Can you renew your regularisation permit? What to do when the year runs out
The permit from the regularización extraordinaria (extraordinary regularisation) lasts one year and is not renewed as such: you must apply for a modification to a residence and work authorisation, or an extension if you cannot qualify for it. We explain when, how and what you will be asked for, based on the law itself.
The short answer
- It lasts one year and is not renewable as such.
- In the two months before it expires, you must apply for a modification to residence and work (article 191 of the Reglamento de Extranjería [Immigration Regulation]).
- While you wait for an answer, your authorisation remains valid.
- If you work or have worked enough, you move to a four-year authorisation.
- If you cannot, there is a one-year extension while looking for work, or a four-year one for serious illness, disability or retirement.
Test: which route applies to you?
Five quick questions. At the end we show you the likely route and, if you wish, you can send us your case for review.
When you must apply
Deadlines are counted from the date your authorisation expires, as shown on your decision and on your card (TIE).
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Two months before expiry | This is the period to apply for the modification. Once you submit it, your authorisation is extended until a decision is made. |
| Up to three months after | You can still submit it and your authorisation is also extended, but penalty proceedings may be opened against you (article 52.b of the Ley de Extranjería [Immigration Act]). |
| More than three months after | You are no longer within these deadlines. Another route would need to be explored with a lawyer. |
The three possible routes
Depending on your situation at the end of the year, the law provides these routes.
| Route | Who it is for | Requirements | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modification to residence and work (art. 191.3) | Anyone who has held the authorisation for at least one year and works or has worked, as an employee or self-employed. | The same as for renewing residence and work: article 80 (employed) or 86 (self-employed). | 4 years |
| Exceptional extension | Anyone who cannot apply for the modification. | Actively looking for work and being registered with the public employment service, or an integration effort report from the Comunidad Autónoma (regional government). | 1 year |
| Extension for justified reasons | Anyone who cannot access employment due to serious illness or disability (their own, their spouse's or a child's) or because they have reached retirement age. | Proof of that reason; no need to look for work. | 4 years |
If, when you apply for the modification, you have not yet held the authorisation for one year, article 191.2 requires the conditions for an initial work authorisation (contract, employer up to date with obligations, etc.) and the authorisation is for one year.
What does meeting article 80 mean? Any one of these situations is enough
- Continuing in the same employment relationship.
- Having worked at least three months per year and having a new contract with Seguridad Social (Social Security) registration.
- Having worked at least three months per year and the contract having ended for reasons beyond your control, with continuous registration as a jobseeker.
- Having worked with Seguridad Social registration for at least nine months in a twelve-month period.
- Having a family member who meets the financial requirements to bring you in through family reunification.
- Being a victim of gender-based or sexual violence.
If you are self-employed (article 86), they check that your business activity continues and that you are up to date with Hacienda (Tax Agency) and the Seguridad Social (Social Security). In all cases, they also consider your minor children's schooling, any criminal record and your integration effort.
What the law does not yet make clear
- When the year starts: the permit takes effect retroactively from the date of application, but the law does not say whether the year is counted from the application or from the grant. Use the expiry date shown on your decision and on your TIE.
- What happens if there is no reply to the modification: the law does not expressly regulate administrative silence in this case.
- Where to submit it: there are no specific instructions; the expected route is the ordinary one at the Oficina de Extranjería (Immigration Office).
We will update this page as soon as the Ministry clarifies it.
Frequently asked questions
Is the regularización extraordinaria permit renewed?
Not as such. It lasts one year and, to keep living legally in Spain, you must apply for a modification to a residence and work authorisation (article 191 of the Reglamento de Extranjería [Immigration Regulation]). If you cannot qualify for it, an exceptional extension is possible.
When do I have to apply?
In the two months before the date your authorisation expires. You can still apply up to three months afterwards, but penalty proceedings may then be opened against you.
Can I keep working while I wait for an answer?
The law says that submitting the application extends the validity of your previous authorisation until the procedure is decided.
What happens if I lose my job?
If you cannot apply for the modification, you can request a one-year extension by proving that you are actively looking for work and are registered with the public employment service, or with an integration effort report from the Comunidad Autónoma (regional government). If you have a serious illness, a disability or have reached retirement age, the extension can be for four years without those requirements.
How long does the new authorisation last?
If you move to residence and work by meeting the renewal requirements, the new authorisation lasts four years. The exceptional extension lasts one year, except the one for illness, disability or retirement, which lasts four.
What if my regularisation is refused or I get no answer?
That is a different situation: the initial application is deemed refused if no decision is made within three months, and you can appeal. Check it with our tool «Have I been waiting too long?».
Sources: Real Decreto 316/2026 (additional provisions 20 and 21) · Reglamento de Extranjería (Immigration Regulation), RD 1155/2024 (arts. 80, 86, 132 and 191) · Ley Orgánica 4/2000, art. 52.b · Ministerio de Inclusión: regularisation and frequently asked questions · La Moncloa: frequently asked questions (16/04/2026). Information reviewed on 23 October 2026. It does not replace advice on your specific case.
If your regularisation application has not yet been decided, check whether administrative silence already applies in Have I been waiting too long?
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