As a member of the European Union, Spain provides special benefits to people from other EU countries who choose to migrate here, as a permanent resident. EU citizens do not require a visa to enter Spain; instead, they must register with the local police station in the city where they will be residing.
Non-EU individuals, on the other hand, must fulfill a series of requirements in order to gain temporary residency in Spain and ultimately permanent status.
Most common visas that lead to the acquisition of a permanent resident permit in Spain
One of the common methods to get permanent residency in Spain is through employment visas. Student visas allow international students to move to Spain temporarily and subsequently permanently. Foreigners wanting to retire to Spain can apply for non-lucrative visas if they have adequate financial resources to sustain themselves. Foreign businesses and high-net-worth people who want to immigrate to Spain can apply for investment visas.
Any of these visas can be used to acquire permanent residency in Spain as long as the specific conditions and obligations associated with each form of residence permit are satisfied.
Immigrants from other countries can choose from a variety of residency possibilities in Spain. There are three types of residency: short-term, long-term, and permanent. Foreigners are advised to first apply for a temporary or long-term residence permit, based on which he or she can gain permanent residency in Spain.
Individuals can apply for permanent residency in Spain after legally residing in the nation for five years in a row. They can apply for permanent residency and earn the ability to live in the country for the rest of their lives if they meet this exact criteria.
Benefits of a permanent residency
If you apply for permanent residency in Spain, you will be able to live and work lawfully in the nation for the next five years. For the time being, your status will be similar to that of a Spanish citizen. Although there are several paths to becoming a permanent resident of Spain, you will most likely need to spend several years in the nation on a different visa first. Of course, the path to permanent residency in Spain differs for EU citizens and non-EU citizens.
How apply for a permanent residency
It’s simple to apply for a permanent residency visa once you’ve lived in Spain for the requisite number of years. All you have to do is take the application form and the required papers to the appropriate police station in Spain. However, in rare circumstances, you may be permitted to go straight to the immigration office. Importantly, around three months before your existing visa or permission expires, you should apply for permanent residency.
When applying for permanent residency in Spain, you will need to submit a number of papers in addition to the application form (the EX-17 form), your current passport as well as your residence permit, health insurance and a medical certificate, and proof of residency in Spain such as a rental agreement, payrolls or tax returns. You may also be required to present criminal record certificates from Spain or your home country, as well as marriage or divorce documents in some instances.
In contrast to most other nations, applying for permanent residency in Spain is not costly. However, you may be charged a small fee (less than €20) to obtain some of the documents you require. If any of your documents aren’t in Spanish, you may have to pay for translations. The application, on the other hand, is merely €80.
You will receive an official notification if your application is approved. After that, you may submit your fingerprints and finish the application procedure at your local police station. You’ll return in a month to pick up your permanent residency card.
Your residence card is valid for five years once you have become a permanent resident of Spain. You can easily renew your card for another five years after this period has passed. Simply complete another EX-17 form, provide evidence of address, and produce your original residency card and passport. After that, you’ll need to resubmit your fingerprints and pay the renewal cost.
Importantly, you do not need to have resided in Spain for the whole five-year period to renew your permanent resident status. This is only true if you are applying for permanent residency for the first time. However, you should not spend more than one year outside of Spain in order to renew your status. Furthermore, you should not spend more than 30 months in total outside of Spain throughout the five-year term. If you spend more time outside of Spain than is permitted, you risk losing your permanent resident status. If this occurs, you may be able to reclaim your residence status, but you may have to jump through a few more hoops.
If you want to emigrate to Spain, Orience has a team of legal experts to help you apply for residence or even citizenship. Orience can assist you with the required paperwork to ensure that you comply with the requirements imposed by Spanish immigration authorities.