Renewals · RD 1155/2024

Renewing your residence and student stay authorisation in Spain: deadlines and where to read your case

When to file, how long the renewal lasts and what is checked again. Find your authorisation in the table and go to the page for your route.

Three different things people call renewal

Renewal, extension of a student stay and a switch to another authorisation are three separate procedures.

A renewal keeps the same basis: you still work as an employee, still run your own business, still live with your reunited family. A student stay authorisation (autorización de estancia por estudios) is extended under its own rules, separate from residence. And if the basis changes, for example from arraigo to work, it is no longer a renewal but a change (modificación) under art. 191 of the Reglamento de Extranjería (Real Decreto 1155/2024).

Do not mix them up. Filing a renewal when you need a change, or the other way round, alters the conditions the office checks. On changing authorisation, read the page Switching from one residence permit to another without leaving Spain.

Filing window: two months before and three months after

For employment, self-employment, family reunification, non-lucrative and arraigo residence, and for the student stay, the rules set the same window. The application is filed during the two months before the authorisation expires: filing in that period extends the validity of the old authorisation until a decision. If you file later but within three months after expiry, the old authorisation is also extended until a decision, but the office may open a separate penalty procedure under art. 52.b of Ley Orgánica 4/2000.

Basis: arts. 55.3-55.4, 64.1, 71.1, 80.1, 86.1 and 132.3 of RD 1155/2024

When to file the renewal

Enter the date your authorisation expires. It works for employment, self-employment, family reunification, non-lucrative, arraigo and student stay.

Find your authorisation

What you haveFor how long and what is checkedRead
Employment (cuenta ajena, EX-03)For 4 years, with no limit by region or sector; if the initial authorisation was under a year, it is renewed for the length of the work, up to one year (art. 81.1). Main cases: the same employment continues, or there is a new contract and at least three months of work in the year; the full list is in art. 80.2.Employment route
Self-employment (cuenta propia, EX-07)For 4 years, in any region and sector (art. 87.1). The office checks that the activity continues and that tax and Social Security obligations are met; contribution arrears alone do not block renewal if the activity is genuinely carried on (art. 86.2.a).Self-employment route
Family reunification (reagrupación familiar, EX-02)For 4 years, with the right to work without limits; it lasts as long as the sponsor's authorisation does (art. 71.6). The family or partner link must continue and school-age children must be enrolled (art. 71.3).Family reunification route
Non-lucrative residence (no lucrativa, EX-01)For 2 years (art. 64.7). Funds, health insurance, schooling of children and living in Spain for more than 183 days in the calendar year are checked again (art. 64.2).Non-lucrative route
Arraigo (EX-10)Renewal for 1 year; for arraigo familiar the authorisation lasts 5 years (art. 132.1). For segunda oportunidad, sociolaboral and social you need active job search and registration with the public employment service; without that requirement it can be renewed for illness, disability or retirement age (art. 132.2.a). For socioformativo the training centre's report is checked (art. 132.2.b).Ask us
Student stay (estancia por estudios)Extension for the length of the course, up to one year. Up to two extensions for higher education and post-compulsory secondary studies, one for volunteering and training activities (art. 55.5). Filed electronically with the office of the province where the first authorisation was granted (art. 55.4).Ask us
Family of an EU citizen (EX-19)A different regime: Real Decreto 240/2007. Before permanent residence is acquired, renewal is processed under that decree (art. 13). Do not apply the RD 1155/2024 window to this case.EU family route
Digital nomad (teletrabajador, Ley 14/2013)Its own regime under Ley 14/2013. Conditions and documents are on the renewal page.Digital nomad renewal

If the office stays silent

Silence means different things. For renewal as an employee, self-employed, through family reunification and non-lucrative residence, silence after three months means the renewal is approved (arts. 80.9, 87.2, 71.5 and 64.8). For a student stay it is the opposite: if nothing is notified within a month, the extension is deemed refused (art. 55.4).

Basis: RD 1155/2024, articles cited

Fee

Renewal of temporary residence, except exceptional circumstances: 16.40 € (code 2.2). Extension of a student stay: 17.49 € (code 1.1.2). Arraigo falls under a different code, 2.3.1, which does not separate out renewal, so we give no figure. The TIE card is paid separately.

Basis: Orden PJC/617/2025, annex

Common mistakes

  • Waiting for the last day of the window. File in the first weeks, while there is still room for documents and corrections.
  • Treating the three months after expiry as safe. The authorisation stays valid, but a penalty procedure under art. 52.b of Ley Orgánica 4/2000 is possible.
  • Mixing up renewal and a switch to another authorisation. If the basis changes, a different procedure applies.
  • Not counting student stay extensions. Their number is limited (art. 55.5).

If the deadline has passed

The renewal rules only mention the window: two months before and three months after expiry. They do not say anything about a later renewal. If more than three months have passed since expiry, message us and we will look at your situation separately.

Understand what your case needs

Our consultations: written review 29 €, live chat 55 €, document review 79 €. We inform and guide; we do not file for you.

Rules: Real Decreto 1155/2024 (arts. 55, 64, 71, 80, 81, 86, 87, 132 and 191); Real Decreto 240/2007 (art. 13); Ley Orgánica 4/2000 (art. 52.b); Orden PJC/617/2025.