Permanent residence in Spain

Permanent residence in Spain is the long-term residence permit (residencia de larga duración-UE), which gives the right to live and work in Spain indefinitely on the same terms as Spanish nationals. It is granted after 5 years of continuous legal residence, with stable resources for you and your family and health insurance. Ukrainians usually follow this path: temporary protection (TIE cards extended to 4 March 2027), then another residence permit applied for from within Spain (allowed since 16 April 2026), long-term residence after 5 years and citizenship after 10 years. The law does not state expressly whether years under temporary protection count towards the 5 years. Checked against the BOE on 9 October 2026.

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From arrival to permanent residence

Requirements for long-term residence

Article 176 of the Immigration Regulation (Royal Decree 1155/2024) sets these conditions:

• 5 years of legal, continuous residence in Spain immediately before the application.
• Absences keep residence continuous if each lasted up to 6 consecutive months and the total over 5 years is up to 10 months. For work-related absences the total limit is 18 months.
• Study, volunteering and traineeships count at 50%, provided you hold a residence permit when you apply.
• Resources: stable and regular resources for yourself and your family, assessed under the family reunification rules; they may come from own funds, employment or professional activity.
• Health insurance.

Holders of a Blue Card issued by another EU country have a separate route: 5 years of residence in the EU, the last 2 of them in Spain with a Blue Card. For entrepreneurs, Law 14/2013 expressly provides for permanent residence after 5 years.

Temporary protection and the 5 years

Order INT/96/2026 extended temporary protection TIE cards to 4 March 2027. The EU Council extended protection to 4 March 2028; as of 9 October 2026 Spain has yet to issue its order for that period. The Regulation does not say whether years under temporary protection count towards the 5 years for long-term residence. For people who plan to stay, we therefore build the route through a permit with a clear legal basis:

• since 16 April 2026 temporary protection holders may apply from within Spain for other permits, including arraigo and the Law 14/2013 permits (19th additional provision of the Regulation);
• temporary protection is a ground for residence on humanitarian grounds (Article 128 of the Regulation).

Which permit to start with

What permanent residence gives you

• Indefinite residence and work in Spain on equal terms with Spanish nationals (Article 32 of Organic Law 4/2000).
• Freedom to take a job or run your own business without separate authorisations.
• A stable status for your family and children.
• Continuous residence towards citizenship, which is available after 10 years.

Documents and taxes

Applications usually need a criminal record certificate and marriage and birth certificates with an apostille and a Spanish translation; RegServ helps prepare them. The tax side of the move (residence, worldwide income, the double tax treaty) is covered by Crystal Tax.

How we run the case

Related services

Sources (as of 9 October 2026): Immigration Regulation, Royal Decree 1155/2024, Articles 128, 176, 19th additional provision; Organic Law 4/2000, Article 32; Law 14/2013, Article 69; Order INT/96/2026; EU Council Decision 2026/1912; Civil Code, Articles 22, 23; Organic Law 1/2025.

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