Floor 09 · British & other non-EU passports
Going away and coming back: the return authorisation
If your TIE ran out while its renewal is still being decided, or the card went missing or was stolen, request an autorización de regreso before travelling: this return authorisation allows a trip out of Spain and back while the card is being dealt with. Near Benidorm, the Oficina de Extranjería in Altea lists it. Some journeys cannot wait: a funeral, a birth, a parent in hospital.
When it helps
- You have applied to renew your authorisation and the decision has not arrived
- Your card expired while the renewal was under way
- The card went missing or was stolen, and you have asked for a new one
What goes in the request
- Your passport, with a copy
- Your card, even if it has expired, or the police report of its loss or theft
- Proof that the renewal or replacement is in progress
- The paid 790-012 slip, under the box for this authorisation
- Your travel dates, and the reason for the trip where it is asked
Where it is requested near Benidorm
The government’s page for the Oficina de Extranjería in Altea, Calle San Isidro Labrador 1, lists return authorisations (regreso) among its procedures. Its public hours are 9:00 to 14:00 and its phone is 965 019 300. The Policía Nacional’s directory does not list this procedure at the Benidorm station, so book through the cita previa system for the province of Alicante and follow the office your confirmation names.
When to apply, when to fly
Apply the moment a trip becomes likely, rather than days before the flight. The authorisation has a limited validity, printed on it, and the return has to fall within it. Travel with the authorisation, your passport and the proof of your renewal together.
Questions on this floor
Do I need it if my card is still valid?
No. A valid TIE is enough to leave Spain and come back.
Is it a visa?
No. It is a permission to return, linked to the residence you already have. It does not create a new right to live here.
How early should I ask for it?
As early as you can. It needs an appointment, and appointments are not always available at short notice.
Official sources for this page
- Subdelegación del Gobierno en Alicante: the Oficinas de Extranjería of Alicante and Altea
- Policía Nacional: directory of offices and their procedures for foreigners (province of Alicante)
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