Spain introduces new residency route for expired permits

Spain has introduced a temporary residency route designed to help foreigners regularize their legal status. This specific scheme targets individuals whose residence permits lapsed within the last two years due to circumstances deemed to be outside their control.

To qualify, applicants must have held a valid residence permit at some point during the two years preceding their application. The route excludes those whose permits lapsed due to concerns regarding public order, national security, or public health. Notably, the guidance indicates that individuals with certain court rulings, including dismissals or acquittals, are not automatically barred from applying.

Separately, the path to permanent long-term residency in Spain requires five years of continuous legal residence. Under regulations from the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, residency is not considered interrupted by absences of up to six consecutive months, provided the total absence does not exceed ten months within the five-year period. For professional reasons, the total allowed absence can reach 18 months. Applicants for long-term status must not be citizens of the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, and must maintain a clean criminal record in Spain and their previous countries of residence.