Each year, a lot of people come to Spain for retirement, reunion with friends and family, or jobs. So, if you are in the same situation, having been living in Spain for a couple of years, and want to lengthen your residency, then getting a permanent residence in Spain may be your best solution. You can be free from the annoying identification with fewer obstacles and less verification. You don’t need to renew your student visa every year, or your residence permit every two years. Although it cannot give you the right to vote as a national citizen or get a Spanish passport, you can have the right to entitlement to healthcare and the same other rights as national citizens. In this article, we will share every detail of permanent residency in Spain so that you can make the best choice.
What is permanent residence in Spain
Permanent residence in Spain is a legal status of indefinite residence that is granted to non-EU citizens who have been living in Spain for five continuous years. It is valid for five years, and you can extend it. As long as you have a permanent residency, you can live and work in Spain, either as a self-employed (cuenta propia) or employed (cuenta ajena) individual. Meanwhile, you have the same rights as Spanish nationals. But, please pay attention again that it is for non-EU citizens because, since 2007, citizens who come from EU countries and want to live and work in Spain over 6 months don’t need to apply for a specific residence. They just need to meet certain conditions and register themselves (residence certificate).
The cardholder, in addition, is legally allowed to stay outside Spain for up to 6 months. But, if you want, you can extend your period of time outside Spain up to a complete year. And that’s the bottom line, that you cannot stay outside Spain for more than one year within the legitimate 5 years.
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Eligibility for Spain permanent residence
If you want to apply for a Spanish permanent residence, certain conditions must be met to apply for this. Otherwise, you will be rejected, which will affect your immigration application afterward. If you don’t know the eligibility for permanent residence, here is some helpful information we offer you below.
After you have just entered Spain, you will need to renew your residency permit after a complete year and permit after two years. After you have been living in Spain for 3 years, you will need to renew your residency permit again, repeating until you complete the continuous five years. After this period, if you are in the following qualifications, you can acquire the right of permanent residence.
- Family members of non-EU countries and non-Spanish citizens who have been living in Spain for five years
- Workers and self-employed workers who stop working at the pension age, have been working in Spain for the preceding 12 months and have been living continuously in Spain for three years.
- Workers and self-employed workers who choose to retire early and have been working in Spain for the preceding 12 months and continuously living in Spain for 3 years.
- Workers and Self-employed workers in Spain have to cease working due to permanent incapacity.
- Workers sad Self-employed workers who own a place of residence in Spain and have been staying for 3 years, then working in one EU country who have returned to Spain a minimum once a week.
Document required for permanent residency
If you want to apply for a Spanish permanent residence, related documentation is necessary to attest your legal status in the continuous five years of staying in Spain, and here are the documents needed.
- Your identification documents (used to prove your identity, such as students, retirees, self-employed, etc.).
- Your document proves that you have legally resided in Spain for five consecutive years (title deed, lease agreement, utility bill, etc.).
- Your registration is certified by the police station of your place of residence.
- Your proof of financial resources (salary, investment income, etc.) such as bank statements, tax returns, payroll, etc.
- Your proof of healthcare and medical insurance in Spain.
- Your police clearance certificate and divorce or marriage certificate.
How to apply for permanent residence in Spain
If you are one of the applicants who want to apply for permanent residence, you must go to the non-national office of the province where your place of residence is. If failing, you will need to go to the police station concerned. Follow these steps to apply for Spanish permanent residence:
Step 1. You need to take that documentation including proof documents, original passport, and current residency permit with you and fill out the EX-17 form for application, as the picture shows below.
Step 2. Pay the fee, and the application for permanent residence is suggested to be submitted in the previous 3 months of your present residence’s expiration date.
Step 3. If your application is accepted, the Consulate General will officially notify you. Once your application has been approved, the police will contact you to inform you to submit your fingerprints and complete the formalities. As for the processing time, it may take about a month for your permanent residence card to be issued.
Permanent residence in Spain for family members
If you are from a non-EU country, the beneficial residence is a family regrouping visa. If you have been living in Spain for at least one year, through the family reunion process, you can bring your family members to Spain. This applies to your spouse, fiancé, children under 18, and parents above 65. And if you want to bring your distant relative, it can happen if you meet certain conditions. As we mentioned earlier, they can apply for permanent residence afterward when they reach the continuous five-year stay.
How much does it cost to get a permanent residence card
Compared to other countries, it is not expensive to get a permanent residence in Spain. The application charges you €80. However, you may need to pay some extra fees that are less than €20 to get some supported documents.
FAQ about Spanish PR
Difference between Spanish permanent residence and citizenship
Both of the two are the legal status of an individual in Spain. But, you don’t have to get Spanish nationality to live in Spain. You must get a resident permit to live in Spain. In some cases, nationality and permanent residence can be used interchangeably, but they are different in actuality.
- If you want to get a permanent residence, it is easier, you just need to meet the requirements to live in Spain for a continuous five years. If you want to apply for nationality, you need to live in Spain for 10 years.
- If you get Spanish nationality, you must give up your nationality of origin. Meanwhile, if you get a permanent residence, you can keep your original nationality.
Key differences if you have Spanish citizenship or Spanish permanent residence:
| Difference | Citizenship | Permanent Residence |
| Rights | Have all the political rights | You can travel around Spain as well as all the EU countries, however, if you want to visit other countries, you need to use the passport of your original nationality. |
| Travel | You can travel around Spain as well as all the EU countries, and access to the 161 visa-free countries that are set for Spanish passport holders. But you need to get an extra visa for those countries that are not visa-free. | You can travel around Spain as well as all the EU countries, and access the 161 visa-free countries that are set for Spanish passport holders. But you need to get an extra visa for those countries that are not visa-free. |
| Time frame | Citizenship is born to get, and it is granted for a lifetime unless you give it up on your initiative. | Permanent residence requires you to submit an application. It is granted for a specific temporary period or an indefinite period. |
| Physical presence | Does not require your physical presence in the country. | If you live outside Spain for two consecutive years, you may lose your permanent residence. So physical presence is needed. |
| Benefits | Access to all the programs and incentives that governments provide. | Access to all the specified benefits by residency program. |
Does a permanent residency expire?
Permanent residency in Spain is valid for 5 years. Once the residence is about to expire, you can renew it, or it will be risky to your legal status. And if you have been living in Spain for 10 consecutive years when your permanent residence is going to expire, you can also choose to apply for Spanish nationality.
What do I do if my permanent residence is rejected?
If your application for permanent residence has been rejected, you can appeal the decision to the High Court of Justice with cogent reasons in Madrid after you get the notification in 2 months.
Conclusion
That’s all the information about getting a Spanish permanent residence. From the meaning of permanent residence to the qualifications. How to apply, and what do you need? You can get the answer from this article. If you still have questions, it is suggested that you reach out to the immigration office at the place of your residence.
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Erin Lo