A permanent residence is a migration status that allows a foreigner to legally reside in a country indefinitely, with the possibility to work and access certain public benefits and services. In the case of Spain, one must live in the country continuously and legally for 5 years to acquire this status.
To acquire permanent residence, one must first reside legally in Spain, either through visas and their renewal, residence permits, or work permits.
In this regard, one of the most important requirements is to meet the residency duration requirement, which means that every year lived under any regular residency status or every year lived in another EU country while holding a blue card counts as a year. The years lived in Spain with a student visa count as 50% of their duration when calculating permanent residency.
Requirements to obtain permanent residence in Spain:
- Not be a citizen of an EU member state.
- Be in the country legally.
- Have no criminal record in Spain, your home country, or any other country where you have resided.
- Not be subject to a return ban to Spain.
The necessary documents to apply are:
- A valid passport or identity document. If expired, a copy and renewal request are required.
- Proof of payment of the issuance fees.
- Document proving residency for a continuous period of 5 years.
Once the requirements are met and the necessary documents are gathered, the application can be submitted. After submission, a favorable or unfavorable resolution must be issued within 90 days. If favorable, fingerprinting will be required to issue the permanent residence card. This card is valid for 5 years, after which it must be renewed.
Stay and thrive: Obtain your Permanent Residence in Spain
Finally, it’s important to note that obtaining permanent residence does not automatically grant Spanish nationality. To do so, additional requirements must be met, and the naturalization process must be followed.
For more information, at LS Consulting, we can assist you through each step of the process to obtain permanent residence in Spain. Don’t hesitate to contact us to make it legal and effective.
References:
- https://balcellsgroup.com/es/residencia-permanente/#:~:text=La%20residencia%20permanente%20es%20la,y%20puede%20ser%20renovada%20posteriormente.
- https://administracion.gob.es/pag_Home/Tu-espacio-europeo/derechos-obligaciones/ciudadanos/residencia/obtencion-residencia/residencia-permanente.html
- https://n26.com/es-es/blog/permiso-residencia-espana
- https://orlandoochoaabogados.com/residencia-espanola/permanente/