If you want to apply for residency in Spain and you’re a European citizen, you must go to the Office for Foreigners. You have the right to reside in Spain because you’re a citizen of a European country, but you must follow some steps to ensure that everything is within the legal framework. If you aren’t a European citizen, but you belong to a member state that is part of the Agreement on the European Economic Area, you can also request it. In addition, you should also know that if your relatives reside legally in Spain for at least 5 years, they can ask for this residency. But what steps and what process should you follow? We’ll tell you all about them.

How to apply for residency

To begin with, there are different personal situations: have you been working in Spain? Are you retired? Are you the son/daughter of a resident in Spain? We mention it because you must be aware of your case to know whether you can request residency. So, let’s go one step at a time.

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In which cases can you request permanent residence?

You have the right to ask for  residency in Spain if you’re a foreigner, but you must prove that you have lived legally in the country for a period of more than 5 years. It must be a continuous period. You will not be penalised if you have gone on holiday or visited a sick family member. 
The cases that allow you to request permanent residency are the following:

– If you can prove that you have resided in Spain for more than 5 years. For example, with work contracts.

– It will also be granted to retirees with a contributory pension.

– It is granted to people with a permanent disability pension.

– If you were born in Spain and you are of legal age. Have you lived for at least 3 years in the country before requesting permanent residency?

And there are also other particular cases that you can find here.

The permanent residence permit is renewed every 5 years. How and where is it renewed?

Steps to request a permanent residence permit

You have to go to the Office for Foreigners or the Police Station in your city or province. Along with the Ex-18 application form for permanent residence and the form which corresponds to your case for temporary residence, you must attach the following documents:

-Your passport or your identity document.

-Pay the fees and take the document that proves your payment.

–Documents that prove why you are requesting permanent residence. If you have already had temporary residencies for more than 5 years, the Office for Foreigners already has the documents.

-Three passport photographs.

You should try to do it within a month of the expiration of the type of residence you have if you want to continue residing in Spain. Keep in mind that if you miss the deadline you can renew it, but you will have to pay financial penalties, that’s why you should be aware of the dates. When you are granted residency, it will be valid from the expiration date of the previous permit. As you can see, requesting residency in Spain involves taking certain steps. Follow these tips and you’ll be able to request it without problems. Welcome!