Spain Visa for Missing Residence Permit

Your resident card is integral to establishing your legal residence in Spain. Should you lose it, you will need to get another by completing an application for the Spanish visa for missing resident cards.

If you’re living in Spain, and have lost your resident card, read on for information regarding how you can apply for a Re-Entry Visa, the processing times, and what you need to prepare for your application.

Page Contents

• Overview of the Spain Re-Entry Visa
• What Is the Spain Visa for Missing Resident Card?
• What Should You Do If You Lose Your Resident Card?
• How Much Will the Spain Visa for Missing Resident Card Cost?
• What Is the Processing Time For the Spain Visa for Missing Resident Card?
• Can You Enter Spain Without Your Residence Permit?
• How Can IAS Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

The Spanish visa for missing resident cards helps those who lose their resident cards while outside Spain. It covers those who lose their cards for the following reasons:

• The card was stolen.
• The card was lost.
• The card expired during their trip.

Losing your resident card outside of Spain could inhibit your re-entry to the country. The Re-Entry Visa acts as a placeholder visa, allowing you to re-enter Spain while you wait for your new resident card.

The Re-Entry Visa is not suited to those who lose their visa in Spain, who may need to leave and re-enter the country while they wait for a new resident card. If this is the case, you should opt for the authorization to leave and return to Spain or the “Autorización de Regreso”.

If you lose your resident card outside of Spain, you must apply for a Re-Entry Visa to get back into the country. Once you’re back in Spain, you can apply for a visa renewal or replacement resident card.

To get a Re-Entry Visa, you will need to prepare the following documents:

• A completed Schengen Visa application form, including your email address and mobile number. You should provide both a copy and an original.
• A passport– must be valid for at least 4 months. You must provide a copy of the passport’s biometric data pages, and the passport should not have fewer than 2 blank pages.
• Two passport-sized photographs (34mm x 45mm) with a clear view of your face in front of a plain white background.
• A medical certificate -You must provide a medical examination certificate legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You should provide a translated copy of this document.
• A police clearance certificate that has been legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• A police report regarding the stolen or lost visa.
• A copy of your resident card.
• A copy of your passport’s departure and arrival seal pages from your trip outside Spain.
• Your departing flight information evidences your departure from Spain.
• Your planned flight information evidences your planned re-entry into Spain.
• Evidence of your travel insurance coverage.
• Any supporting documents proving your residency in Spain.

To submit your application for the Spanish Re-Entry Visa, you must contact the Spanish embassy in the country you are visiting. They will provide the details necessary to access the Re-Entry Visa application documents and book an appointment to deliver your application.

The missing resident card visa will vary in cost depending on whether you are an adult or a child. Below, you will find all of the information you need regarding the Re-Entry Visa cost:

• Adult Re-Entry Visa fee – £66
• Child (6-12) Re-Entry Visa fee – £33
• Child (0-6) Re-Entry Visa fee – FREE

There are some additional costs to consider when applying for a missing resident card visa, including:

• Visa collection fee – £1.90
• Passport photographs
• Photocopying charges
• Courier charges
• Filing fees- £5.70

The processing time for the Spain visa for missing resident cards will differ depending on the country you are applying to. Some consulates and embassies take longer to process visa applications than others.

However, you can generally expect the Spanish embassy or consulate to process your visa application in around 15 calendar days from the date you submitted the request.

You will receive either an approval or a denial of the application. If your application is approved, you can collect your visa from the Spanish consulate or embassy and plan your re-entry into Spain.

In some cases, the consulate may request further information. In these cases, your visa application may take longer to process.

You may be able to enter Spain as a tourist without a residence card, but you will need to meet the requirements to be eligible.

Here are the requirements you must meet to enter Spain without a visa:

• You must be from a country within the Schengen area.
• You must have a valid passport with biometric data pages. The passport must be valid for at least 3 months.
• You must confirm your accommodation. To do this, you can provide details of your reservation, booking, or rental agreement. Or, if you are planning to stay in Spain at your friend’s or family member’s home, you must provide a letter of invitation, written and signed by the person you’re staying with.
• You must provide evidence of your travel health insurance. The insurance should cover emergency care and possible health issues you could encounter during your stay in Spain.
• You should provide evidence of your finances, showing that you have at least €95 per day of your visit to Spain. You can do this with cash or show your credit or debit card balance.
• You may be subject to an interrogation, where the Spanish immigration authorities will question you about the nature of your visit. If they cannot determine the cause of your visit or find your circumstances suspicious, they may decline entry.
• You must complete the European Travel and Information Authorization System (ETIAS) form. You can fill in this form online using your email address and passport information. The ETIAS form provides a series of questions that you must answer regarding your stay in Spain.

If you do not meet these requirements, you will need to acquire a visa to enter Spain – you should learn about the Spain Schengen Tourist Visa.