How can I get an appointment for renewing the TIE Card after renewing my non lucrative Spain visa (Non-lucrative visa)?

Last Updated on March 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi

Question

We finally have the non lucrative Spain visa (NLV) renewal resuelto but it’s so tricky and challenging get any appointment in Barcelona for Renewing the TIE Card. 

I understood that when we have the appointment, we will be given a temporary residency document and a date when the card will be available.

Will this temporary document be enough at all to travel outside Europe and get back into Spain?

Answers

These are the answers of some Facebook group members:

“Not officially, no. You need an autorización de regreso. You’re supposed to have a valid residency document to re enter Spain as a resident from outside the EU. It’s also only valid for entry from outside the EU so your first entry into the Schengen area should be Spain.”

“When you go for fingerprinting you get a document which is called Resguardo. It’s the same document which u would have received when you did your fingerprints last year. Its accepted and understood only in Spain.

In principle, you need the card to travel in the EU if you don’t have a valid visa. However, as there are no border checks in Schengen, people get through without troubles.

If you are travelling outside the EU, you can apply for permiso de regresso, which let’s u return to Spain.”

“In Galicia, I had to obtain a regreso, which gave me permission to return to Spain before my renewed TIE was ready to be picked up. I had to make an appt to pick up the regreso. I first had to apply for the new TIE and was able to apply for the regreso at the same time. Then came back the next week to pick up the regreso (they made the appointment for me to return to pick it up at the TIE renewal appt).”
“Check this out: Autorización de Regreso: What is it, How to Apply, Requirements and More “

Bruno Bianchi CEO & Spain Immigration Expert

Bruno Bianchi is the founder and CEO of Spainguru, Spain's largest expat immigration community with 150,000+ members. Since 2014 he has helped thousands of people relocate to Spain through expert guides, webinars and vetted professional services covering visas, residency, taxes and life in Spain.

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