Is your residence permit about to expire and you can’t find an appointment anywhere in Spain? Or have you been trying for months to renew your student ID card, but the website keeps freezing? Making an appointment has become a real hurdle for many. So the question arises: Is it legal to force you to go through this system if it doesn’t work?
Well, the matter isn’t entirely clear. The Supreme Court and some lower courts have ruled that requiring an appointment cannot become an insurmountable barrier. The government is required by law to guarantee your right to petition. And if the system crashes, you can’t be left unprotected. In fact, some lawyers have taken these cases to court and won. That said, the practice remains the same. Now you know.
Keep in mind, there isn’t a single ruling that declares the appointment requirement illegal throughout Spain. But there are rulings that require offices to accept in-person requests without an appointment when the electronic system fails. The key is that you can prove you’ve tried and failed. So save screenshots, emails, and any evidence you have.
If you find yourself in this situation, you have several options. Take action:
- Try for several days at different times.
- If there are no openings, go in person to the immigration office and ask to be seen on an urgent basis. It doesn’t always work, but in some places it does.
- Schedule an appointment in another province: sometimes there’s availability in smaller cities.
- Submit a registered letter in person at the general registry, explaining that you cannot get an appointment. That counts as an application.
These are things you can try. The debate over the legality of the appointment requirement remains open. In the meantime, people are left in administrative limbo. It’s best not to wait until the last day. And if you find you’re not making progress, seek free legal advice from immigrant advocacy groups. You’re not alone.
If you’re having trouble with your appointment or application, message us on Telegram: https://t.me/cita_extranjeria
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