Last Updated on March 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi
Question
Can I leave Spain for a few days, to UK, after my Spanish residency application has been submitted? It’s being submitted today. My 89 days expires today. What are the potential risks?
Answers
These are the answers of some Facebook group members:
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Start the Moving to Spain Hub →“You can remain in Spain while it processes but to leave is a risk, especially if you’ve already exceeded 90/180 days in Schengen. I’ve assumed you are a non EU national. So the risk is that if you don’t have a valid residency document and it appears as though you have spent more than the tourist allowance here then you can have trouble trying to reenter.”
“Unless you have proof of application for residency and you sort out a regreso authorisation, you could be denied entry to Spain. Applying for residency only authorises you to continue to stay in Spain during the process; it gives no right to leave and re-enter.”
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