How does Long-Term Residence work in Spain, and who qualifies?

Long-term resident status in Spain is normally available after five years of continuous legal residence. Importantly, time held on Startups Law permits — such as the digital nomad or highly qualified routes — counts toward that period, so the years you spend on those fast-track permits are not lost.

To qualify you generally need those five years of continuous legal residence, stable and regular resources, health cover, and no relevant criminal record.

Long-term residence grants near-equal treatment with Spanish nationals, and EU long-term residence additionally allows movement to other EU member states under certain conditions. Spanish citizenship is a separate, longer process with its own residence and integration requirements. Because the conditions can change, confirm the current rules on the official Spanish portals before applying — and ACME can help you plan the route from your current permit to long-term residence.