EU Long-term residence permit

It is a long-term EU residence authorization that allows residing and working in Spain indefinitely under the same conditions as Spaniards and grants the possibility of obtaining a residence authorization or residence and work in other Member States of the Union, under the conditions they determine.

Requirements for permanent residence in the EU:

  • Not being a citizen of a European Union State, the European Economic Area, or Switzerland, or a family member of citizens of these countries to whom the regime of Union citizen applies.
  • Having no criminal record in Spain and in previous countries of residence for crimes existing in the Spanish legal system.
  • Not having entry banned in Spain and not being rejectable in the territorial space of countries with which Spain has signed an agreement in this regard.
  • Having resided legally and continuously on Spanish territory for five years. Continuity will not be affected by absences of up to six continuous months, provided the total does not exceed ten months within the five years, or the total does not exceed one year if the absences are for work reasons. For the required five years, periods of stay for studies, student mobility, or non-labor internships will count for 50% of their duration, provided that at the time of application, the applicant is in a residence situation in Spain. For EU Blue Card holders who have resided at least the last two years in Spanish territory, their residence in the European Union as an EU Blue Card holder will be considered for the required five years. In this case, absences from the European Union may be up to twelve continuous months, and the sum of these may not exceed a total of eighteen months within the five years.
  • Having fixed and regular resources sufficient for their maintenance and, if applicable, that of their family. For family units that include two members, an amount representing 150% of the IPREM will be required, and for each additional member, an additional 50% must be added. Resources may come from own resources or from carrying out labor or professional activities.
  • Having public or private health insurance that covers risks normally insured for Spanish citizens.

Required documentation:

  • Application form in official model (EX–11) in duplicate, duly completed and signed by the foreigner. This form can be obtained at: http://extranjeros.empleo.gob.es/es/ModelosSolicitudes/Mod_solicitudes2/
  • Copy of the complete passport, travel document, or registration card in force.
  • If applicable, documentation accrediting previous periods of residence as an EU Blue Card holder in other Member States of the European Union.
  • Documentation accrediting sufficient fixed and regular resources for their maintenance and, if applicable, that of their family.
  • Documentation accrediting having health insurance.

Important note: when documents from other countries are provided, they must be translated into Spanish or the co-official language of the territory where the application is submitted.

On the other hand, any foreign public document must be previously legalized by the Spanish Consular Office with jurisdiction in the country where said document has been issued or, where appropriate, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation unless the document has been apostilled by the competent Authority of the issuing country according to the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961, and unless said document is exempt from legalization under an International Convention.

For more information on the translation and legalization of documents, the information sheet can be consulted.

How do I submit the application?

Subject authorized to submit the application:

  • If they are in Spanish territory, the foreigner may submit the application personally or through representation.
  • If they are not in Spanish territory, the foreigner must submit the application personally.

Place of submission:

  • If they are in Spanish territory: at any public registry and addressed to the Immigration Office of the province where they reside. Information on the address, telephone numbers, and public service hours can be consulted at: http://www.seap.minhap.gob.es/web/servicios/extranjeria/extranjeria_ddgg.html
  • If they are not in Spanish territory: at the Spanish diplomatic mission or consular office in their residence area.

Long-term EU residence fee: it will be accrued at the time of admission of the application, and must be paid within ten working days, it is:

  • Model 790 code 052 section 2.6 “authorization for long-term residence and long-term EU residence authorization to be paid by the foreigner.
  • The form for payment can be downloaded from the Internet portal of the Secretary of State for Public Function.

Deadline for resolution of the application: 3 months counted from the day following the date on which it has entered the registry of the competent body to process them. After this period without the Administration having made the notification, it may be understood that the application has been estimated by administrative silence, except in the case included in section i) having notably contributed to the economic, scientific, or cultural progress of Spain, or to the projection of Spain abroad, in which it will be understood that the application has been estimated if 3 months have passed counted from the day following the date on which it has entered the registry of the competent body to process the application, the Administration has not made notification.

(When the resolution could not be notified, it will be announced in the Single Edictal Board (TEU) https://www.boe.es/tablon_edictal_unico. If electronic notification had been chosen or if it is normatively obliged to use this means, the resolution will be notified by publication on the electronic headquarters.

If the resolution is not accessed within 10 working days from its publication, it will be considered notified).

Within one month from the notification of the granting of the long-term residence authorization, the foreigner must personally request the Foreigner’s Identity Card at the Immigration Office or Police Station of the province where the authorization has been processed. To see where to go, the schedule, and if you need to make an appointment, you can consult:

http://www.seap.minhap.gob.es/web/servicios/extranjeria/extranjeria_ddgg.html

The applicant will show at the time of the fingerprint process their passport or travel document or registration card to accredit their identity and will provide:
– Application for a Foreigner’s Identity Card, in official model (EX–17) available at:

http://extranjeros.empleo.gob.es/es/ModelosSolicitudes/Mod_solicitudes2/

– Proof of payment of the card fee.
– Three recent color photographs, on a white background, passport size.

Holders of a long-term EU residence authorization must request the renewal of the foreigner’s identity card every five years. The application must be submitted during the sixty natural days prior to the expiration date, if it is submitted later, the corresponding sanctioning procedure could be initiated.