If you’re thinking about moving to Spain long-term, read on to find out about how you can gain permanent residence in this beautiful country.
Moving to Spain for a short time or a trial move is a really great idea if you want to experience a wonderful friendly culture, and a beautiful country. If you’re already well into your stay in Spain, perhaps you love it so much you’re considering looking into permanent residence.
Read our overview of the process to help you get started with the process of getting permanent residency in Spain:
How Permanent Residency In Spain Works
You are usually allowed permanent residency in Spain if you have held employment there for 5 years or more. You can still apply for permanent residency even if you leave the country for up to 6 months but you lose the right if you are out of the country for more than 2 years in a row. In some instances you can apply to be a permanent Spanish resident even without working in the country for 5 years. Those instances could be because:
- You have retired, worked in Spain for a year and have lived their without a break for 3 years
- Are in Spain having worked, but after retiring because you can no longer work, and you have lived in the country for 2 years in a row or more
- Live in Spain and are unable to continue working because of medical issues
There are lots of additional circumstances in which you can become a permanent resident in spain without completing the 5 years employment. It is worth checking the full list of criteria to see if you qualify. You can find an extensive guide to residency criteria here, including information on Brexit and how the 40,000 expats currently in Spain are set to be allowed to stay following a no deal result.
If you’re an expat in Spain and have been working under an O1 visa, you might be exploring the possibility of transitioning from O1 visa to green card for a more permanent status in this enchanting country.
The Benefits Of Being A Permanent Spanish Resident
One of the key reasons that many people want to gain Spanish residency is so they can live in the country with the same rights as those born in Spain.
You can stay as long as you want, work in any job you like, move around without restriction and come and go as you please.
Do You Lose UK Residency If You Gain Spanish Residency?
You maintain your own Nationality and passport when you become a permanent resident of Spain, whilst also benefiting from the frill of being a permanent Spanish resident. Of course, if you spend longer than 2 years out of England then you will lose your residency status there, so, if you want to maintain that status you will need to ensure you balance life between Spain and the UK well. You can also apply for your permanent residency in the UK again as long as when you left you had been settled there. You can read about the returning residency application here.
Spain is a beautiful country with a lot of benefits, and 40,000 people who have already made the commitment and loved it. If you have invested a lot of money to move your belongings from the UK to Spain and establish a permanent life in this beautiful country, why not apply for permanent residency? International movers can make your life much easier!
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