Long-term residence card: your permanent residence in Spain
After 5 years in Spain, stop renewing your permit. Check your case for free: we tell you whether national or EU long-term residence suits you. Fixed price with the fee included.
What long-term residence is
It is permanent residence in Spain: you live and work like a Spanish citizen and no longer have to prove work or income. From then on you only renew the card (the first time after 5 years). The official name is autorización de residencia de larga duración (or de larga duración-UE).
National or EU: we decide with you
- EU long-term residence: also lets you live and work in other European Union countries. It requires sufficient stable income and health insurance (being registered with Social Security counts).
- National long-term residence: does not require income. It is the one for you if you do not currently reach the EU income level.
Who can apply
- Anyone with 5 years of legal and continuous residence in Spain (absences of up to 6 months in a row and 10 in total).
- People receiving a contributory retirement pension, or a permanent absolute incapacity or severe disability pension.
- Refugees, stateless persons and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection.
Also: no criminal record in Spain or in the countries where you have lived in the last 5 years.
How it works
Check your case
You answer a few simple questions. If you don’t yet have 5 years, we tell you the day you can apply.
Pay a fixed price
By card or Bizum. It includes the official fee, our fees and VAT.
Sign and upload your documents
You sign the EX-11 form and the authorisation online and upload photos of your documents with the app.
We file and follow up
We pay the fee, file your application and tell you about every update.
Already have long-term residence?
If what is expiring is the card, you don’t need to apply to the immigration office: you just renew it with the police, with a fingerprint appointment. Choose that option in the assistant and we will find the appointment for you.
Frequently asked questions
What is long-term residence?
It is “permanent” residence: you can live and work in Spain like a Spanish citizen without proving work or income again. The permit is no longer renewed; only the card (the first time after 5 years).
National or EU long-term residence?
Both give you permanent residence in Spain. The EU one also lets you live and work in other EU countries, but requires sufficient stable income and health insurance.
When can I apply?
As soon as you complete 5 years of legal and continuous residence, with your current permit still valid.
Do trips abroad count?
You can have been away up to 6 months in a row and no more than 10 months in total during those 5 years.
My long-term card is expiring. What do I do?
That is just a card renewal with the police, with a fingerprint appointment. Choose that option in the assistant and we will find the appointment: you don’t pay until we have it.
What does the price include?
Everything: the official fee we pay for you, our fees and VAT.