Long-term residence is the most important step in the immigration pathway of a non-EU national in Spain: it grants a stable residence status, broadly equivalent to that of a European citizen, with free access to the labour market without annual renewals. Form EX-17 is the procedural instrument for applying for it. Preparing it correctly — with the exact documents in the required format — makes the difference between a swift decision and months of requirements and delays.
What long-term residence is and when it can be applied for
After 5 years of continuous legal residence in Spain, the non-EU national has the right to apply for long-term residence (Article 148 of Organic Law 4/2000, as amended, and Article 148 of RD 557/2011 as modified by RD 1155/2024).
This status has two modalities, and the choice is important because it cannot easily be changed once granted:
| Modality | Validity | EU portability | Work in other Member States |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU long-term residence (Directive 2003/109/EC) | Indefinite (card is renewed, not the status) | Yes — allows residing and working in any Member State | Yes, with simplified authorisation |
| National long-term residence | Indefinite | No — only has effect in Spain | No |
BMC’s general recommendation is to always apply for EU long-term residence if the client has prospects of international mobility. The only case where national may be preferable is when the EU economic requirements are not met but the national requirements are.
The 5-year residency requirement: what counts and what does not
The central requirement is 5 years of continuous legal residence in Spain. The regulations establish that:
- Count at 100%: residence for employment (employee or self-employed), non-lucrative residence, family reunification, arraigo residence, and residence under exceptional circumstances.
- Count at 50%: student or trainee residence (LOEx art. 148.2).
- Do not count: tourist stays (even with a Schengen visa), periods in irregular status, and periods with a NIE as a tax ID but no residence authorisation.
Absences from Spain do not interrupt continuity if they are less than 6 consecutive months and the total absences within the 5 years do not exceed 10 months. Longer absences restart the count.
Warning: if during the 5 years there was any period of irregular status (even brief), the Administration may count it as an interruption. BMC reviews the complete immigration history before preparing the application.
Documentation required for the EX-17
The EX-17 must be accompanied by the following documentation. The list is exhaustive; any missing document generates a requirement and delays the case.
Identity documents
- Passport valid + copies of all pages with entry/exit stamps.
- Valid TIE (Foreigner’s Identity Card) from the last authorisation.
- Copies of all previous TIEs covering the five-year residency period.
Evidence of 5 years of residence
- Grant decisions for all residence authorisations during the five-year period.
- Historical municipal registration certificate (empadronamiento histórico): request the historical certificate, not just the current year.
- Where applicable: employment contracts and Social Security work history report (vida laboral from the TGSS) for periods of employment.
Financial means and Social Security
- Social Security work history report issued by the TGSS (no more than 3 months old).
- For employees: last 3 payslips and employment contract.
- For self-employed: quarterly VAT and IRPF returns for the past 2 years and AEAT and TGSS compliance certificates.
- For non-lucrative residents: recent bank statements demonstrating sufficient means (~100% of monthly IPREM for the applicant).
Social integration (EU modality only)
Directive 2003/109/EC allows Member States to impose integration conditions. Spain does not apply a mandatory language test for long-term residence, but some offices positively consider:
- Spanish language qualification certificate (A2 or above, DELE/SIELE).
- Integration or civic participation course certificates.
- Social integration report from the Ayuntamiento (if available).
Criminal record
- Spanish criminal record certificate (Ministry of Justice, updated version).
- Criminal record certificates from the country of origin and all countries of residence in the past 5 years, apostilled with certified Spanish translation.
How to complete the EX-17 form
The EX-17 includes the following main sections:
Applicant identification: data exactly as it appears in the passport and TIE.
Type of application: mark whether applying for national or EU long-term residence. Do not mark both.
Evidence of time of residence: list the authorisation number for each previous TIE and the dates of grant. This section must match exactly the documents submitted.
Economic declaration: indicate the income source and approximate monthly amount. Consistency with the supporting economic documents is critical.
Signature: of the applicant. If a legal representative is acting, the representative’s authorisation must be submitted (notarised power of attorney or written authorisation).
Fees and costs
The long-term residence application is subject to fee 052 from the Ministry of the Interior. The exact amount varies by year and modality, but in 2026 it is approximately €80–€100. The fee must be paid before submission via the model 790 available on the electronic office of the State Secretariat for Migration.
Once the authorisation is granted, the long-term TIE requires an appointment at a Police Station and payment of the card issuance fee (~€12).
Deadlines and administrative silence
The legal resolution deadline is 3 months. After this period without an express decision, administrative silence is negative for appeal purposes (Article 147.1 LOEx).
In practice:
- Offices with lower caseloads (medium-sized cities) typically resolve in 2–4 months.
- Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia offices can take 4–8 months.
- Refusals primarily arise from insufficient financial means, unproven residence continuity, or unresolved criminal record issues.
BMC actively monitors the case and responds to any requirement within the permitted period to avoid archiving.
What comes next: access to Spanish nationality
Long-term residence is compatible with subsequently applying for Spanish nationality by residence (Article 22 Civil Code). The qualifying period varies by origin: 2 years for nationals of Latin American countries, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, and Andorra; 10 years for all others. The time counted towards nationality is independent of the long-term residence count.
Need advice on preparing your long-term residence application? Speak with BMC’s immigration team.
