Long-term residence (residencia de larga duración)

It is for anyone considering, planning or carrying out a move to Spain. Most people qualify after five years of legal residence, and some qualify sooner through an exception. Card issue and renewal, and moving on to another EU country, are covered elsewhere.

Start with "Who qualifies for long-term residence after five years". It lets you check the residence period and conditions before you spend time on the rest.

Key rules

• Absences: Absences do not break continuity if they total up to 10 months within the five years and no single absence exceeds 6 months, unless there is a justified reason.
• Filing window: You can file in the 60 days before your temporary card expires and up to 90 days after it expires; filing before expiry extends the temporary permit until a decision.
• Residence period: Long-term residence normally requires five years of continuous legal residence in Spain, and study time counts only at half.
• Decision time: The office has three months from registration to decide, and if it stays silent the application is treated as granted.
• Card renewal: Both long-term statuses are indefinite, but the card is renewed every five years.
• EU status lapse: EU long-term status is lost after 12 consecutive months outside EU territory or after acquiring long-term status in another member state.

Long-term residence (residencia de larga duración): the whole process, step by step

• Check that you meet the residence period and conditions (Who qualifies for long-term residence after five years): Before you plan anything: you need five years of continuous legal residence, and study time counts only at half

• Check your absences and your record (Who qualifies for long-term residence after five years): Across the whole five years: absences total up to 10 months, with no single absence over 6 months, unless there is a justified reason

• Gather proof of income and health cover where needed (Income and insurance requirements for long-term residence): Before you file; the EU status asks for stable resources, the national status does not ask for separate proof

• Choose national or EU long-term residence (National or EU long-term residence: which one to request): Before you file, especially if you may move within the EU

• Check whether an exception lets you qualify without five years (Qualifying for long-term residence without five years): Before you decide you are not eligible yet

• File your application (Applying for long-term residence: steps, fee and timing): In the 60 days before your temporary card expires, or up to 90 days after it expires; filing before expiry extends the temporary permit until a decision

• Wait for the decision (Applying for long-term residence: steps, fee and timing): The office has three months from registration to decide, and if it stays silent the application is treated as granted (latest 90 days after application date)

• Learn what changes once you hold the status (What long-term residence changes, including your right to work): After approval

• Renew the card and watch your time abroad (Keeping or losing long-term residence when you live abroad): The status is indefinite, but the card is renewed every five years

• If you already hold EU long-term status elsewhere, apply to live in Spain (Moving to Spain with EU long-term residence from another country): Within one month of entry, or from abroad at the Spanish consulate

Documents you may need

Identity and residence

• Passport copy for national long-term residence — Applying for long-term residence: steps, fee and timing
• Your current residence card — Applying for long-term residence: steps, fee and timing
• Proof of five years of continuous legal residence in Spain — Applying for long-term residence: steps, fee and timing
• Proof of stable and regular income for EU long-term residence — Income and insurance requirements for long-term residence
• Proof of health cover for EU long-term residence — Income and insurance requirements for long-term residence

Income and work

• Pensioners — Qualifying for long-term residence without five years

Payments and receipts

• Fee payment receipt — Applying for long-term residence: steps, fee and timing

Other documents

• Criminal record certificate — Applying for long-term residence: steps, fee and timing, Who qualifies for long-term residence after five years
• Official application form — Applying for long-term residence: steps, fee and timing
• Foreign public documents — Applying for long-term residence: steps, fee and timing
• People born in Spain — Qualifying for long-term residence without five years
• Former Spanish nationals — Qualifying for long-term residence without five years

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

Long-term residence (residencia de larga duración): questions that cross several articles

Does the 2025 immigration regulation change my long-term residence application?

Applications filed before 20 May 2025 are processed under the old regulation, and those filed after follow the new rules. The five-year basis stays, and valid permits stay valid until expiry.

Can a criminal record stop my long-term residence?

Yes, a criminal record in Spain or in a country where you lived in the last five years can block it if the offence is also a crime under Spanish law. An expulsion order or entry ban also blocks it. Foreign certificates must be apostilled or legalised and translated; see Who qualifies for long-term residence after five years and Applying for long-term residence: steps, fee and timing.

Do I need to prove income for long-term residence?

It depends on the status: national long-term residence needs no separate proof of means, but the EU long-term permit needs stable and regular resources measured against the IPREM, a yearly reference index. The amount rises with dependants. See Income and insurance requirements for long-term residence and National or EU long-term residence: which one to request.

How much time abroad can I spend before it affects my long-term residence?

Before approval, absences must total up to 10 months within the five years, with no single absence over 6 months, unless justified. After approval, long stays abroad can end the status. Read Who qualifies for long-term residence after five years and Keeping or losing long-term residence when you live abroad.