Spain visa to recover long-term residence, from Pakistan
If you held long-term residence in Spain and lost it by living abroad, you can recover it: first the Government Sub-delegation decides the recovery, then the Embassy issues the visa. Grounds include 12 months in a row out of the EU, EU long-term residence in another state and, for EU long-term residence, more than six years out of Spain. The main fee is €90 (about PKR 27,900).
Last checked:
At a glance
- Main fee
- €90 (about PKR 27,900)
- Processing time
- Varies, see below
- Documents
- 10 on the list
- Spain decides the recovery first, then the Embassy issues the visa.
- Grounds include 12 months out of the EU in a row.
- The visa fee is EUR 90.
Fees
| Fee | Official amount | About in PKR |
|---|---|---|
| Visa feeAs the Embassy page states. | €90 | PKR 27,900 |
| Recovery authorisation feePaid with form 790 code 052, at the Embassy or online; the page does not state the amount. | Amount not confirmed |
Rupee amounts are a guide only, at the mid-market rate on October 8, 2026 (1 EUR = PKR 310.37). Your bank and the visa centre use their own rates.
Check the amount on the official source.
Official fee pages:National visas: visa to recover long-term or EU long-term residence
Processing time
Not confirmed
The immigration office decides the recovery within three months; the Embassy then decides the visa within one month.
Official source: National visas: visa to recover long-term or EU long-term residenceDocuments you need
From our draft document list for this visa. Your own list depends on your situation, so check the official source.
Usually needed
Passport
Valid for at least one more year, with two blank pages, issued within the last 10 years. Original and a copy of the data page. Also a copy of every page, for the recovery.
Visa application form (signed)
Form EX-11 for the recovery (two signed copies); later the national visa application form.
Passport-size photograph (destination specification)
One recent colour passport-size photo, light background, face fully visible.
Proof of the ground to recover long-term residence
Proof of your ground: the 12 months out of the EU, the EU long-term residence in another state, the voluntary return, or the time out of Spain.
Medical certificate (public health)
Medical certificate that you have none of the diseases with serious public health effects under the International Health Regulations 2005.
Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC)
Proof that you live in the Embassy's district, for example your CNIC (original and a copy).
Needed in some situations
Police character certificate
Police certificate from every country you lived in during the last five years, apostilled and translated.
Bank statement / proof of funds
EU long-term residence: proof of stable, regular means for you and your family.
Health insurance certificate
EU long-term residence: health insurance from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain.
Polio vaccination certificate (NIMS/NADRA)
Pakistan exit requirement, not a visa document: when you leave Pakistan you must show a NIMS/NADRA vaccination certificate including polio (the old paper card is no longer accepted, and since 14 September 2026 airports check a NADRA-integrated vaccination record). Verify current rules.
Where to apply in Pakistan
Which mission takes your application depends on where you live in Pakistan.
The official page for this visa:Visa to recover long-term residenceWe last checked it on Oct 8, 2026. Until this list is verified, follow that page where the two differ.
Embassy of Spain in Islamabad
EmbassyStreet 6, Ramna 5, Diplomatic Enclave I, Islamabad
Takes applications from Islamabad Capital Territory, Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Spain has one mission in Pakistan. Holders of a Pakistani passport count as residents of its district wherever they live in the country.
Ways to apply
Visa centreSpain Visa Application Centre
2nd Floor, Plot 3-A, G-7 Markaz, Islamabad. Book the appointment on the centre's website named on the Embassy's page, where the application form and document lists are too.
In Islamabad
Consular questions (visas, legalisation) go by email to emb.islamabad.sc@maec.es. Some of the Embassy's visa pages still name BLS offices in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore, while its page on where to apply names the Spain Visa Application Centre in Islamabad: check that page before you book.
How to apply, step by step
Check you can recover it
Long-term residence: you were out of the EU for 12 months in a row, got EU long-term residence in another EU state, or completed the no-return period of a voluntary return programme. EU long-term residence: you were out of the EU for 12 months in a row, got EU long-term residence in another EU state, or were out of Spain for more than six years.
National visas: visa to recover long-term or EU long-term residenceStep one: the recovery
Hand in the recovery application in person: form EX-11 (two signed copies), a copy of every passport page, proof of your ground, a police certificate for the last five years, a medical certificate and fee form 790 code 052. For EU long-term residence also stable means and health insurance from an insurer authorised in Spain. The immigration office in Spain decides within three months, and the Embassy tells you. The page does not name the place; the Embassy's where-to-apply page names the Spain Visa Application Centre in G-7 Markaz, Islamabad. If unsure, ask the Embassy at emb.islamabad.sc@maec.es.
National visas: visa to recover long-term or EU long-term residenceStep two: the visa
If the recovery is decided favourably, the Embassy calls you to apply for the visa: national visa form, a photo, passport, police certificate, medical certificate, proof that you live in the Embassy's district, and the EUR 90 visa fee. All foreign documents must be apostilled (Pakistan: MOFA apostille) and, if not in Spanish, come with a Spanish translation.
National visas: visa to recover long-term or EU long-term residenceDecision and arrival
The Embassy decides the visa within one month. It is valid for 365 days. In Spain, apply for your foreigner identity card (TIE) within one month of arriving.
National visas: visa to recover long-term or EU long-term residence
Questions people ask
How much does a Spain visa to recover long-term residence cost from Pakistan?
Visa fee: €90 (about PKR 27,900). Fees change, so check the official fee page before you pay.
National visas: visa to recover long-term or EU long-term residence (opens in a new tab)How long does a Spain visa to recover long-term residence take from Pakistan?
The immigration office decides the recovery within three months; the Embassy then decides the visa within one month.
National visas: visa to recover long-term or EU long-term residence (opens in a new tab)What documents do I need for a Spain visa to recover long-term residence from Pakistan?
The usual documents are: Passport, Visa application form (signed), Passport-size photograph (destination specification), Proof of the ground to recover long-term residence, Medical certificate (public health), and Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC). Depending on your situation, you may also need: Police character certificate, Bank statement / proof of funds, Health insurance certificate, and Polio vaccination certificate (NIMS/NADRA).
Where do I apply for a Spain visa to recover long-term residence in Pakistan?
Embassy of Spain in Islamabad takes applications from Islamabad Capital Territory, Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
I lived in Spain for years, then two years in Pakistan. Can I go back?
If you held long-term residence and were out of the EU for 12 months in a row, you can apply to recover it, then for the visa.
National visas: visa to recover long-term or EU long-term residence (opens in a new tab)How much is the visa to recover long-term residence?
The visa fee is EUR 90. The recovery itself has a separate fee, paid with form 790 code 052.
National visas: visa to recover long-term or EU long-term residence (opens in a new tab)