Brit who moved to Spain warns expats of little-known rule that could catch you out
A Brit who relocated to Spain is sharing a word of caution with fellow expats about an easy-to-miss visa rule. Mark Danby, the face behind the YouTube channel Tapas Guy, which dishes out Spain-centric content, has offered a vital heads-up on the Spanish visa system's intricacies.
In his recent video, 'Things I wish I knew before moving to Spain after 6 months living here', Mark discusses a timing snag he encountered during his visa application, which took roughly three months to arrive.
Spain adheres to Schengen area rules, which include specific passport requirements and allow for visa-free travel within the zone for up to 90 days in any 180-day stretch.
But when Mark finally got his visa, the 90-day window had already closed, and despite believing that his visa would permit him to exit and re-enter Spain, he discovered he was wrong.
(Image: Tapas Guy/YouTube)
Mark explained: "I wish I had known before leaving that after I got my visa, I would not be allowed to leave the country and return. So, what's all this about?
"Okay, so what happened is, it took me about three months to get my visa, which is obviously about 90 days. So, by the time I had got my visa, I had used up all my 90-day allowance.
"Now, I thought that once I got my visa, that that would not then be a problem. I thought after I had my visa that I would then be able to freely leave the country and return.
"Once again, no. Once you have your visa, that then allows you to apply for your TIE, and it's your TIE card that allows you back into the country, so having the visa alone is no guarantee of being allowed back into the country."
The Spanish Foreign Identity Card, or tarjeta de identidad de extranjero (TIE), is essential for proving legal foreigner status in Spain, especially for those with visas permitting stays over six months.
(Image: Tapas Guy/YouTube)
Mark then claimed that obtaining a TIE can take "months and months and months", meaning there's a gap between getting your visa and securing your TIE, which can take "three or four months very easily".
During this time, he points out, one might exhaust their 90-day limit, leaving them "technically" unable to exit and re-enter Spain.
Yet, Mark reveals there's a workaround involving a document called a "Regreso", although obtaining it can be "very difficult", especially before the initial TIE appointment.
He said once this has occurred, it becomes a "lot more simple", but also claimed that during the period between getting your visa and then applying for your TIE and getting your first appointment, it's "almost impossible to get a Regreso form".
Mark stressed that people should ensure they don't fall foul of this, not leaving the country and attempting to return to Spain in the period between getting their visa and getting their TIE card if over the 90 days.
For more Spanish travel advice, visit the GOV website here.
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