In short: long-term residence is obtained after 5 years of continuous legal residence in Spain; it allows residing and working indefinitely. It is a separate authorisation, not a mere renewal (RD 1155/2024, arts. 175-189).
In person or by representative? It depends on where you are (RD 1155/2024; information sheets 49 and 50). If you are in Spain, the application goes to the immigration office (oficina de extranjería) of the province where you live (arts. 177.1 and 184.1). You can file it in person or electronically on the Mercurio portal, or through a representative with a notarial power of attorney or an apud acta authorisation (sheet 60; art. 197.4). If you are outside Spain, you file it in person at the Spanish consulate for your place of residence, which forwards it to the immigration office of the province where you will live (arts. 177.1 and 184.1, second paragraph). Once it is granted, you apply for the TIE card in person within one month of the notification (arts. 177.7 and 184.7).
Main requirement: 5 years of continuous legal residence (or alternative routes under art. 32.2 LOEX: birth in Spain, prior Spanish nationality, subsidiary protection, among others).
Continuity (allowed absences): up to 6 months in a row and a maximum of 10 months in total over the 5 years; for work-related absences, up to 6 months in a row and 18 months in total over those 5 years (art. 183.2 of RD 1155/2024).
Other requirements: not being an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen (they have their own regime) and having no criminal record in Spain or in the countries of residence over the last 5 years.
Official source: Immigration Regulation (RD 1155/2024); detail at inclusion.gob.es.
Informational only; exact requirements and documents vary — check the official source and a professional for your case.
