Long-Term Residence in Spain

The long-term residence permit authorizes its holder to reside and work in Spain indefinitely. Holding this card allows the holder to reside and work in Spain indefinitely under the same conditions as Spanish nationals.

To obtain this authorization, the applicant must have resided in Spain for five continuous years, even if they have been temporarily absent from Spanish territory, provided the absences always stayed within the limits set by the authorities, and must also meet the required conditions.

Who can apply?

Foreign nationals residing in Spain may apply, either in person or through a representative. If the person is not a resident, they must file the application in person.

Where the applicant has contributed to economic, scientific or cultural progress, the application is handled by the Dirección General de Inmigración (Directorate General for Immigration), following a proposal from a public authority with competence in the field of merit on which the application is based. This applies to people of recognized standing in medicine, research, culture and similar fields.

Where can you apply?

Whether or not they reside in Spain, if the applicant is in Spanish territory, they must submit the application at any public registry, addressed to the Immigration Office (Oficina de Extranjería) of their province.

If they neither reside in Spain nor are in Spanish territory, they must go to the Spanish diplomatic mission or Consular Office for their area of residence. The applicant must pay the long-term residence fee within ten business days from the date the application is accepted for processing (admisión a trámite).

General requirements

Not being a citizen of a Member State of the European Union, the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. Not being a family member of citizens of those countries to whom the EU citizen regime applies.

Not being in an irregular situation in Spanish territory.

Having no criminal record in Spain, or in the countries where you have previously resided, for offenses that exist under Spanish law.

Not being banned from entering Spain.

Not being within the period of a commitment not to return to Spain.

In addition to meeting all these requirements, you must fall into one of the following cases:

1. Having resided legally and continuously in Spanish territory for five years. Absences from Spanish territory are not a problem, as long as no single absence exceeded six continuous months and the absences did not add up to more than ten months over the last five years. *If the absences were for work reasons, they may not exceed twelve months in total within the five required years.
2. Having resided for five consecutive years as the holder of an EU Blue Card, provided that during the last two years, immediately preceding the application date, this residence was in Spanish territory. *Absences from the EU of up to twelve continuous months are not a problem, provided the absences do not exceed eighteen months in total within the five required years of residence.
3. Being a resident receiving a Social Security retirement pension.
4. Being a resident receiving a Social Security pension for absolute permanent disability or severe disability (gran invalidez), or similar benefits obtained in Spain.
5. Being a resident who was born in Spain and who, on reaching the age of majority, has resided in Spain legally and continuously for at least the three consecutive years immediately preceding the application.
6. Having been Spanish by origin and having lost Spanish nationality.
7. Being a resident who, on reaching the age of majority, has been under the guardianship of a Spanish public entity for the five consecutive years immediately preceding the application.
8. Being stateless, a refugee or a beneficiary of subsidiary protection, being in Spanish territory and having been granted the corresponding status in Spain.
9. Having made a notable contribution to the economic, scientific or cultural progress of Spain or to its standing abroad.

What is the processing time?

The deadline for deciding on a long-term residence application is three months, counted from the day after the date the application is registered at the body processing it.

If the authorities issue no notification within those three months, the application is deemed approved by administrative silence (silencio administrativo). The exception is the specific case of a notable contribution to the economic, scientific or cultural progress of Spain or to its standing abroad: in that case, the application is deemed rejected if the authorities have issued no notification three months after the day following the date the application was registered.

Once the long-term residence authorization has been notified, you have one month to apply in person for the TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero, the foreigner identity card) at the Immigration Office or the National Police station (Comisaría de Policía Nacional) of the province where your authorization was processed.