After five years of continuous legal residence in Spain, you can apply for Residencia de Larga Duración — long-term residence. It ends the renewal cycle, gives full rights to live and work, and is the natural step before Spanish nationality.
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- Five years of continuous, legal residence in Spain (most residence permits count).
- You haven't been absent beyond the permitted limits (broadly, no single absence over six months, and not more than ten months in total across the five years).
- No disqualifying issues with your record.
Time on most residence authorisations counts toward the five years; some statuses count partially. If you've been resident under the Withdrawal Agreement or an arraigo route and you're approaching five years, this is likely your next move.
Why upgrade from a normal TIE
- No more frequent renewals — long-term status is renewed only every five years and is essentially permanent.
- Full freedom to work, employed or self-employed, anywhere in Spain.
- Stronger protection of your residence and easier movement.
- A clean platform from which to later apply for nationality.
Larga Duración doesn't expire in substance — you renew the card every five years, but the status itself stays with you.
How to apply
The application is filed on form EX-11, with proof of your five years' residence (your padrón histórico and prior TIEs), passport and the fee. Pathway's free diagnostic confirms you're eligible and pre-fills the EX-11.
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