Permanent residence for EU and UK citizens

Start with "Counting your five years as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen". It explains when permanent residence arises, and it is the base for the other pages.

After that, pick what fits your situation:

• "Time abroad and breaks: keeping EU permanent residence continuous" covers which absences affect your five years or a right you already have.
• "Proving permanent residence as an EU citizen, and whether you need to" helps you decide whether to get a document and what evidence to gather.
• "Britons: from Withdrawal Agreement residence to permanent status" is for British residents covered by the Withdrawal Agreement.
• "What differs for EU and British residents seeking Spanish nationality" covers only what is specific to EU and UK nationals who want to apply for nationality.

Entry conditions, registration certificates, family cards and Withdrawal Agreement residence cards are not covered here.

Key rules

• Absences: Your five years stay continuous with absences totalling up to six months a year, or one absence of up to twelve consecutive months for an important reason such as pregnancy, serious illness, study or a posting abroad.
• Five years: An EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who has lived lawfully and continuously in Spain for five years gets permanent residence automatically, with no application needed.
• Losing the right: Once you have EU permanent residence, you lose it only after two consecutive years of absence from Spain.
• Britons: losing status: A Briton covered by the Withdrawal Agreement loses permanent status only after absence from Spain of more than five consecutive years.
• Nationality years: EU and British nationals need ten years of legal and continuous residence for Spanish nationality, with no two-year shortcut.
• Certificate: The permanent residence certificate is optional because the right exists by law, but it is useful as proof.

Permanent residence for EU and UK citizens: the whole process, step by step

• Start lawful residence and register as an EU citizen (read: Counting your five years as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen): When you move to Spain and stay more than three months

• Keep meeting the work, resources or study conditions with health cover (read: Counting your five years as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen): Throughout your five years

• Keep your time abroad within the limits: up to six months a year in total, or one absence of up to twelve consecutive months for an important reason (read: Time abroad and breaks: keeping EU permanent residence continuous): Throughout your five years

• Britons covered by the Withdrawal Agreement follow the same absence limits (read: Britons: from Withdrawal Agreement residence to permanent status): Throughout your five years

• Permanent residence arises automatically, with no application needed: After five years of lawful, continuous residence

• Decide whether to request the optional permanent residence certificate as proof (read: Proving permanent residence as an EU citizen, and whether you need to): Any time after the five years

• Keep your permanent right by not being away from Spain for two consecutive years (Britons: more than five consecutive years): After you have permanent residence

• Plan for nationality, which needs ten years of legal and continuous residence (read: What differs for EU and British residents seeking Spanish nationality): After ten years of residence

Documents you may need

Identity and residence

• Your valid passport — Proving permanent residence as an EU citizen, and whether you need to, Britons: from Withdrawal Agreement residence to permanent status
• Proof of five years of continuous residence — Proving permanent residence as an EU citizen, and whether you need to, Britons: from Withdrawal Agreement residence to permanent status
• The official application form for EU permanent residence — Proving permanent residence as an EU citizen, and whether you need to
• Padrón history certificate — Proving permanent residence as an EU citizen, and whether you need to
• Your current TIE-WA — Britons: from Withdrawal Agreement residence to permanent status
• The permanent TIE you receive in exchange — Britons: from Withdrawal Agreement residence to permanent status

Guarantees

• Proof of health insurance — Counting your five years as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

Other documents

• Registration certificate from the Registro Central de Extranjeros — Counting your five years as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen
• Proof of sufficient resources for you and your family — Counting your five years as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen
• The completed application form — Britons: from Withdrawal Agreement residence to permanent status
• Your EU registration certificate or card — What differs for EU and British residents seeking Spanish nationality

Each article lists the other documents it asks for, where you need them.

Permanent residence for EU and UK citizens: questions that cross several articles

Which date does my five-year clock start from?

Your five years run from when your lawful residence in Spain began, but offices usually treat the date on your registration certificate as the start. Earlier proof such as contracts, payslips and social security records is often accepted too, and padrón registration alone is not enough.

Does a period without resources or health cover reset my five years?

No, a gap in resources or health cover does not formally reset your five years to zero, but that period does not count as lawful residence. Short gaps are sometimes tolerated, while a significant gap can lead to a refusal or a request for more evidence. Read Counting your five years as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen and Time abroad and breaks: keeping EU permanent residence continuous.

How long can I be away before I lose permanent residence?

Once you have permanent residence, you lose it only after two consecutive years of absence from Spain. Before that, absences of up to six months a year keep your five years continuous.

Do Britons have the same absence limits as EU citizens?

Mostly yes, but a Briton covered by the Withdrawal Agreement loses permanent status only after absence of more than five consecutive years, not two. The limits while building up the five years are the same as for EU citizens.