How long does it take to get Spanish residency? This is a question that many people moving to Spain will be wondering. Without residency, they will not be able to begin their new life in Spain and explore everything the country has to offer.
The key thing to know is that to an extent, the time it takes for you to get Spanish residency will depend on what type of visa you are applying for, as well as how long it takes for you to complete your visa application, and how fast the application is processed by the Spanish authorities.
Then, there is the time it takes to get a TIE card (Foreigner Identity Card) that proves you can reside in Spain.
We will take you through the different processing times for each visa, as well as the time it takes to get a TIE card, and tell you how we can help you with the documents for your visa application.
How long are Spanish visa processing times?
As we previously mentioned, the length of time it takes to get your Spanish visa depends on which one you have applied for. This can add extra time to your overall process, so you may get Spanish residency later than you wanted to.
There is no specific set number of days it will take to get each visa, with it varying based on factors such as a high case load for the Spanish authorities. For example, in July the decision period tends to be longer due to this being the heightened time for Study Visa Application.
Make sure that you apply for your visa well in advance of when you are planning to go to Spain, so that you do not end up missing the time you needed to be in Spain to, for example, move to your new home.
Getting the assistance of Spanish visa experts such as those in our team, can reduce any delays you may have as a result of preparing the application yourself. Sometimes, a document may be forgotten, or something else may go wrong simply due to the complexity of preparing a visa application.
To get Spanish residency in a more suitable timescale and avoid these extra days of delay on top of the visa processing times, you should ensure that your documents are prepared correctly, and according to Spain’s requirements. We can help you with this.
Applying for a TIE card
Anyone who plans on staying and getting Spanish residency will need to apply for a TIE card. It is a requirement for becoming a resident in Spain, so most people reading this blog will need one. It is a legal obligation to apply for a TIE card, so you cannot stay in Spain without one.
TIE stands for ‘Tarjeta de identidad de extranjero’, which basically means it is an identity card for foreigners in Spain.
Please note that you cannot apply for one until you have got to Spain, after which you will have to apply for your TIE card within one month. The process can take up to three months to complete, but as long as you begin the process within a month of arriving in Spain, then you will have nothing to worry about.
There is a fee that you will have to pay, which is between €10 to €20, and you will also need to provide some documents as part of your application as well. For example, you will need to provide your current, valid passport. Another example is your NIE number, which you will be automatically given when you are granted your visa.
Once you have applied, you will be told when and where to collect your card. The length of time until you can collect your TIE card will depend on what province you have applied for one in, so there is no guidance on how long it will take.
For more information about the TIE card application process, please visit our blog on applying for your Spanish TIE card.
How we can help
Now you have an answer to ‘how long does it take to get Spanish residency?’ you can begin the process of applying for a long-term visa, so that you can go and reside in Spain.
Our friendly and helpful team is here to guide you through the process of getting your documents ready to be used in Spain. They will carry out the notarisation, legalisation, and translation of your documents, which ensures that the Spanish authorities will recognise them as legitimate.
To see how they can help you, or if you are unsure about any part of the Spanish residency process, then please get in touch with them by phone, email, or our website chatbox.
Interested in seeing what the benefits of using our services are? Then visit our ‘why choose us’ page to read all about why you should let us help you.
Get in touch with us today for help with getting your documents ready to apply for your visa, so you can one day get Spanish residency.
