When can I get permanent (long-term) residence in Spain?

Checked on 2026-10-25

Key facts

Two kinds of long-term residence

The regulation has two statuses. National long-term residence lets you live and work in Spain indefinitely on the same terms as Spaniards (Real Decreto 1155/2024, art. 182). EU long-term residence gives the same right and also the status set by EU Directive 2003/109/EC (art. 175).

Both need five years of legal, continuous residence in Spain before you apply (arts. 176.a and 183.1). The law itself says long-term residence goes to those who have had temporary residence in Spain for five continuous years (Ley Orgánica 4/2000, art. 32.2).

What the EU status adds

For the EU status, the regulation adds two conditions (art. 176.b–c):

• stable and regular resources to support yourself and, where relevant, your family, assessed on the amounts set for family reunification; they can come from your own means or from work;
• health insurance.

Time spent in Spain on a stay for studies, student mobility, volunteering or training counts at 50% towards the EU status, as long as you hold residence when you apply (art. 176.a). EU Blue Card holders have their own rules for counting residence in other EU countries.

Routes without five years

National long-term residence also goes to people who prove they are (art. 183.3): beneficiaries of a Spanish contributory retirement pension; beneficiaries of a Spanish contributory pension for absolute permanent incapacity or severe disability; people born in Spain who, on reaching adulthood, have lived in Spain legally and continuously for at least the three consecutive years before applying; former Spaniards by origin; people who were under the guardianship of a Spanish public body for the five years before adulthood; refugees, stateless people and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection recognised in Spain or another EU country; and people who have contributed notably to Spain’s economic, scientific or cultural progress.

Applying

You apply on the official form at the immigration office of the province where you live (arts. 177.1 and 184.1). The regulation says to apply in the two months before your current permit expires, and that applying in this window extends your permit until the decision; this timing rule doesn’t apply if your permit is still valid and you already meet the requirements (arts. 177.2 and 184.2).

Documents (arts. 177.3 and 184.3): your passport, proof of fee payment and, where relevant, a criminal record certificate from your country of origin or the countries you lived in during the last five years. For the EU status, add proof of resources and health insurance. For national status based on residence, add a report showing that children in your care of compulsory school age attend school.

Related questions

• How long Spain takes to decide: three months; silence means approval (Real Decreto 1155/2024, arts. 177.6 and 184.6).
• How much time you can spend outside Spain: Real Decreto 1155/2024, arts. 176.a, 183.2 and 201.

This is general information, not legal advice, and Lumen is not a law firm. Rules change and offices differ: check the official sources above before you act. Found something wrong or out of date? Write to support@lumen.observer.