The Regreso is a document that allows the applicant to leave and return to Spain without a valid visa or TIE. If you have an unexpired TIE or an unexpired visa that allows multiple entries into Spain, you don’t need a regreso.
Is the regreso (authorization to return) recognized by other European countries?
Your mileage may vary. If you want a guaranteed hassle-free experience, book a direct flight back to Spain from the U.S. Otherwise you may run the risk of getting stopped at a different country. Your TIE and visa will always be recognized (so long as it is not expired), though.
It is useful for individuals that plan on visiting their families or for those that want to leave (and return to) Spain during the TIE processing time. It is not a valid document for travelling around the Schengen area, and it will only be officially accepted at a Spanish port of entry.
The Regreso document is valid for 90 days. In the image above, you can see that my Regreso was processed on June 8th. It was valid until September 6th. Plan your trips accordingly!
Regreso processing time may take up to 10 business days due to delays from bureaucrats going on scheduled vacations.
You can get a Regreso if you are in the process of getting your TIE. That means your old TIE is expired, you have already successfully completed your first appointment, and you are waiting for your application to be processed. You can apply for the Regreso during the TIE renewal process.
You can also apply for it during your initial TIE application, but only under exceptional circumstances. (Given the change to visa durations with the new law in May 2025, that shouldn’t be necessary – your visa will be valid for the entire year)*
You can not just claim exceptional circumstances either. They can request documentation proving that the trip responds to a situation of need under exceptional circumstances.
“Documentación acreditativa de que el viaje responde a una situación de necesidad y concurren circunstancias excepcionales.”
Requirements
- Completed EX-13 form, printed and signed (original and copy)
- Tasa Modelo 790 código 012 printed, paid and stamped by the bank (You may need the Tasa Model 790 código 052).
- Expired TIE/Visa or a TIE/Visa that will be expired within a 60 day period. (original and copy)
- Passport (original and copies of all pages)
- Proof that you have already submitted your renewal or initial TIE application (stamped form original and copy)
- Printed travel itinerary to prove that you are travelling within the next 90 days (flight tickets/reservation with dates)
- Proof of appointment (and alternative application methods below)
Additionally, you may be requested to provide your Empadronamiento at the appointment.**
EX-13 form
Complete, print, and sign the EX-13 (the Autorización de Regreso application form).
Section 1:
Sexo H – Hombre and M – Mujer.
Estado civil is S for soltero, C for casado, V for viudo, D for divorciado, and Sp for separado.
Address needs to include all of the necessary information (escalera/bloque/whatever).
Section 2:
Leave Blank
Section 3:
Section 4:
If this is during the initial application due to having “exceptional circumstances”, check “Titular de autorización de estancia inicial en trámite de expedición de Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero, concurriendo razones excepcionales (art. 5)”. Exceptional circumstances includes family emergencies and personal emergencies.
At the bottom make sure to sign and date it. Take the original and a photocopy to your appointment.
At the very bottom of the 2nd page, you will find a section where you can add a forwarding address. If you are applying directly with your Oficina de Extranjeria, this part can be left blank. However, if you are applying through an Oficina de Registro, make sure to follow the instructions below.
To find the Codigo, use the following resource:
Type in your Extranjeria office
“Buscar”
“Ver detalles”
and there, you will find your code
If you are unsure about any part, leave it blank and ask your funcionario at the appointment.
Tasa Modelo 790 código 012*
(Most of you will apply through “Tramites Policia Nacional”. For that, you will use Tasa Modelo 790 código 012. If you are applying through the Extranjería/Foreigner’s Office, you will use Tasa Model 790 código 052 – the old form). You can find out by booking an appointment.
The Tasa Modelo is a tax form you have to fill out and pay at a bank branch or ATM. This form is used to pay for your Regreso. I highly recommend going inside a bank branch to pay the tax form with exact cash. This way you are guaranteed to get a stamped sheet back proving your payment for the TIE appointment.
If you have a local Spanish bank account, use your bank branch. If you do not have a local Spanish bank account, you can still use a physical bank branch without issue (go before 11 am). I’ve had great luck with Caja Rural in the past. Just go up with your Tasa Modelo filled out, your ID (Passport), and your exact payment. To fill out the form, use the following link.
Tasa Modelo 790-052
(Select “Reglamento RD557/2011” then “6.3 – Autorizacion de Regreso”.)
This form will cost about 10 euros. If, however, you have found this webpage useful, please consider rounding up to 15 euros and making a small donation to the webpage. I am only able to maintain this website through the support of my viewers, and with only an average of 1 donor per 10,000 viewers, each contribution is vital. You can be the 1 in 10,000 that makes a difference.
https://residency2spain.com/support-the-page/#Donate
(This is just a link to a page with different donation options.)
After filling out the form, download the form and print it out. Make sure to sign it! Bring the form with exact cash to a bank branch and pay the fee there. Make sure you receive a stamped form in return. This is your proof that you paid the Tasa. Bring it to your TIE appointment.
TIE/Visa
For TIE renewals, bring the original and a copy (both sides) of your expired TIE.
For initial TIE applicants, bring the original (affixed in your passport) and a copy of your expired visa.
Passport
Bring your passport along with a copy of all of your passport pages (yes, all of them). They may only ask for you biodata page, visa page, and the stamped page from when you first entered Spain with your visa, but they also may ask for all pages.
TIE Application Proof
TIE Renewals: bring proof that you have successfully submitted the initial part of your TIE renewal application. This is called a “Resguardo” (the stamped EX-00 form). Send the original and a copy.
Initial TIE Applications: bring proof that you have successfully completed the Toma de Huellas appointments. Send the original and a copy. Similar to the renewals, you may have a stamped EX-17 form or a confirmation form.
This confirmation is called a “Resguardo”.
Travel Itinerary
This is not an official requirement listed by the Extranjeria, but some bureaucrats can be particular. Bring at least your anticipated flight itinerary (they’re not going to check with your airliner).
Print a copy of your flight tickets and/or your reservation with dates. Make sure it includes the departure and return dates.
Proof of Appointment
To make an appointment and check if there are availabilities, first access the Cita Previa link below.
https://icp.administracionelectronica.gob.es/icpco/index
(This is the same website where you get your TIE appointment)
Step 1:
Choose the province THAT YOU LIVE IN (as in the province where you are empadronado).
Step 2:
Provincia – The same as your previously selected choice.
Oficina – “Cualquier oficina” (within your municipality!)
“Autorización de Regreso” or if your region doesn’t have that option “Solicitudes de Autorización“
Remember, some regions will have you apply through the Policia or Extranjeria. Policia will use the Tasa Modelo 790-012 and Extranjeria will use the Tasa Modelo 790-052.
Step 3 and beyond: The following page has information about requirements for your Autorización de Regreso appointment. Double check that you have all the required documents.
After clicking accept and moving on to the next page, you will need to enter your information.
After clicking “Solitar Cita”, you simply choose an available date and time, confirm the appointment, and save your appointment confirmation.
Unfortunately, it can be difficult at times to find an available appointment. This is especially true around the holidays (November/December). Just keep checking for openings. New appointments are frequently added.
When you attend your appointment, bring a copy of your Cita confirmation along with the rest of your documents. You may receive the Regreso immediately after handing in all of your documents or be asked to come back in a few days.
Alternatives:
Alternatives should only be used if the Extranjeria does not have available appointments. These methods are slower and less effective.
If you plan on applying for a Regreso through an Oficina de Registro, here is how to make an appointment:
Oficina de Registro appointment webpage for (most) regions: https://ssweb.seap.minhap.es/icpplus/citar?org=OIACR
*Madrid also has their own web portal (linked below)
There are various other methods depending on region, but the 2 options above cover most regions. I’ll include more options below.
País Vasco has their own application webpage for Oficinas de Registro:
https://www.euskadi.eus/zuzenean-atencion-presencial/web01-a2zuzen/es/#oficinas
and so does Galicia:
https://012.xunta.gal/servizos-destacados/cita-previa
And other regions such as Madrid also have their own webpage even though it’s included in the main webpage.
If you are having a difficult time finding an Oficina de Registro in your area, for example those living in small towns not included in the resources above, you can also use this office search tool for the appropriate office. Remember, you are looking for an Oficina de Registro, not Registro Civil.
https://administracion.gob.es/pag_Home/atencionCiudadana/encuentraTuOficina/OficinasRegistro.html
Your application through the Oficina de Registro will be forwarded to the suitable immigration office (directed in your application). Later on, you will have to pick up your Regreso there.
Applying Online?
Although I haven’t heard of this method until just recently, it could be a potential option if you are desperate.
You can send documents to be registered completely online with a digital certificate.
- Log in with your digital certificate.
- Open “New Registration”.
- Add your Applicant Data.
I would put “Oficina de Extranjería en Sevilla – EA0040244- v3”. You would change Sevilla to your Extranjería. The code would also change. You can find the code of your office through this directory:
Type in your Extranjeria office
“Buscar”
“Ver detalles”
and there, you will find your code
- Below that, give context as to what you are applying for. You can copy my example below:
In the next page, attach all the necessary documents (make sure they are properly labelled). Finally, sign and send!
Again, I was only recently made aware of this resource. If you have made use of it yourself, please contact me and let me know how it went!
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