Long-term residence
After several years with papers, you can take the step to a more stable residence. We review your history and prepare the application with you.
What it involves
Long-term residence (residencia de larga duración) is the permit that allows you to live and work in Spain indefinitely, on terms very similar to those of Spanish citizens. Many people still call it “permanent residence”. You apply for it when you have been legally resident in Spain for several years and, once it is granted, you no longer renew the permit, only the card.
Is this your case?
- You have been renewing your permit for years and want to stop depending on each renewal.
- You have spent periods outside Spain and don't know whether they count as continuous residence.
- Your card expires soon and you are unsure whether to renew or apply for long-term residence now.
- You have held different types of permit over time and want to know whether they add up.
How we help
We review your residence history: the permits you have held, their dates and your departures from Spain. That way we know whether you can apply for long-term residence and when the best time is. We prepare the application, submit it and stay with you until you have your new card. If there are gaps in your history, we look for ways to prove it. We can help you in Spanish, Arabic, Tamazight, French and English, at our offices in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Málaga and Barcelona or online, wherever you are in Spain.
If you are interested in moving around Europe, see also EU long-term residence; and if you are thinking about the next step, we help you with Spanish nationality.
Frequently asked questions
- Is long-term residence the same as permanent residence?
- In practice, yes: “long-term” (larga duración) is the current name for what many people still call “permanent residence”. It allows you to live and work in Spain indefinitely.
- What if I have spent long periods outside Spain?
- Absences can affect whether your residence counts as continuous. Before submitting anything, we review your departures and entries to see how they affect you.
- Am I better off applying for long-term residence or nationality?
- They are not incompatible. Long-term residence gives you stability as a foreign national, and nationality makes you Spanish, with other conditions and other timescales. We help you decide what suits you now.
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Tell us about your case.
A first conversation — confidential and without obligation — to understand whether we can help, and how.
We speak Spanish, Arabic, Tamazight (Berber), French and English.