Last Updated on March 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi
Question
I had my TIE fingerprint appointment today, and am now waiting the 40 days to collect my TIE card. Can I travel outside Spain and return to Spain during this waiting time? Of course by now I have over-stayed my 90-tourist visa.
I can take my padron, pareja de hecho, and tarjeta de familiar de la comunitario documents to present at the border if necessary… but not technically and residence card… Is it worth the risk?
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These are the answers of some Facebook group members:
“As my lawyer told me, you can definitely leave – you just can’t come back without the visa or the regreso, and you won’t get the regreso because you need a cita previa and you can’t get the cita previa because, well… summer and Spain.”
“You need a cita previa for the extranjeria. They can issue an autorización de regreso. However you may need to use the services of your local locutorio for appointments. Unfortunately due to the nature of staff going on holiday it might not be possible to obtain appointments. If they are available it could be rather expensive.”
“Yes you can! Autorización de regreso, it’s easy to request”
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Explore Cities →“Do not travel without a regreso. Earlier they used to give regreso without a cita at Rambla Guipuscoa in early morning hours, but now they don’t without any cita. So try getting an appoinment and if not urgent then do not travel”
“I traveled with paper stating my renewal for TIE is favorable and paper that states the date to pick up my new TiE, no problems at all.My lawyer told me that and no problem,he was correct.I was coming back to Spain of course with all that and from non EU country.”
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