Long-term residence in Spain: requirements after five years

Long-term residence (residencia de larga duración) is obtained after five years of legal, continuous residence in Spain and authorises you to live and work indefinitely, on the same terms as Spaniards. You no longer depend on a contract or on renewing the permit: only the card is renewed.

It is governed by article 32 of Organic Law 4/2000 and articles 175 to 185 of the Immigration Regulation (Royal Decree 1155/2024).

Two versions: national and EU

There are two permits with almost identical effects inside Spain:

• National long-term residence (articles 182 to 185). Requires the five years of legal, continuous residence.
• EU long-term residence (articles 175 to 178). Besides the five years, it requires stable and regular resources — at the same levels as family reunification — and health insurance. In return, it makes moving to another EU State easier.

If you plan to stay in Spain, the national version is usually enough and simpler. If you may live in another European country, look at the EU one.

How the five years are counted

Residence must be legal (with a permit) and continuous. Some rules in article 183:

• Allowed absences: trips of up to six consecutive months, provided the total does not exceed ten months in the five years.
• Work-related absences: the total may reach eighteen months.
• Force majeure: justified absences due to force majeure do not break continuity; the office assesses each case.
• Irregular departures do not count as permitted absences.

On study time: for EU long-term residence, periods of student stay count at 50%, provided you already hold residence when applying. Time without a permit counts in neither version.

Other cases without the five years

National long-term residence is also granted, among others, to:

• Residents receiving a contributory retirement pension or an absolute permanent incapacity or severe disability pension from the Spanish system.
• Residents born in Spain who, on reaching adulthood, have at least three consecutive years of legal residence.
• People who were Spanish by origin and lost their nationality.
• Those who, on reaching adulthood, were under the guardianship of a Spanish public body for five consecutive years.
• Stateless persons, refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection.

When to apply

During the two months before your current permit expires. Filing in that period extends your permit until the decision. The three months after are also accepted, with a possible fine.

In practice, long-term residence replaces the renewal that would be due: there is no need to renew first and apply later.

Documents

• Full, valid passport.
• Current card.
• Fee receipt.
• Schooling report for children of compulsory school age in your care.
• Where applicable, criminal record from the country where you lived in the last five years.
• For the EU version: proof of resources and health insurance.

The office checks your residence periods and Spanish criminal record itself. Form: EX-11. The up-to-date list is on the long-term residence page.

Decision period and silence

The Administration has three months. If it does not answer, applications for long-term residence are deemed granted (first additional provision of Organic Law 4/2000).

Afterwards: the card

The permit is indefinite, but the card expires. It is renewed every five years until you turn thirty, and every ten thereafter for the national version. Forgetting to renew the card does not extinguish the permit, though the office will check you still meet the conditions.

When it is lost

Long-term residence ends, among other reasons, if it was obtained fraudulently, on an expulsion order in the cases provided by law, or after an absence from the European Union of twelve consecutive months. In some cases it can be recovered.

Common mistakes

• Counting time without a permit. Only legal residence counts.
• Counting student stay in full for the EU version.
• Leaving a gap between permits. A late or refused renewal can break continuity.
• Long periods abroad without keeping track of the months.
• Renewing out of habit when long-term residence was already due.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a job contract for national long-term residence?

It is not a requirement of this version. Resources and insurance are required for the EU version.

Can I apply with a criminal record?

Records are assessed to determine whether you pose a threat to public order or security; refusal is not automatic, but the case needs careful preparation. You can discuss it in a video call with an immigration lawyer from our team.

Can I work in another EU country with long-term residence?

The EU version makes it easier to apply for residence in another Member State, but each country keeps its requirements. The national one is valid only in Spain.

Long-term residence or nationality?

They are compatible. Long-term residence gives you stability while you apply or wait for nationality. See nationality by residence: how many years.

Does my family get it with me?

Each relative needs their own five years, subject to the specific rules for reunified relatives and minors.

Your next step

The free test works out from your dates whether you have reached five years and from which day you can file. If you have doubts about absences or study periods, tell Resi.