National
long-term
residence
National long-term residence authorises you to live and work in Spain indefinitely, on the same terms as Spanish nationals. It is the natural step after five ye…
National long-term residence authorises you to live and work in Spain indefinitely, on the same terms as Spanish nationals. It is the natural step after five years of lawful residence and the one that gives lasting stability to a life built in Spain. Alongside it there is EU long-term residence, which adds mobility rights in other Member States.
The general rule: five years of lawful residence
Those who have resided lawfully and continuously in Spain for the five years before the application are entitled to a national long-term residence permit. Continuity is not broken by absences of up to six consecutive months, provided all such absences together do not exceed ten months within those five years, unless the departures were made unlawfully. Where the absences are for work reasons, the overall limit rises to eighteen months.
Absences that do not count
Continuity is also unaffected by absences due to duly justified force majeure, which the competent authority assesses case by case. The same applies to those employed by non-governmental organisations, foundations or associations recognised as being in the public interest, working as aid workers and carrying out research, development cooperation or humanitarian action projects abroad.
Cases where the five years are not required
The permit is also granted, without that period having to be evidenced, to those receiving a contributory retirement pension from the Spanish social security system; to those receiving a contributory pension for absolute permanent incapacity or severe disablement (gran invalidez), or analogous benefits obtained in Spain consisting of a life annuity that cannot be commuted to a lump sum and is sufficient for their support; to those born in Spain who, on reaching the age of majority, have lawfully resided here for the three preceding consecutive years; to those who were Spanish by origin and lost that nationality; to those who, on reaching the age of majority, had been under the guardianship (tutela) of a Spanish public body for the preceding five years; and to stateless persons, refugees or beneficiaries of subsidiary protection whose status is recognised in Spain or in another Member State.
Notable contribution to Spain
There is also a distinct route for those who have made a notable contribution to Spain's economic, scientific or cultural progress, or to its profile abroad. In such cases the permit is granted by the head of the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, following a report from the Ministry of the Interior.
EU long-term residence
This is a separate status, linked to Directive 2003/109/EC, which in addition to indefinite residence and work in Spain confers mobility rights to other Member States. It likewise requires five years of continuous lawful residence, under the same rules on absences. Periods of stay for study, pupil mobility, voluntary work or training count as 50% of their duration, provided you hold residence status at the time of applying. There is also a specific route for holders of an EU Blue Card issued by another Member State.
Renewing the card
The permit is indefinite, but the foreigner identity card that documents it is not. The first renewal is applied for after five years. From then on, further renewals are applied for every five years until the holder turns thirty, and every ten years thereafter.
Our advice
At AbogadosDVA we assess whether you fall within the general rule or within one of those that do not require the five years, calculate how absences are counted — which is where most applications are refused — and advise whether national or EU long-term residence is the better option in your case. To find out the requirements and documents for your particular case, get in touch with the firm.
Requirements and documents
The requirements and the documents you will need vary with the circumstances of each case. To find out what applies to yours, get in touch with the firm and we will advise you personally.
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