Your Long-Term Future in Spain: Transitioning from NLV to Permanent Residency

It has been quite a journey to get to this point. From securing your initial visa to navigating those two temporary renewals, you have successfully built a life in Spain over the last five years. The time has finally come to move away from temporary permits and secure your permanent future with Long-Term Residence (Residencia de Larga Duración).

This status, governed by the updated Real Decreto 1155/2024, is a major milestone that grants you the permanent right to live and work in Spain under the same conditions as Spanish citizens.

Stage 1: The Administrative Presentation & Approval

The first stage of the process is administrative. We submit your application digitally via the government’s Mercurio platform to prove you have officially met the legal requirements to transition from a temporary resident to a permanent one.

Timeline & Legal Window

• When to Apply: You can apply during the 2 months before your current TIE expires or within 3 months after it has expired.

• Legal Standing: Submitting within this window automatically extends the validity of your current residency until a resolution is reached.

• Physical Presence: You must be physically in Spain at the time of submission.

• Turnaround Time: The government typically takes up to 3 months to issue an approval (Favorable).

• Important Note on Delays: This timeline assumes a standard case. A rejection requiring an appeal or a government request for further documentation (requerimiento) will delay the process.

Key Requirements

• The 10-Month Rule: You must prove 5 years of continuous legal residence. You cannot have spent more than 10 months total outside of Spain during this period. Additionally, no single absence can exceed 6 consecutive months.

• Passport Compliance: We must submit a full copy of your current valid passport (all pages). If you changed passports during the 5 years, you must provide the old one (or full copies) to verify entry/exit stamps.

• Healthcare: Proof of ongoing coverage is required.

  • Public: Current registration via an S1 form or previous Social Security contributions.

  • Private: A policy with no co-payments, no waiting periods, and full coverage (including hospitalization and repatriation) from a provider authorized in Spain.

• Padron: An up-to-date Certificado de Empadronamiento (optional but recommended).

Stage 1 Forms & Taxes

• Application Form: EX-11.

• Government Tax: Modelo 790, code 052.

• Tax Cost: €21.87.

Stage 2: Toma de Huella (Fingerprints)

Once Stage 1 is approved, we move to the physical registration of your new status at the National Police station.

The Process

• Appointment Booking: Upsticks will secure your Cita Previa for the Toma de Huella.

• The Meeting: An Upsticks representative will meet you at the appointment with your completed file; you will simply provide your fingerprints and a fresh photo.

• The Right to Work: Crucially, from the moment you receive your “Favorable” approval, you have the full right to work in Spain as an employee or as an autónomo (self-employed).

Stage 2 Forms & Taxes

• Application Form: EX-17.

• Government Tax: Modelo 790, code 012.

• Tax Cost: €21.87.

TIE Validity & The 10-Year Renewal (Article 185.1)

Your first Long-Term TIE is valid for 5 years. A major update in the law now rewards residents as they age:

• Under 30: Renewals continue every 5 years.

• 30 or Older: While the first card is for 5 years, your second and successive renewals will be valid for 10 years!

At Upsticks, we manage the entire digital presentation and the physical appointment process for you. Our fee of €495 per person is all-inclusive: it covers both government taxes (790-052 and 790-012), 21% VAT, document preparation, and professional representation.