Sheet 53 - Recovery of ownership of the national long-term residence permit

* 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
  • Exigible documentation
  • Procedure

TYPE OF AUTHORISATION

It is the recovery of ownership of a national long-term residence permit, in these cases:

  • Where the national long-term residence permit has been extinguished by the absence of the territory of the European Union for 12 consecutive months.
  • Where the national long-term residence permit has been extinguished by the acquisition of EU-long-term residence in another Member State.
  • When the foreign resident of long national duration returns to Spain after the end of the period of his commitment of no return.

These assumptions will apply to the holder of a national long-term residence, but not to his relatives regrouped with a family reunification authorization, except for relatives who are minors at the time of applying for recovery. The loss of a long-term residence as a regroupment will not allow you to apply for recovery, but it must be the family member who requests a residence permit for family regroupment.

BASIC REGULATIONS

  • Organic Law 4/2000, of January 11, 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 (articles 188 and 189).

REQUIREMENTS

  • Not to be a citizen of a State of the European Union, of the European Economic Area or of Switzerland.
  • Not to be found irregularly in Spanish territory.
  • Do not pose a threat to public order, safety or public health.
  • Have been the holder of a national long-term residence permit.
  • Lack of criminal records, in Spain and in the countries where he has resided for the last five years, for crimes existing in the Spanish legislation.
  • Not to appear as rejectable in the territorial space of countries with which Spain has signed an agreement in this regard.
  • Pay the fee for the processing of the procedure.

EXIGIBLE DOCUMENTATION

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 person.
  • Copy of the complete passport or travel title in force, recognized as valid in Spain.
  • Criminal record certificate or equivalent document, in case of being of criminal age, issued by the authorities of the country of origin or of the country or countries in which he/she has resided during the last five years.
  • Form accrediting the payment of the fee for processing the procedure.

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 foreign person personally and in the established official model.

Information sheet on legitimated subjects.

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

  • 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 2.7 “Recovery of the ownership of a long-term EU-residence and recovery of the ownership of a long-term national residence”: to be paid by the foreign person.

The subscription form can be downloaded from this page.

  • Deadline for the resolution of the application: three months from the day following the date on which it entered the register of the body competent to process them. Once this period has elapsed without the Administration having made the notification, it may be understood that the request has been estimated 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).
  • Once the authorization has been granted, if they are not in Spanish territory, the foreign person must apply for a residence visa at the competent Consular Office, which will issue the corresponding visa provided that the applicant has been recognized for the recovery of ownership of a long-term residence permit and meets the following requirements:
  • Provide the application form, duly completed and signed.
  • Not to be found irregularly in Spanish territory.
  • Not to appear as rejectable in the territorial space of countries with which Spain has signed an agreement in this regard.
  • Provide a valid passport or travel certificate, recognized as valid in Spain, with a minimum validity of one year.
  • In the event that the applicant is of criminal age, he/she has no criminal record in the countries where he/she has resided during the last five years for crimes foreseen in the Spanish legislation.
  • Have paid the fee for processing the visa.

In case of presentation within Spain, the Aliens Office will verify compliance with the requirements provided in the previous paragraph, except for the payment of the fee for the processing of the visa.

  • 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.
  • In the event that the decision is favourable, the foreign person must personally request the identity card of a foreigner within one month from the notification of his concession or, where appropriate, from the date of his legal entry into Spanish territory, 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

  • Holders of a national long-term residence permit must apply for the renewal of a foreigner’s identity card every five years. The application must be submitted during the two months prior to the expiration date, if it is submitted at a later date, the corresponding sanctioning procedure could be initiated.

The second renewal and successive renewals of the alien’s identity card will be requested every five years until the holder reaches the age of thirty and every ten years once they have reached the age of thirty.