If you hold a Spanish authorization for international telework, renewal preparation starts with understanding the conditions of your current authorization—not with a last-minute checklist. For Canadians living in Spain, the key is to distinguish the residence authorization from a visa and to keep meeting the conditions that allowed you to obtain the authorization.

Know what renewal involves

Under Spain’s Law 14/2013, a residence authorization for international telework may be renewed for periods of two years if you continue to meet the conditions that gave you the right to it. The renewal application is submitted electronically, and submitting it extends the authorization’s validity until a decision is made.

Do not confuse renewal of an existing residence authorization with applying for a residence authorization from a visa. The 60-day period before expiry sometimes mentioned in this context applies to applying for the authorization from a visa; it is not the renewal rule for an authorization you already hold.

The law also contemplates an extension when an application is submitted within 90 days after the authorization expires. That does not remove the possibility of sanctions, so it is prudent to prepare and apply before expiry rather than rely on this provision.

Check your ongoing requirements

Review the conditions under which your authorization was granted and consider whether they still apply to your situation. As practical preparation—not as an official deadline—organize relevant information early so you can address any questions about your circumstances when you apply.

If your authorization is for more than six months, the law requires you to apply for a TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero). The requirement is set out in the law; it does not establish a one-month application deadline.

If you are self-employed, check your RETA registration

The UGE’s official digital nomad FAQ says that a self-employed worker must register with RETA, Spain’s special Social Security regime for self-employed people, immediately after obtaining the authorization.

The FAQ warns that if you do not register immediately and the omission is identified in a later review, your authorization may be extinguished. It does not set a 15-day grace period. If you are unsure how this applies to your circumstances, check the official guidance rather than relying on an assumed deadline.

A practical renewal checklist

• Confirm whether you hold a visa or a residence authorization, since the 60-day rule relates to applying for an authorization from a visa, not renewing an existing authorization.
• Review whether the conditions that supported your authorization continue to apply.
• If you are self-employed, make sure you have followed the UGE’s guidance on immediate registration with RETA.
• If your authorization exceeds six months, apply for a TIE as required by law.
• Submit the renewal application electronically and avoid relying on the 90-day period after expiry, which does not rule out possible sanctions.

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