How become a permament resident in Spain
To start of, as usual, we need to distinguish between EU and non-EU citizens. As a brief overview:
- Non-EU citizens: Once you have legally lived in Spain for five uninterrupted years, non-EU nationals can apply for an ‘EU long-term residence permit’. A long-term residence permit allows you to stay in Spain indefinitely, working or otherwise, under the same conditions as Spanish citizens.
- EU citizens: From the 28th of March 2007, Royal Decree 240/07 requires that all EU citizens planning to reside in Spain for more than 3 months should register in person at the Oficina de Extranjeros in their province of residence or at designated Police stations.
IMPORTANT information for British expats: It is unsure on how the UK’s vote to leave the EU will influence British expats living in Spain or wishing to move to Spain. English expats who permanently live in Spain should think about applying for Spanish citizenship, should they meet the fundamental criteria needed to do so. In any case, this additionally implies surrending their British citizenship. English expats may likewise be approached in the future to apply for a Blue Card, an affirmed expansive citizenship, that allows highly-gifted, non-EU citizens to work and live in Spain and other EU nations.
List of requirements to become a permanent resident in Spain
On 10th of July 2012 the Spanish government presented subtle elements of the new residency prerequisites for all EU citizens. Under the new guidelines, EU residents applying for residency in Spain could be required to show a proof of adequate monetary funding to keep themselves (and dependants). Candidates may likewise be requested to show a confirmation of private or open human services protection.
The Ministerial Order sets out the new residency prerequisites and a portion of the documentation that candidates might be requested to present. We have made an informal interpretation of the Ministerial Order beneath.
Every citizen of a Member State of the European Union or another State party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area have the right of residence in the territory of the Spanish State for more than three months if:
It will be understood by those who are family whose breadwinner is an EU citizen and need to materially support the proof that they will meet their basic needs. This dependence should be in the country of origin.
You must visit the nearest police station or Town Hall office with the following documents:
The assessment of the adequacy of financial resources will be made on an individual basis and, in any case, taking into account the personal and family situation of the applicant. Enough accreditation for compliance with this requirement shall be considered resource tenure that are higher than the amount that each year is set by the Law on State Budget for generating the right to receive a non-contributory benefit, taking into account the personal and family circumstances of the interested parties.
How to apply for the permanent resident status?
Lauren Odlum
December 11, 2018 @ 12:13 pm
Hi Javier, I have a quick question was hoping you could help me with.
For a non-eu person when applying for the permanent residency, how do you prove you have been here for 5 consecutive years? Is the original residency card enough? Or do they need bills, payslips, letters etc?
Also, If you are a non-eu and hold the temporary 5 year visa granted via marriage, however you get divorced before you can apply for the permanent residency card, are you still entitled to be able to get the permanent visa?
Thanks!
Javier Rodríguez
December 11, 2018 @ 5:18 pm
Hello Lauren,
For the 5 consecutive years, the passport and padron are very important. They check the passport to see if there has been a continuity, which is not affected if you have been absent from the Spanish territory for periods of six consecutive months and that, added the time of absences, these do not exceed ten months within these five years.
And about the second question, the answer is: no, you are not entitled to apply for a permanent residence permit (tarjeta de residencia permanente de familiar de ciudadano de la UE) if you get divorced before the fith year.
I hope it helps.
Marjan
July 26, 2018 @ 10:33 am
I am non-eu citizen i ger the 1-year residency card through buying house in spain more than 500,000.00 euro i want to now i have to be in spain for 6 months each year to be able to apply for permenant residency card?
Is it possible not to live in spain and just renew the 1-year residency card and after 5 years get the permenant residency?
Javier Rodríguez
July 26, 2018 @ 4:39 pm
Hello Marjan,
Yes, it is, but please remember that to apply for the permanent residency after 5 years, you cannot have left the country for more than 12 months in total (during those 5 years).
I hope it helps.
Bill Dietrich
December 7, 2016 @ 7:29 pm
I’m a non-EU citizen, in Spain on a long-stay non-lucrative visa/residency. I assume when I achieve permanent residency, the “non-lucrative” (not allowed to work) clause will carry over ? I won’t be able to work in Spain once I get permanent residency ? Thanks.
Expat Agency
December 8, 2016 @ 7:42 pm
Hello Bill,
You are right, it will carry over. You may need your residency status. In fact, it is not common to have a long-stay non-lucrative residency, so you may ask for a new permit.
Kind Regards,
Javier