Given the current situation, especially at the borders, will you be able to return to Spain? Is it possible to return to Spain if your return authorization has expired? In this post, we will explain it to you in detail.
It is certainly a fairly common situation: as a foreigner residing in Spain with a residency card in the process of renewal, the Coronavirus crisis happened while you were out of the country.
Your card has either expired or is about to. So, what can you do to be able to go back to Spain?
What is a return authorization?
A Return Authorization is a document that allows you to leave Spain even if you don’t have your residence card yet or if it is in the process of renewal.
This means that it acts as a safeguard for those moments when you have to return to your country of origin, but either you have just started the procedure to renew it and you still do not have it, or you are in the phase of fingerprinting in the initial application and you have not received it yet.
In these cases, you can request a return authorization that acts as proof of the residency card until you have the original one.
With this authorization, and under normal circumstances, there is no problem when re-entering Spain. At border control you can hand it over and access the country easily.
It usually has a duration of 90 days.
Expired return authorization during the COVID-19 crisis
Many foreigners find themselves in a problematic situation. For whatever reason, they had to return to their country of origin with a return authorization, and the Coronavirus crisis has coincided with their stay there.
Having already passed some time, their authorization has expired (or will soon). It is important to recall that its validity is for a maximum of ninety days. That creates a lot of uncertainty: Will I be able to return to Spain?
And if it is possible, how to return with an expired return authorization during the State of Alarm?
So, is it possible to enter Spain with an expired return authorization?
We have already explained to you in greater detail all the implications that the Royal Decree, published at the beginning of the State of Alarm, had for immigration laws.
One of those main implications was the suspension of administrative deadlines and term deadlines. What does this mean?
First of all, every residency card that expired during the state of alarm is now extended.
But on the other hand, this also happens with return authorizations. This means that yes, you will be able to re-enter Spain even if your return authorization has expired. The new period of days for the duration of your return authorization begins to count once the state of alarm has ended.
What if what has expired is my residency card?
Now given the case in which you have not left the country with a return authorization, but with a residency card.
Again, due to the prolongation of the State of Alarm, this card can also expire.
Then, will it be possible to enter Spanish territory anyway? Yes. The same principle applies as in the previous case.
The suspension of the deadline’s terms automatically extends the expiration of your residence card, so you should not worry in that regard.
However, we will have to wait for further announcements from the immigration authorities to find out how exactly this operation will be conducted. In other words, how will the entry of foreigners whose card or authorization has expired be facilitated?
You can still renew it online!
We have also talked to you in several articles about how it is totally possible to renew your residence card online. That is, doing it from home.
This is totally practical since the immigration office is considerably streamlining the procedures for file resolutions to avoid future congestion. You would then get an answer in record time.
What you will need to have in order to return to Spain
Now you can understand that even if your authorization has expired, entering Spain will not be a problem.
However, there are other factors that you will need to take into account to do so, we are referring to transportation. You need to consider that, land borders in Spanish territory are closed and on the other hand, the EU has restricted non-essential flights from third countries for 30 days.
Thus, as for your documentation as a foreigner, you will have no problem when entering. The important thing will be finding out the availability of means by which you can make your return trip.
Source: Immigration Spain
Lets Talk!
If you want to do any immigration procedure, make sure it has an expert team in the field. In Entre Trámites we invite you to know our immigration services out here. Fill in our contact form and we will call you to help you as soon as possible, schedule your online consultation, or simply text our Whatsapp.
