How long do I have to wait to get a response to my residence or visa application for Spain?
The truth is, there is no single answer! Administrative processing times in Spain vary enormously depending on the type of application and the workload of the Foreigners’ Office (Oficina de Extranjería).
Here are the general guidelines for the timelines:
Legal Deadlines (Theoretical) :
Most residency procedures have a legal deadline of 3 months to receive a response (residence, renewal, etc.).
If you do not receive a response within this period, it is referred to as administrative silence (silencio administrativo). The effect of this silence depends on the type of application:
Positive Administrative Silence : For certain permit renewals, the lack of a response after 3 months is considered an acceptance.
Negative Administrative Silence : For initial applications (first residence or visa), the lack of a response is often considered a rejection.
Real Deadlines (Practical) :
-
Visas (from the consulate) : Generally, between 1 and 3 months.
-
Initial Residence Permits (from within Spain) : Can range from 3 to 6 months
, or even longer for complex procedures like Arraigo (social rootage). -
Renewals (TIE) : Are often faster, between 1 and 3 months.
The Key Tip :
The waiting time can be long, but the most important thing is the initial preparation of your file! 
A complete and well-organized file avoids requests for corrections (requerimientos) which cause the loss of valuable months.
Do you need help checking your file and optimizing the response time? Contact our experts!
Call us: +34 966 941 650
