Essential Guide to Renewing Your Brexit Residence Card in Spain

Venetia House
Jun 21
4 min read

Updated: 3 days ago

If you’re a UK national living in Spain with a Brexit residence card (TIE – Article 50), renewing your card is crucial to maintaining your legal residency. This is your complete, up-to-date guide — including legal references, necessary documents, appointment details, and application timelines.

Note: This guide applies only to individuals with the 5-year Pre-Brexit Renewal Card.

💼 Expay’s Brexit TIE Renewal Support — Just €55 + IVA

For just €55 + IVA, Expay offers a stress-free renewal service that includes:

✅ Completion and submission of your EX-23 application

✅ Instructions and support for the Modelo 790 (Tasa 012) payment (~€12)

✅ Monitoring and booking of appointments (including Brexit-specific slots)

✅ Clear, custom document checklist tailored to your situation

✅ Ongoing assistance until your new card is issued

We offer honest, affordable help — no inflated fees or empty promises.

📜 Official Legal Basis

Understanding the legal basis for your TIE renewal is essential. The current laws governing renewals include:

BOE Royal Decree 557/2011, Article 51.1 — Renewal must be applied for within 60 calendar days before your card expires. Read the official text here (in Spanish)
BOE Resolution 2 July 2020 — Establishes the Brexit residency rules under Article 50. Official BOE link
Spanish Ministry of Inclusion & Migration Brexit Guide: https://extranjeros.inclusion.gob.es/es/brexit/index.html
Ministerio de Trabajo y Economía Social – Immigration FAQs: www.mites.gob.es

🗓 When Can You Apply?

Legally, you can apply within the final 60 calendar days before your TIE expires.

Applying too early may result in rejection, requiring a new appointment. ⚠️ Some extranjería offices prefer applications 30 days or less, even if the law allows for 60.

At Expay, we prepare for both scenarios and will advise you according to your location.

🛑 Consequences of Applying Late

If you fail to apply on time, your residency status may come into question. Thus, timing is crucial.

🔁 Can You Stay in Spain If Your Card Expires?

Yes.

Under the Withdrawal Agreement, your residency rights remain protected if you either:

Wait for a renewal after your card expires
Apply just after expiry (within a reasonable timeframe)

✅ During this period, you retain legal status in Spain and can continue living and working.

📋 What Documents Do You Need?

Legally, the following documents are required for your renewal:

✅ EX-23 form (TIE renewal)
✅ Valid passport
✅ Current Article 50 TIE
✅ Proof of payment for Modelo 790 (Tasa 012)
✅ Recent passport photo

🧾 Real-World Practice: Additional Documents?

While only these core documents are legally required under Article 50, some local police offices may ask for additional paperwork:

🟨 Recent padrón certificate (especially if not updated)
🟨 Proof of continued residence (like utility bills or rental contracts)
🟨 Proof of income, healthcare, or work status - This is not legally required but may be requested, especially if you have recently changed your address or have been away.

Our approach at Expay:

We assess your personal situation and prepare a tailored checklist. Each case differs — what may have been accepted in Alicante may not suffice in Granada.

✅ Best Practice:

Calmly comply with reasonable requests for additional documents.
Note what was asked and request written confirmation, if possible.
Appeal later if you feel the request was unwarranted, especially with legal backing.

📅 How to Book Your Appointment

All renewals must be done in person at your local Policía Nacional office.

There are two appointment categories:

General “TIE (EX23)” renewal
Specific “Brexit (UK Nationals Article 50)” renewal – available in select provinces

We constantly monitor both types and will facilitate the most appropriate slot for you.

🧭 You can also search manually: https://sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/icpplus/index.html

🚨 Where Are the Brexit-Specific Slots?

These slots vary, but you might find them in:

Madrid
Valencia
Málaga
Alicante
Murcia
Palma de Mallorca

If available in your province, we will prioritize these slots.

🔄 Upgrading to a 10-Year Card (Permanent Residency)

You can upgrade to a 10-year “Permanente” card if:

You’ve lived legally in Spain for 5 years, including time spent on a green EU certificate or an earlier TIE.

Even if your 5-year card isn’t about to expire, you can upgrade after 5 years of residence.

We’ll calculate your eligibility and guide you through this upgrade process.

Summary Table

Topic	Info
When to apply	Within 60 days before expiry
Applying too early	Application may be rejected
Appointment method	In-person only
Online renewal	Not currently possible
Card expired?	Still legal if renewal pending
Documents (core)	EX-23, passport, TIE, photo, tax form
Documents (may be requested)	Padrón, proof of residence, etc.
10-year eligibility	After 5 years of legal residence

⚠️ Final Notes & Disclaimer

We strive to provide accurate and practical advice, but renewal policies can vary by province and office. Expay will:

Check your eligibility for permanent residency.
Help you prepare only what's necessary for your specific situation.
Monitor both standard and Brexit-specific appointments.
Support you every step of the way.

Please remember: we don’t release appointments — we only book them once they become available. If you choose Expay, we ask for your patience and trust. We consistently secure appointments through daily checks and persistence, but we must book in turn with others from the same province. Your place in the queue is respected. Slots are limited and unpredictable, but we always do our utmost to deliver.