Sheet 52 - Long-Term Residence Permit for Foreign Nationals Holding a Long-Term EU-Residence Permit Granted in Another EU EMM

* The content of this page is for guidance only. Only the provisions of the regulations in force at the time of submission of the application are applicable.

Last Updated: May 2025

Index of contents

  • Type of Authorization
  • Basic regulations
  • Requirements
  • Documentation to be provided
  • Procedure

TYPE OF AUTHORISATION

It is a long-term residence permit that may be obtained by relatives of foreign persons holding an EU-long residence permit granted in another Member State of the European Union.

BASIC REGULATIONS

  • Council Directive 2003/109/EC of 25 November 2003 on the status of third-country nationals who are long-term residents.
  • Organic Law 4/2000, of 11 January, on the rights and freedoms of foreigners in Spain and their social integration (article 32).
  • Royal Decree 1155/2024, of 19 November, approving the Regulations of Organic Law 4/2000, of 11 January, on the rights and freedoms of foreigners in Spain and their social integration (article 180).


 

REQUIREMENTS

  • Not being a citizen of a State of the European Union, of the European Economic Area or of Switzerland
  • Not to appear as rejectable in the territorial space of countries with which Spain has signed an agreement in this regard.
  • Be part of the family unit established in the former Member State of residence of the foreign person holding an EU-long-term residence permit.
  • The family member may be:
    • Spouse of the resident or person with whom the applicant maintains a relationship of affectivity similar to the conjugal one.
    • Child of the resident and of the spouse or partner, including adopted children, provided they are under the age of eighteen or persons with disabilities who are not objectively able to provide for their own needs due to their state of health.
    • Under eighteen years or older of that disabled age who is not objectively able to provide for his/her own needs due to his/her state of health, when the EU-long-term resident alien is his/her legal representative.
    • First-degree ascendant (parents of the foreign reunifying person, or of their spouse or partner), when they are in their care, are over sixty-five years old and there are reasons to justify the need to authorize their residence in Spain. Exceptionally, when there are humanitarian reasons, the ascendant under sixty-five years of age may be regrouped.
  • Have sufficient economic means available.
  • In family units that include two members, an amount representing 150% of the IPREM is required. For each additional member, 50% more of the IPREM. This amount may be reduced in the case of minors and represented, so that it will be considered sufficient, even if the previous amount is not reached, when there is a stable source of income equal to or greater than the minimum interprofessional wage. In any case, if a family unit is two members, one being a minor, the amount to be required will be 110% of the guaranteed amount of the Minimum Vital Income on an annual basis, and for each additional minor, an additional 10% will be required.
  • Pay the fee for the processing of the procedure.



 

DOCUMENTATION TO BE PROVIDED

Note: in general, copies of the documents must be provided and the originals must be displayed at the time of filing the application.

  • Application form in official model (EX – 11), duly completed and signed by the foreign relative.
  • Documentation accrediting your residence in the former State of the Union as a member of the family of long-term residence authorisation holder – EU.
  • Copy of the family member’s valid passport or travel document. The original document must be displayed at the time of submitting the application.
  • Form accrediting the payment of the fee
  • Documentation accrediting family ties.
  • Documentation proving that the relative or the holder of the long-term residence permit (EU) has economic means under the terms provided for family reunification.
  • Documentation proving that the relative or the person holding the long-term residence authorization (EU) has a health insurance when the motivation is to reside in Spain without developing lucrative activities

Important note: when documents are provided from other countries they must be translated into Spanish or co-official language of the territory where the application is submitted by a sworn translator

List of sworn translators.

On the other hand, any non-Community foreign public document must be previously legalized by the Consular Office of Spain with jurisdiction in the country in which the document was issued or, where appropriate, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation except in the case where the document has been apostilled by the competent authority of the issuing country in accordance with the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961.

Information on translation and legalization of documents.

PROCEDURE

  • Subject legitimated to submit the application: the family member.

Information sheet on legitimated subjects.

  • Place of presentation: 
    • If you are in Spanish territory: 
  • In person, in any public register and directed to the Office of Foreigners of the province in which the long-term resident - EU resides or is going to reside.


 

  • If it is not in Spanish territory:
  • In person, at the Spanish Diplomatic Mission or Consular Office of your residence demarcation, which will send you to the competent Aliens Office.

Address information, telephone numbers and hours of service to the public.

  • Deadline for submission: the submission may be simultaneous or subsequent to the request for authorization of the holder:
    • If you are not in Spain: at any time prior to entry into national territory.
    • If you are in Spain: within three months of check-in.
  • Corresponding fee: will accrue at the time of admission to processing the application, and must be paid within ten working days:
  • Form 790 code 052, heading 2.6 “Authorisation of long-term residence – EU and authorisation of long-term national residence”: to be paid by the foreign person.

The subscription form can be downloaded from this page.

  • Time limit for the resolution of the application: two months from the day following the date on which it entered the register of the body competent to process the application. After that period has elapsed without the Administration having made the notification, the application may be deemed to have been dismissed by administrative silence. (When it has not been possible to notify the resolution it will be announced in the Single Edictal Board (TEU). If you have opted for electronic notification or if you are legally obliged to use that medium, the resolution will be notified by publication in the electronic headquarters. If the resolution is not accessed within ten calendar days of its publication, it will be given as notified).

Without prejudice to the foregoing, a residence permit may not be granted in favour of the family member without at the same time or previously having been granted the residence permit requested by the holder of the EU-long-term residence permit.

If the application was submitted simultaneously with that of the holder of the long-term residence authorization - EU, they must be resolved jointly.

  • Granted the authorization, if they are not in Spanish territory, the foreign person must enter Spain within the maximum period of three months from the notification of the resolution.
  • The authorization takes effect from: 
    • If you are in Spain, from the notification of the resolution.
    • If you are not in Spain, from the entrance into the national territory.
  • Within one month of the entry into force of the authorization of long-term residence, the foreign person must personally request the identity card of a foreigner at the competent Police Station or police services of his place of residence.

The documentation to be provided in the application for the alien identity card can be consulted at the following link:

https://sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/procedimientos/index/categoria/34

  • The authorization granted will have the consideration of residence authorization by family reunification, so it will empower its holder to work, provided that he is of working age, without the need to carry out any administrative procedures. This authorization entitles them to work as an employed or self-employed person, in any part of the Spanish territory, occupation or sector of activity.