With the declaration of the State of Alarm, most of the administrative procedures that used to be carried out in the offices of Immigration or Asylum (oficinas de Extranjería o Asilo) have been affected. Although it is best to go directly to their website or to contact them by telephone. Below is a summary of a series of rules that will be applied throughout the duration of this exceptional situation.
Sources:
Ministry of the Interior (Ministerio del Interior)
Jesuit Migrant Service-Spain (Servicio Jesuita a Migrantes-España)
IF THE DOCUMENTATION EXPIRES
- WHITE SLIP FOR ASYLUM APPLICATION AND RED CARD: their validity is extended for the entire duration of the State of Alarm, which includes if it expires now, or expired earlier and if the requested appointment for renewal cannot be kept. IMPORTANT: an employment contract can be signed with an expired white slip, as the time limit authorising work will be considered to have passed. However, you will need to continue with the formalities as soon as possible.
- RESIDENCY CARD: The Administration has not clarified whether or not the validity of residence permits will be extended. Ideally, you should try to apply for the renewal of your permit online.
TIMELINES
Are totally suspended since the beginning of the declaration of the State of Alarm (that began on the 14th of March). This means that no days will be counted from that date on until the end of the State of Alarm (for now, it will be extended until the 26th of April).
RESOLUTION OF IMMIGRANT RECORDS
It may be possible that certain pending immigration cases will be answered, if no further formalities were to be carried out and they were to be resolved in a favourable manner, according to the Administration’s instructions.
IF I WANT TO APPLY FOR ASYLUM
The application for asylum involves a face-to-face procedure, so it is not possible to do so now. It is best to request an appointment as soon as the State of Alarm is over.
IF YOU HAD AN APPOINTMENT AT THE ASYLUM OFFICE AND SHELTER OR IMMIGRATION OFFICE
All on-site appointments have been cancelled.
- REQUEST FOR ASYLUM OR RENEWAL OF DOCUMENTATION: When the State of Alarm ends, all appointments will be reassigned and new dates will be given. All information will be available at www.policia.es/documentacion/documentacion.html
- SECOND INTERVIEW: The Asylum and Immigration Office will contact the applicants to schedule new appointments. The Office continues to work on a non-precedential basis. It is possible to carry out some procedures online and to contact them via the following additional address oar@interior.es
(A message can be sent to the phone number or email that was given as a contact).
(NON RETURN)
For those who wish to apply for asylum and cannot yet do so, NON-RETURN TO THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN is assured.
WELCOME SYSTEM
If you have not yet applied for asylum and wish to do so, you must contact the first reception centres (centros de primera acogida) in your province. No one will be removed from the reception system (sistema de acogida) during the period of the State of Alarm. If the first phase ends without having found housing, it will be extended. Further extensions may also be requested for vulnerable populations, even if these are not asylum seekers.
IF I DON’T HAVE ANY PAPERS
It should be noted that it is currently impossible to return to the countries of origin since the borders are closed. If the stay in Spain was only temporarily legal, as long as the health emergency lasts and one cannot return, it will be regarded as a (regular-legal) stay.
The Foreigners’ Internment Centres (Centros de Internamiento de Extranjeros) are being evacuated, as it is currently impossible to arrange for their return, yet the (rules for foreigners – normas de extranjería) are still effective, so it is best to stay at home.
You can also check out:
- Answers to frequently asked questions about the situation of the international protection system during the state of alert:
- If you would like to read or share information in other languages (English, French, Arabic) we invite you to visit the website of the Jesuit Service for Migrants-Spain (SJM-E), a network that works for the defence of the rights of migrants and their full access to citizenship:
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