ALERT #COVID19 On 14th March the Government of Spain decreed a national lockdown to contain the spread of COVID19.
As a result, foreigners who were either in Spain or abroad were affected, particularly those whose Spanish visa or residence permits were about to expire and could not renew them. In order to reduce the impact of the ongoing lockdown, the Government of Spain has decided the following measures:
1. Residence and/or work authorizations, the corresponding foreigner identity cards (tarjeta de identidad de extranjero) and the identity cards for family members of EU citizens (tarjeta de familiar de ciudadano de la Unión) that have expired during the Spanish lockdown or up to 90 days before its beginning (14th March) will be automatically extended for six months counting from the date of the end of the lockdown (currently extended until 7th June). If that expiration happened while the holder was abroad, the foreigner will be allowed to enter the Spanish territory by showing the expired tarjeta de identidad de extranjero and a valid passport. This same rule will apply for holders of expired long-term visas issued to investors, entrepreneurs, highly qualified professionals, researchers and workers subject to intra-corporate transfers.
2. The short-term visas of foreigners who were in Spain will be valid for three additional months if they had expired during the lockdown. During that additional time, it will only allow them to stay in Spanish territory.
3. The study visas of up to 180 days will be valid for three additional months if they had expired during the lockdown.
The absence in the Spanish territory will not be taken into account for the validity of the residence permits if it was a consequence of the impossibility to return to Spain due to COVID19.
4. For those travellers who got a short-term visa from the Embassy of Spain in New Delhi and could not travel to Spain due to the COVID19, the Embassy of Spain will issue fresh visa stickers. More details will be published as the Embassy opens to the public.
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