Quick Summary
| Requirement | Usually 5 years of qualifying legal residence; application and other conditions required |
| Permit Duration | Indefinite status; the physical TIE has separate renewal rules |
| Work Rights | Full work rights (any employer, any sector) |
| Travel | Absence rules differ for qualification and retention of status |
| EU Mobility | EU status: mobility subject to the destination state’s authorisation and conditions |
| Family | Family reunification subject to the applicable requirements |
Spain has two distinct long-term residence authorisations: national long-term residence and EU long-term residence (larga duración-UE). Both authorise indefinite residence and work in Spain, but neither is citizenship. EU long-term residence has additional resource and health-insurance requirements and a conditional mobility framework; national status does not itself give permission to live or work in another EU state.
Requirements
For the EU route, read our guide to EU long-term residence requirements and application process, including its distinction from national long-term residence.
- Qualifying residence: The ordinary national and EU routes require five years of continuous legal residence before applying; approval is not automatic. National long-term residence also has specific alternative eligibility grounds under Article 183.
- Absences while qualifying: Under the ordinary routes, absences must not exceed six consecutive months or ten months in total during the five years, provided departures were not irregular. For work-related absences, the total limit is eighteen months, with the six-month consecutive limit unchanged. Special EU Blue Card calculations differ; national residence has additional exceptions, including individually assessed, duly justified force majeure. Check the rules for your route.
- Resources for EU status: Fixed, regular resources sufficient for the applicant and, where applicable, family, assessed under the family-reunification rules. Resources may come from own means or work/professional activity; this is not a universal savings requirement for every national route.
- Health cover for EU status: Evidence of qualifying public or private health coverage is required. Do not apply this EU-status requirement indiscriminately to national long-term residence.
- Other checks: Documents and criminal-record/public-order checks depend on the applicable procedure and individual circumstances.
Benefits of Long-Term Residence
- Work in any job, for any employer, in any sector
- Travel subject to the rules on retention of residence status; these are different from qualifying-period absence limits
- EU long-term residents may apply to reside or work in another participating EU state under that state’s conditions; national status alone does not provide this mobility entitlement
- Family reunification subject to the applicable requirements
- Access to social benefits and public services
Legal basis: RD 1155/2024, Articles 175–178 and 182–185, LO 4/2000, Article 32, and Civil Code, Article 22.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does long-term residence expire?
Both national and EU long-term residence authorise indefinite residence, but the physical TIE must be renewed. The first renewal is after five years, including for holders already aged 30. Second and subsequent renewals are every five years below age 30 and every ten years from age 30. Missing the card-renewal deadline does not itself extinguish the authorisation; documentary obligations and possible sanctions still matter. For national status, the immigration office checks that the conditions for the authorisation remain met.
Can I lose my long-term residence?
Yes. Statutory grounds include fraud, an expulsion order in the cases provided by law, and prolonged absence from the EU, subject to regulatory exceptions. Acquiring long-term residence in another member state and certain protection-related circumstances can also affect the status. The rules depend on the authorisation and circumstances; do not treat a criminal conviction or an expired TIE as automatic loss of status.
Can I apply for citizenship after long-term residence?
Time spent legally resident under long-term residence can count towards citizenship by residence, but citizenship is a separate application. Ten years is the general residence period; shorter periods apply in specified cases. The residence must be legal, continuous and immediately before the application, and the other nationality requirements must be met.
Legal information
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Each case is unique. Consult with a qualified immigration lawyer for advice tailored to your situation.