SEPE APRE application — unemployment benefit paid in advance when returning home

The «Solicitud de abono acumulado y anticipado» (APRE) is the official form of Spain’s Public Employment Service (SEPE). A foreign national receiving the contributory unemployment benefit (el paro) uses it to have the benefit paid in advance and in one amount because they are returning to their country of origin.

According to the information sheet of the form, it is paid in two parts: 40 % in Spain once the right is recognised and 60 % in the country of origin, no earlier than 30 days and no later than 90 days after the first payment. Personal income tax (IRPF) is withheld; no Social Security contributions are paid.

• a national of a country that has a bilateral Social Security agreement with Spain (or to which this payment has been extended), legally resident in Spain;
• registered as a job seeker (demandante de empleo) and legally unemployed after losing the job;
• with a recognised right to the contributory benefit, not combined with part-time work;
• not subject to any ban on leaving Spain under immigration law;
• submitted to SEPE (oficina de prestaciones); check how to file and whether an appointment (cita previa) is needed on sepe.es.

• given name, two surnames and NIE — as on the TIE; nationality (both, if dual);
• address in the country of return: street, number, floor, door, town, country, postcode;
• the Spanish consulate in your home country;
• how to receive the remaining 60 %: by personal cheque to your home address or by transfer — then the bank, its address and the account number;
• family members returning with you (up to seven): DNI or NIE, surnames, name, sex, relationship, date of birth;
• on page 2 — place, date and signature.

• the signed form;
• documents proving identity and nationality: TIE and passport;
• payment details for Spain and for the country of return;
• if SEPE asks for more documents, the form gives you 15 days to provide them.

Before signing: once paid, the benefit is exhausted, you cannot get unemployment benefits or subsidies for at least three years, your residence permit ends 30 days after the first payment, and family members who came through family reunification without their own permit lose theirs too. You cannot withdraw after the first payment.

1. Tell the chat in any language where you are returning, how you want the second part paid and who is coming with you.
2. The assistant fills in the boxes in capitals, ticks the payment method, spreads the account number over the boxes and enters your family in the table.
3. Download the PDF, check it, sign it and submit it to SEPE.

Servicio Público de Empleo Estatal, «Impresos» page of the unemployment benefits section, APRE form and its information on pages 3–4: sepe.es — Impresos (prestaciones por desempleo). Checked 2026-10-09. This is not legal advice.