SPAIN RESIDENCY and VISA RENEWALS, and your health care options

Yes, if you are resident and spending more than 183 days in Spain in a calendar year (1st Jan to 31st Dec), then you will need to submit annual tax returns. This is particularly important if you want to apply for permanent residency after five years of temporary residency with a visa.

You can renew your residency 60 days prior to the current expiry date that is shown on the TIE card, or up to 90 days after the expiry date, it is recommended to renew early if you intend to stay in Spain. If you are considering changing your Private Health Insurance policy then start earlier as you may have a notice period to cancel your existing policy.

If you want to apply for Permanent Residency in Spain you must not spend more than 10 months outside of Spain in a five year period. On average this is 2 months per year, or a period of up to six months all of which contributes to the 10 month allowance.

For the Non-Lucrative Visa,Student Visa and for Permanent Residency Applications it can take up to three months from the date of application. For the Golden Visa and Digital Nomad Visa the renewal should be approved within 20 working days.if it is not approved within this time it is considered approved by administrative silence, however you still need to wait for a resolution in order to complete the process.

After you have held residency for 10 years (5 years temporary + 5 years permanent) you can apply for Citizenship. However to be eligible during the period of permanent residency you can leave for up to 1 year continuously and consecutively or a total of 30 months. You do not have to apply for Citizenship, you can continue to renew permanent residency once you have it.

The duration of the new Visa approved will depend on the type of visa/residency you are renewing. Get in touch for further information.

The TIE card is typically renewed after the residency has been approved.

The requirements will depend on the type of visa/residency you are renewing. Get in touch for further information.

You will need have a permanent address and be registered on the Padron (Empadronamiento) at the Town Hall (Ayuntamiento).

If you don't already have access to Spanish Health Care, if you are approaching or have reached the state retirement age, depending on your citizenship you may be eligible to access Public Health Care. If you have held residency for more than one year, and do not have access to public health care through other means you can opt in and pay for theSpanish Convenio Especial program.

If you are not entitled to Public Health Care, then you will need to renew your Private Health Insurance.  Travel insurance is not accepted.   If you feel you are paying too much for your insurance policy, get in touch with Help At Hand Spain who can help you obtain alternative quotes.

If you are a citizen of a country that has a bilateral agreement on social security coordination (such as the United Kingdom), you may be able to access Spanish Public Health Care and have the costs paid for by your country of citizenship.  UK Citizens are entitled to an S1 form if they are posted to work abroad (with the Digital Nomad Visa), or if they have reached the state pension / retirement age.

After one year of Spanish residency, if you do not have access to Public Health Care by other means then you can pay to access Spanish Public Health Care through a program called Convenio Especial. If you opt for this program you do not need to take Private Health Insurance, this may be useful if your insurance premiums are increasing due to age.

If you want to shop around and get a better price on your Private Health Insurance policy then it's best to start planning THREE months prior to your Visa/Residency renewal expiry. Check your existing policy on any termination conditions and notice periods so you can plan accordingly.