasts for 90 days, starting when it is issued, so be mindful of those dates. You will be required to present the following documents:

  • Form EX-13 (PDF): This is the document that will provide an autorización de regreso. Fill out box 1 and box 4. If you are renewing your card, select the first option, "Titular de autorización de residencia en período de renovación o prórroga (art. 5)". If you are in the process of obtaining your first residency card, select the fourth option, "Titular de autorización de residencia inicial en trámite de expedición de Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero, concurriendo razones excepcionales (art. 5)".
  • Form MOD 790 012: This document contains the fee you must pay at any bank in Spain before the appointment. Just go to the front desk and pay in cash. You will need to fill out your information and select a copy of the document proving that you have started the renewal process autorización de regreso.
  • The copy of the document that proves your residency card or TIE is being renewed and the original of said document.
  • Original and copy of passport.
  • Original and copy of Residency Card/TIE.
  • Flight ticket.
Fingerprints/TIE Renewal

Once you receive the TIE renewal approval, you must get fingerprints taken. The process is more or less the same as on the first application. The only things that change are the boxes you have to tick in the form and the fee, and you also need to add an extra document called padrón. Here is a list of the documents required for the renewal process to continue:

  • Form EX-17 (PDF): Fill out box number 1 with your information. Remember the address has to be the one you will be using in Spain. In box number 4, you need to select "Renovación de Tarjeta".
  • Form MOD 790 012: This document contains the fee you need to pay, at any bank in Spain, before going to the appointment. Just go to the front desk of the bank and pay it in cash. You will need to fill out your information and select "TIE que documenta la renovación de la autorización de residencia temporal o la prórroga de la estancia o de la autorización para trabajadores transfronterizos."
  • Certificate for the residency card: This document proves that you are enrolled in our university, pursuing the number of credits required to obtain a residency card. Our registrar's office at SLU-Madrid (registrar-madrid@slu.edu) will provide this document.
  • Originals and copy of passport.
  • Original and copy of TIE.
  • Originals and copy of Sanitas card (health insurance).
  • Certificate from the padrón.
  • Document showing that your renewal has been accepted. 
  • Passport-style photo.

Once all the documents are submitted, you must retrieve your card 30 to 45 days later. Contact Student Life for more information on how to get an appointment to retrieve your card.

Important Note: Once you have the residency card, always carry it on your person. Although the police may not fine you if they ask you to identify yourself and you don't have the card with you, they can order you to present yourself at any police station of their choice with the card within 24 hours.

Padrón

The padrón is the document that proves that you live in a regulated apartment/flat/house. You may also know it as the census. To obtain this, you need to get an appointment at any padrón office in Madrid and bring the following documents:

  • Form Hoja padronal (PDF): This document will provide the public servant with all the information required for the process, your personal information and your new address. 
  • Your house contract from your landlord, renting agency or dorm.
  • Original and copy of passport.

The padrón is given on the spot. Save a scanned copy on your computer as it usually lasts for more than a year.

Contact Us

If you have any questions regarding these processes or any other issue regarding your legal status in Spain, please contact us at studentlife-madrid@slu.edu.