Spanish Permanent Residency: Application Process and Requirements  

Permanent Residency in Spain, officially known as Residencia de Larga Duración, is a legal status given to non-EU nationals who have lived in the country lawfully and continuously for a period of five years. Unlike temporary permits that require frequent renewals and limit your activities, permanent residency allows you to live and work in Spain under the same conditions as Spanish citizens. Even though the status itself is indefinite, the physical identity card (TIE) must be renewed every five years. 

Regardless, permanent residency comes with many advantages, like having access to the national healthcare, education, and social benefits. It is also an important bridge for those who eventually plan to apply for Spanish citizenship after 10 years. 

1. Perfect for people who want to live in Spain long term: Spanish permanent residency is best suited for those planning to physically live in the country, as maintaining the status requires regular presence in Spain instead of occasional visits. 
2. Visa-free travel across the Schengen Area: As a permanent Spanish resident, you can travel freely within the Schengen Zone for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, which makes it easy to move around Europe without applying for additional visas. 
3. Access to public healthcare and education: Long-term residence permit holders and their family members are entitled to Spain’s public healthcare system and can access public education, both of which are considered high quality in Europe. 
4. Family reunification rights: The main applicant with permanent residence status can bring close family members, including a spouse or long-term partner, minor children, and dependent parents, giving the whole family the opportunity to live legally in Spain. 
5. Clear path to Spanish and EU citizenship: After ten years of legal residence in Spain, permanent residents can apply for Spanish citizenship, which gives them access to a Spanish passport, that is also considered one of the best in the world, ranking 20th on our Global Passport Index, and provides access to 127 visa-free countries.  

To qualify for a Spanish residence permit, you must meet these requirements  

• Applicants must be 18 years old or older. 
• Applicants must be non-EU, non-EEA, and non-Swiss citizens. 
• Applicants must have a clean criminal record. 
• Applicants must be in good general health. 
• Applicants must not have any unpaid taxes in Spain or elsewhere. 
• Applicants must show enough financial resources to support themselves and their families in Spain. 
• Applicants must have lived legally in Spain for five continuous years, with total absences not exceeding 10 months during that period, and the five-year residence must be completed immediately before submitting the application. 

Permanent residency requirements comparison for EU, non-EU citizens, and EU card holders

Calculating the five-year requirement isn’t always as simple as checking your first entry date. To calculate your years for permanent residency, you need to account for both the type of permit you held, and the time spent outside the country. Here is the breakdown for tracking your time. 

The type of permit rule 

Not every year in Spain is weighted equally. The most important distinction to make is between residency and stay. 

• Standard residency (1:1 Ratio): Each year spent on a Spain Non-Lucrative Visa, Spain Digital Nomad Visa, or work permit, such as the Spain Highly Qualified Professional Visa, or the Spain Self-Employed Visa, counts as one full year toward the five year goal. 
• Student stay (0.5:1 Ratio): The years spent on a Student Visa (Estancia por Estudios) only count for 50% toward EU permanent residency.  
• EU Blue Card: If you have an EU Blue Card, you can count time spent living in other EU countries toward your permanent residency, as long as you have lived in Spain for the last two years before applying. 

The continuity & absence rules 

Your five year timeline can be reset if you spend too much time outside of Spain. To maintain continuous residency, you must meet two criteria: 

• Single absence: You cannot be outside of Spain for more than six consecutive months. 
• Total absences: Your total time outside of Spain cannot exceed 10 months across the entire five-year period. 

These are the documents that will be required for your permanent residency application in Spain.  

• Completed Application Form EX-11 
• Your existing Foreigner Identity Card TIE that is about to expire. 
• Proof of fee payment 
• Proof of clean criminal records 
• Proof of health insurance 
• Proof of Income, such as an employment contract, tax returns if you are self-employed, and bank statements for retirees and non-working people.  
• A registration certificate (Certificado de Empadronamiento) from your municipality showing all the addresses where you have been registered over the last five years. 

• Step 1: Gather your documents: You need to collect documents that prove you have lived in Spain legally and continuously for five years, including Form EX-11, a copy of your valid passport, proof of address, and a criminal record certificate, only if you lived outside Spain during the past five years. 
• Step 2: Submit the application: You can submit your application either online through the MERCURIO platform using a Digital Certificate or Cl@ve or in person by booking a Cita Previa at the Extranjería or a public registry office. 
• Step 3: Wait for the decision: The immigration authorities have up to three months to decide, and if you do not receive a response within that time, the application is usually considered approved under Spain’s “positive administrative silence” rule. 
• Step 4: Attend the fingerprint appointment: Once your application is approved, your next step is to book a fingerprint appointment at a National Police station and bring your approval letter, passport, three passport-size photos, your old TIE, and proof of payment. 
• Step 5: Collect your residence card: The time to get your residence card will take around 30 to 45 days after your fingerprint appointment. After that you can collect your new TIE card, which will be valid for five years and marked as a long-term resident. 
• Step 6: Apply for citizenship: After ten years of legal and continuous residency, or just two years for nationals of Ibero-American countries, the Philippines, Andorra, Equatorial Guinea, or Portugal, you can apply for Spanish citizenship provided you meet the requirements. 

Renewing your Long-Term Residence card is a simple administrative formality because your legal status is already indefinite; you only need to renew the TIE card.  

• Keep track of your timelines. You cannot apply for a new card until the day after your current TIE expires. You have to apply within 90 days of its expiration date. 
• Required documentation: Submit the required documents, such as your passport, expired TIE, proof of fees paid, a photo, a registration certificate, and a completed EX-17 form, marked for “Renovación de tarjeta” (card renewal). 
• Book the appointment: Go to the Public Administration portal, select your province, and choose the procedure policía-toma de huellas (expedición de tarjeta) 
• Fingerprinting: Attend the appointment at the designated National Police station with your documents. You will receive a Resguardo de solicitud (receipt), which acts as your temporary ID. 
• Collection: After 30–45 days, return to the same station to pick up your new physical TIE. Some stations require an appointment, while others allow walk-ins. 

Absence restrictions 

Even though your Spanish permanent residency is indefinite, you can still lose it if you spend more that 12 consecutive months outside the European Union. The police will check your passport during your biometric appointment to confirm this