Permanent Residence In Spain: Expats Guide
Embarking on your journey to permanent residence in Spain opens up a world of possibilities and adventures in this vibrant and diverse country.
Whether you’ve fallen in love with Spain’s rich culture, warm climate, or laid-back lifestyle, our English guide is here to demystify the process.
Say adiós to confusion and hola to clarity as we walk you through the essential steps and requirements for securing your Spanish dream.
What Is A Spanish Permanent Residence Permit?
A Spanish permanent residency is a status that you can obtain as a non-EU citizen to obtain a situation of indefinite residence in the country. It will allow you to live and work in Spain (either for another company or as self-employed) with the same rights as Spanish nationals.
If you are studying in Spain or doing an internship, keep in mind that each year spent in the country will only count as half in the calculation for permanent residency.
This is because a student visa is not the same as a residence permit; it is simply permission for you to live in Spain while studying.
If you are unsure about your calculation or want to avoid any errors, you should go to the nearest Police Station and request the ‘certificado de residencia’. This contains your name and the number of years you have been living in the country.
Since this is provided and signed by the police, you will know exactly how many years have counted towards your permanent residency requirement.
Temporary Vs. Permanent Residence Permit Spain
When you first arrive in Spain, you will need to obtain a residence permit that will allow you to live and work in Spain for one year. This is called the residence and work authorization.
Once this temporary permit expires you will need to renew it, which is done for two years. When this expires again, you will need to renew it a second time, for another two years.
When this cycle is done, you will have spent a total of five years legally living and working in Spain. You will then be eligible to apply for your permanent residency card.
What Are The Benefits Of A Permanent Residence Permit In Spain?
The primary advantage of this permit is the ability to stay in Spain indefinitely. The only thing you will have to do for this is get your card renewed every five years.
And once you get the initial card, all the subsequent renewals will be easy and will not require a lot of hassle at your end.
Moreover, you can work in the country either as an employee or a self-employed person, and do not even need to provide any proof of economic means when applying. In fact, you do not even have to be working at the time of application necessarily!
A permanent residence permit gives you the option to regroup your family and call them to Spain as well. Your relatives will not need to put in their own applications but will obtain residency cards directly if the family reunion application is successful.
And each year that you spend in Spain as a resident will also be counting towards Spanish nationality.
Can You Travel With Your Spanish Permanent Residence Permit?
The permanent residency permit allows you to travel freely throughout the European Union. It permits you to be outside Spain and the European Union for up to 6 months without causing legal problems with your status.
The total consecutive time that you can be outside the country legally is one year within the total 5 years.
Can Spanish Permanent Residence Expire?
Once you have spent the required five years living and working in Spain, you will be issued a permanent residency card which is valid for five years. At the end of this period, the card will expire and you will need to renew it.
You will need to continue renewing your permanent residency card every five years. The renewal process is easy. You just need to go to the police station to give your fingerprints which will be included on file as part of your record. And then you will receive your new card.
Part of the reason this process is easy is because you are not making any changes to your legal status as a foreigner but are merely renewing your card.
At this time you will need to take the following documents with you:
- A completed and signed copy of the ex-17 form
- Your census (empadronamiento)
- Your original and a copy of the old residency card (which is about to expire)
- Passport and its copy
- Proof that you have paid the fee for the card
According to Spanish law you will remain a legal Spanish resident even if you don’t renew your card. However, you will face a heavy financial penalty for it.
Moreover, for this stage you also do not need to prove that you have been living in Spain for the last five years. This is only a requirement when you obtain permanent residency for the first time.
But in any case, you cannot spend a full consecutive year outside Spain or the European Union. So be prepared in case the police ask for documents that can corroborate this.
How To Maintain Spanish Permanent Residence
Generally, the major requirement to maintain this residence status is your presence in Spain. You cannot be outside Spain consecutively for one year, and overall for more than 30 months in the five year period that the card is valid.
If you go above these thresholds, you might lose your residency status, and will have to re-apply for it (and go through all the additional requirements).
How Long Does It Take To Get Permanent Residency In Spain?
The standard time that it takes for people to obtain permanent residency is five years. That is, you should have been living and working in the country for five years before you can apply for the permit.
Once you have put in your application, you will usually get your card within 3 months. However, the processing time will vary depending on the nature of your case.
Requirements For A Permanent Residence Permit In Spain
There are certain conditions you must fulfill when you are applying for permanent residence. You need to have clear background records including criminal records from the police.
You should also not be in a voluntary return situation i.e. have changed your mind about staying in Spain or intend to return to your home country soon.
And finally, you should have been living in Spain uninterruptedly for the last five years.
To prove this, you can submit documents like the rental contract for your residence.
Requirements For A Permanent Residence Permit For Family Members of Foreign Nationals In Spain
A foreigner living in Spain with their renewed residence card can also bring their relatives to the country with them. This is known as family reunification and is a legal immigration procedure.
They can then grant their family members residence and a work permit too.
When you land in Spain and receive your first temporary residence card, you cannot opt for this process. Neither can you do this if you are in an illegal or uncertain residence situation.
You can only apply for the family reunion visa once you renew your residence permit. That is, you should have lived in Spain for one year, have obtained a residence permit and can therefore live for another year in the country.
You must also be a resident, that is, you cannot initiate this process if you are living in another country.
Finally, you will need to give proof of your economic means and ability to provide adequate housing for said family member. You must demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to maintain the family member once they enter Spain.
For this you will also need to show that you have a stable and reliable source of income at least for the year following the application.
The second requirement is that you will need to provide a house that has all the amenities that will be needed for you and your family members to live with at least the guaranteed minimums.
Once you bring your family to Spain through the proper legal channels, they will be able to live and work in the country without having to apply separately for their own residence permits. You can apply for this visa for the following:
- Your parents
- Your spouse or partner
- Your parents in law
- Your children younger than 18 years of age
- Your spouse’s or partner’s children
If you want to bring in your extended family to Spain, this will only be possible if you are a foreigner with Spanish nationality or are a citizen of another country in the European Union.
The Application Process For A Permanent Residence Permit In Spain
The application process for permanent residency in Spain is fairly straightforward. The documents that you will need to submit are:
- Proof of payment for the fee
- A complete and signed EX-11 form
- Your valid temporary residency card (this is the one you have presently, that is about to expire)
- Original and a copy of your passport
- Tax returns or payroll as proof that you have been employed in country
It is generally recommended to start the process of renewal at least 60 days before your current residence permit expires. This will ensure that you complete the entire process in time, since bureaucratic procedures can be slower and less smooth than anticipated sometimes.
Once you have submitted your documents, you will receive a letter saying that your permit has been approved. This can take up to 3 months.
You will then need to go to your nearest Police Department, where they will take your fingerprints on file and assign you a guard. After 30 days of this, you will return to the same Police Station with your passport and old residency card, and they will issue you a new permanent residency card. This new card will be valid for five years.
Costs Of A Permanent Residence Permit In Spain
The cost of applying for permanent residence in Spain is not substantial. For some of the documents that you need to attach to your application, you might need to pay small fees up to 20 euros.
And if you are coming in from a country where your documents were not in Spanish, you will need to pay for translations too. The cost of the application itself is only 80 euros.
Conclusion
Congratulations, fellow adventurers, you’ve reached the end of our 2023 guide on achieving permanent residence in Spain! As you set your sights on making this beautiful country your forever home, remember that patience and determination pave the way to success.
With a solid understanding of the process and a touch of Spanish charm, you’re ready to navigate the path to residency. Let’s raise a toast to new beginnings and the exciting chapter that lies ahead!
Spain Awaits!
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