Question
How serious is the “don’t leave Spain while waiting for your TIE appointment” recommendation? We applied for the Spain Digital Nomad Visa from Spain and got approved but had to leave to finish the move (we didn’t know we shouldn’t leave) so we’re back in the US now wondering how much of an issue this will be for our TIE
Can anyone confirm that you can travel to the US or Turkey from Spain if you only have an NIE and are indefinitely waiting for an elusive TIE appointment? No more days on US tourist visa remaining. Needing to go for about a week and return.
Answers
These are the answers from Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
(Added October 21st 2025) “I hope this helps many of you but if you have visa free access to Schengen, then you can leave Spain before your TIE fingerprinting or pickup so long as you have the digital nomad visa resolution letter that shows the length of residency and did not have a paper visa. I exited and re-entered Spain via Madrid once this month and before in September. The national police simply saw my passport and resolution letter and he stamped me into Spain without any problems.”
“… You are legal Spanish residents now, you can leave Spain and return without problem. Your resolutions of approval are legal documents confirming your residency. The Spanish border police can also verify this with your NIE number. Many of our US/Canadian clients travel in and out while waiting for the TIE cards with zero issues.”
“If you are from a country that needs a visa from the consulate to come to Spain/EU then you should request an Autorización de Regreso but this is more for leaving your home country.
You cannot be denied entry to Spain at the border with a valid & active residency, even if you do not have a TIE card.”
“I just want to clarify — is there an issue leaving the US to come back to Spain if you’re out of Schengen days but have an NIE number and no TIE card yet?”
“Then you will be fine.”
“As long as you have days left you’ll be fine.”
“I can give an example from Turkey: If you do not have Schengen days left, passport police will not let you board the plane with only the NIE approval letter.”
“From US, we had no issue leaving and coming back.”
“Only matters if you are from a place where you need an actual visa to enter in which case a regresso could help.”
Conclusion
From the Spainguru community discussion, most members agree that once your Spain Digital Nomad Visa has been approved, you are a legal resident and can generally leave and re-enter Spain before receiving your TIE card. Your approval resolution and NIE number serve as proof of residency, and Spanish border police can verify your status.
However, if you are from a country that requires a visa to enter the Schengen Area, you may need an Autorización de Regreso to ensure smooth re-entry. This is especially relevant when departing from your home country.
If you still have Schengen days left, travel is usually not an issue. But if your days are used up, you may be denied boarding without a TIE card or valid visa. Always check your specific situation before booking travel while waiting for your TIE.
This article is based on personal opinions from the Spainguru community and is not legal advice.
