Long-Term Residence
Make Your Life in Spain Permanent
After 5 years of legal residence, you can apply for the same rights as Spanish citizens — work in any sector without new authorizations, and no more visa renewals tied to a specific status.
Bureaucracy is an independent private service, not affiliated with or acting on behalf of the Spanish Government.
The Facts
Core Requirement
5 years of continuous legal residence in Spain, with absences no more than 10 months total or 6 consecutive months
Card Validity
5 years initially, renewing to a 10-year card once you're over 30
Key Benefit
Work in any sector, employed or self-employed, without needing a new authorization — same labor, social security, education, and public-service rights as Spanish citizens
Is This For You?
This is likely a fit if:
- You've lived in Spain legally and continuously for 5 years
- You haven't spent more than 10 months total, or 6 consecutive months, outside Spain during that period (work-related absences and force majeure cases may be treated differently)
- You're not an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen
- You have no criminal record in Spain and aren't subject to a return ban or entry restriction
A common mix-up: time as a student doesn't count
If you spent part of your time in Spain on a student visa, that period doesn't automatically count toward your 5 years — student stays aren't legally treated as "residence." If you started as a student and later switched to a residence-based status (employee, self-employed, arraigo, Digital Nomad Visa, etc.), only the time under that residence status counts. We help calculate this accurately before you apply — it's the single most common mistake in these applications.
Long-Term Residence vs. Spanish Citizenship
| Long-Term Residence | Spanish Citizenship | |
|---|---|---|
| Time required | 5 years | Typically 10 years (shorter for some nationalities and circumstances) |
| Keep your original nationality | ✓ Yes | Often requires renouncing it, with some exceptions |
| Card/document renewal | Renews every 5-10 years | None — full Spanish passport |
| Voting rights | No | Yes |
| A good next step if... | You want stability and equal work/residence rights without giving up your nationality | You want full Spanish nationality and are prepared to meet the longer timeline and nationality requirements |
| Check My Eligibility | View Citizenship |
The Process
How It Works
Four clear steps from eligibility check to your new card — managed through your dashboard.
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01
We Confirm Your 5-Year Eligibility
We calculate your continuous residence period and check your absences against the limits — this is where most applications go wrong, so we verify it carefully before filing anything.
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02
We Gather Your Documentation
This application needs more historical paperwork than most — your padrón (municipal registration) history for the full 5 years, not just your current one, plus your EX-11 form, passport, and supporting proof of residence like employment history or rental contracts.
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03
We File Your Application
We submit through the Mercurio online platform or in person at the Immigration Office, whichever fits your situation, within your filing window — 2 months before your current permit or TIE expires, or up to 3 months after. Filing within this window automatically extends your legal stay until a decision is made.
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04
Decision & Your TIE Appointment
The Immigration Office has up to 3 months to decide, and by law, if they don't respond in time, that silence counts as approval. Even so, you'll need either an explicit approval or documented proof of that approval to get your card. Once approved, you'll need to attend an in-person appointment at the National Police (CNP) within 1 month to complete your TIE — this step has to be done by you.
Why Bureaucracy Is Different
We combine expert case management with a digital dashboard to keep your application clear, structured, and stress-free — as an independent private service working on your behalf, not the government's.
Miscounting residence time — including counting student time by mistake — is the most common reason these applications run into trouble. We calculate it properly before you file.
A full 5-year padrón history trips people up more than any other document on this list. We help you request and assemble it.
Online through Mercurio or in person at the Immigration Office — we handle either route.
Every document, message, and milestone lives in one place, so you always know what's done and what's still needed.
Manage Your Entire Visa Journey in One Place
Manage documents, track progress, communicate with your case manager, and stay organised throughout your application process.
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Application Progress Tracking
See exactly where you are in the process, what's been completed, and what actions may be required next.
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Secure Document Uploads
Upload and store your application documents securely in one central location.
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Personalised Task List
Receive a checklist tailored to your visa type and application stage.
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Direct Communication
Stay connected with your case manager and receive important updates through your dashboard.
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Everything in One Place
Keep your documents, messages, tasks, and application progress organised in a single platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A stay for study purposes isn't legally treated as residence, so it doesn't count automatically. If you switched from a student visa to a residence-based status (employee, self-employed, Digital Nomad Visa, etc.), only the time under that later status counts toward your 5 years.
You're generally allowed up to 10 months total, or 6 consecutive months, of absence within the 5-year period. Work-related absences and duly justified cases (force majeure) may be treated differently — talk to a case manager if your situation isn't straightforward.
The maximum legal processing time is 3 months, and by law, administrative silence counts as a positive decision. That said, you'll still need either an explicit approval or documented proof of approval-by-silence to actually get your TIE issued.
No. A different process — permanent residence for EU citizens — applies in that case.
You'll need to apply for your TIE in person at the National Police (CNP) within 1 month. Your initial card is valid for 5 years; once you're over 30, it renews as a 10-year card. If you're under 30 at renewal, you'll continue receiving 5-year cards until you turn 30.
Long-term residence takes 5 years and lets you keep your original nationality, but the card still needs periodic renewal. Citizenship typically takes longer (usually around 10 years, shorter for some nationalities), often requires giving up your original nationality, but comes with a full Spanish passport and no further renewals. Many clients pursue long-term residence first and consider citizenship later.
Get the 2026 Long-Term Residence Document Checklist
Everything you'll need, including your 5-year padrón history — formatted and ready to follow.
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Our service fee covers case management and document review only — government fees (such as the Tasa 790-052) are separate and paid directly by the client to the relevant authority.
Carlos is an AI assistant. For critical decisions, always verify with an official source or speak to an advisor.