Faced with the evolution of the coronavirus, the Public Administration in Spain has adopted containment measures to protect people's health. This scenario also includes measures to allow the continuity of public care services, which are the responsibility of the Directorate General of Police, such as the issuing of documentation to foreigners.

As a reminder, the Directorate-General of the National Police issued a document entitled "Information on public service for the issuance of documentation to foreigners", in which it explains that the procedures carried out in its police stations, for example, are suspended until further notice:

• Return authorization.
• Letter of invitation.
• Certificate of registration of undocumented persons.
• Documentation relating to international protection and statelessness.
• Certificate of registration of EU citizen.
• Renewal of long-term residence.
• Fingerprinting.

On the other hand, all appointments already booked, to obtain Foreigners' Identity Cards (TIE), were cancelled. Therefore, all persons in this situation will have to book an appointment again, once the public attention services are re-established. 

The Documentation Units of the National Police have continued to deal only with special situations that may arise.

All of the above means that if you have not been able to carry out a procedure that was pending, within the time limit established or marked by law, you may now do so once public attention services are resumed in said police stations.

The opening of the police stations to the public is scheduled to begin on May 25.

In addition, it will be accepted to present the renewal of cards (in those renewal procedures that are carried out in the National Police) even if they had expired during the state of alarm.

The period of stay in Spain will also be extended as the periods of stay are suspended for those people who, while in Spain, cannot return to their countries of origin, exceeding the 90 days of stay as tourists.

For more information:

• Extension of the validity of the documentation supporting an applicant for international protection.
• Measures relating to the suspension of time limits in police procedures for aliens by application of Royal Decree 463/2020 of 14 March