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Residence and nationality

Long-term residence

Residencia de larga duración

What it is

It is a permit to live and work in Spain indefinitely under the same conditions as Spanish nationals. The general case is having lived legally and continuously in Spain for the five years before the application; absences of up to six consecutive months do not break continuity if in total they do not exceed ten months in the five years. There are other cases (pensioners, people born in Spain, stateless persons or refugees, among others). It is applied for with form EX-11 at the Oficina de Extranjería of the province or through Mercurio, in the two months before the current permit expires; the fee is form 790 code 052 (section 2.6). The decision period is three months and, if there is no reply, it is deemed granted. Afterwards you must apply for the TIE within a month.

Official wording
Haber residido legalmente y de forma continuada en territorio español durante los cinco años previos a la presentación de la solicitud.

Official sources

Where it applies
All of Spain

Official information

Official sources

When

In the two months before your residence authorisation expires; applying within that period extends it until a decision is made. It is also extended if you apply within three months after expiry, but in that case penalty proceedings may be opened.

Official wording
Plazo de presentación de la solicitud: en los dos meses inmediatamente anteriores a la fecha de expiración de su autorización de residencia.

Official sources

Steps

  1. Step 1: Check the requirements

    The most common case: having lived legally and continuously in Spain for the previous five years. Absences of up to six months in a row do not break continuity if they total no more than ten months in the five years (eighteen months if for work). You must also have no criminal record in Spain or in the countries where you have lived in the last five years.

    Official wording
    Ausencias del territorio español de hasta seis meses continuados, siempre que la suma no supere diez meses dentro de los cinco años.

    Official sources

  2. Step 2: Prepare the documents

    Submit copies and show the originals. Documents from other countries must be translated into Spanish (or the local co-official language) by a sworn translator and, if they are public documents, legalised or apostilled.

    Official wording
    cuando se aporten documentos de otros países deberán estar traducidos al castellano o lengua cooficial del territorio donde se presente la solicitud por un traductor jurado.

    Official sources

  3. Step 3: Submit the application

    From Spain: in person at the Immigration Office of your province, or online through the Mercurio e-office. From outside Spain: at the Spanish consulate for your area.

    Official wording
    Telemáticamente, a través de la sede electrónica del Ministerio de Política Territorial y Memoria Democrática (Mercurio).

    Official sources

  4. Step 4: Wait for the decision

    The authorities have three months from when the application is registered. If you are not notified within that period, it can be taken as granted (positive silence).

    Official wording
    tres meses contados a partir del día siguiente a la fecha en que haya tenido entrada en el registro del órgano competente para tramitarlas.

    Official sources

  5. Step 5: Apply for the TIE

    Within one month of being notified that it has been granted, apply in person for the TIE at the police station for your place of residence.

    Official wording
    En el plazo de un mes desde la notificación de la concesión de la autorización de residencia de larga duración, la persona extranjera deberá solicitar personalmente la tarjeta de identidad de extranjeros en la Comisaría de Policía o servicios policiales competentes de su lugar de residencia.

    Official sources

Documents

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🖨 Printable bilingual document card (you can show it at the counter)

Fees

Form 790 code 052, section 2.6. The fee becomes due when the application is accepted for processing and is paid within ten working days.

Official wording
se devengará en el momento de admisión a trámite de la solicitud, y deberá abonarse en el plazo de diez días hábiles

Official sources

FAQ

How often is the card renewed?

The first TIE renewal is after five years; then every five years until age 30 and every ten years from 30. Apply in the two months before it expires.

Official wording
La segunda renovación y las sucesivas renovaciones de la tarjeta de identidad de extranjero se solicitarán cada cinco años hasta que el titular cumpla los treinta años de edad y cada diez años una vez los haya cumplido.

Official sources

Are there other routes besides five years?

Yes, among others: receiving a Spanish contributory retirement pension, being born in Spain and having lived here legally for the three years before coming of age, or being stateless, a refugee or a beneficiary of subsidiary protection.

Official wording
Ser residente beneficiario de una pensión de jubilación contributiva

Official sources

Related procedures

Terms used on this page