Immigration blog in Spain

Applying for asylum in Spain gives you access to the red card, the document that certifies you as an applicant for international protection and lets you stay legally while your case is decided. We explain step by step how to apply, what deadlines the Administration handles and what rights you have from day one.

Have you been residing legally in Spain for five years and are not sure which card to apply for? We explain, in plain language, the difference between long-term residence and EU long-term residence: what each one lets you do, which requirements change and which one suits you if you plan to move around Europe.

Almost every immigration procedure requires your criminal record certificate from your country of origin, and submitting it as is is not enough: it must be legalised or apostilled and accompanied by a sworn translation into Spanish. We explain step by step how to do it correctly and avoid having your file refused over a badly legalised document.

Is your partner an EU citizen and you are not married? You can access the EU family member card as a registered partner. We explain, clearly and up to date, what documents you need, how to prove the relationship and what deadlines to keep in mind so you do not lose your application.

How much money does the immigration office require to bring your family over? Find out the financial-means requirements for family reunification under RD 1155/2024: how much you need according to the IPREM, how to prove it and what the housing report demands, with clear examples based on the number of relatives.

Is your card's expiry date approaching? We walk you through, step by step, how to renew your TIE: when to file the application, what documents you need, how much the fee costs and what happens if your card has already expired. Everything updated to the new Immigration Regulation (RD 1155/2024), in plain language and with no fine print.

Applied for nationality and don't know when the decision will come? We tell you how long Spanish nationality by residence really takes in 2026: from the prior years of lawful residence to the oath, phase by phase, with the timeframes set by law and what happens in practice.

Just finished your studies in Spain and want to stay and work? We explain, step by step, how to change from a student stay to work after RD 1155/2024: requirements, documents, timeframes and mistakes to avoid.

No appointment, no procedure. We explain how to get an immigration appointment (cita previa) on the electronic portal, which procedures require it and what to do when there are no slots available.

NIE and TIE are not the same thing, even though they are confused every day. Discover what each one is, how they differ and how to obtain them depending on your situation in Spain.

Unsure between social or socio-labour arraigo (roots-based residence)? We explain how they differ after the new Regulation (RD 1155/2024), what each one requires and how to tell which fits your situation best.

RD 1155/2024 completely overhauled the arraigo (roots-based residence) routes, the time limits and family reunification. We explain, in plain language, what changed with the new regulation and how to work out which route suits you now.