Residence Permit and Permanent Residence in Spain

Spain ranks highly in European ratings, no matter which criteria you consider. Quality of healthcare, education, freedom of speech, ease of doing business—Spain excels in all these areas. Obtaining permanent residency (PR) in Spain is easier than it seems. You don't even need to pass a language proficiency exam. Let's explore the benefits of the program and the documentation required to apply.

Benefits of Permanent Residency in Spain

• The ability to live without restrictions in Spain or any other country within the European Union.
• The status is granted to the applicant as well as their entire family.
• No need to pass a language proficiency exam.
• Children can study at European universities under preferential conditions.
• The status holder can apply for loans from local banks to purchase property or a car.
• The ability to start your own business.
• To obtain PR, you do not need to purchase or rent property, nor do you need to live permanently in the country.
• PR is automatically renewed every 5 years. The status holder doesn't need to take any action to renew it.
• Processing time is up to 4 months.

Required Documents

• For the applicant: A scanned copy of the birth certificate and passport (first page), and proof of having €28,000 in a Spanish bank account.
• For the spouse: A scanned copy of the passport (first page) and marriage certificate, and proof of having €7,000 in a Spanish bank account.
• For the child: A scanned copy of the birth certificate and passport (first page), and proof of having €7,000 in a Spanish bank account.

Steps to Obtain Permanent Residency in Spain

Step One: Sign an agreement with the immigration center Garant.in. The company's specialists will review the documentation and prepare the application.

Step Two: The candidate prepares the required documents for the application submission within 45 days. After this period, the client travels to Spain to submit the application in person. If necessary, a Schengen visa is arranged.

Step Three: The client personally submits the application accompanied by lawyers.

Step Four: Approximately four months later, Spain confirms the PR status. Five days later, the holder receives an ID card, completing the procedure.

What to Do If Your Application for Residency or PR in Spain Is Rejected

The concepts of "permanent residency" and "temporary residency" are closely related. If you have obtained a temporary residence permit in Spain, you already have the right to stay in the kingdom year-round. The process of obtaining the initial permit, which grants the right to stay for one year, can be quite tedious. However, don't be discouraged by the bureaucratic hurdles, as the chances of success are relatively high.

Main Methods of Obtaining Residency and PR in Spain

There are currently two main ways to obtain residency in Spain, which are also common in other EU countries:

1. Residency through opening your own business. The minimum amount required is €35,000. You can either invest in an existing business or start a new one.
2. Residency for financially independent individuals or through Spain's "Golden Visa" program. This option grants residency to any foreign citizen with sufficient financial resources to cover living expenses in Spain without engaging in work activities. According to Spanish law (Law "On Foreign Citizens," Article 31.2), your monthly income must be at least 400% of the IPREM (Indicative Public Income Index).

The documents listed above are not only sufficient for obtaining permanent residency but also for obtaining Spanish citizenship.

Common Reasons for Rejection

In practice, residency applications in Spain are often rejected. Even strict adherence to the "Law on the Rights and Freedoms of Foreigners in Spain and Their Social Integration" does not guarantee a positive outcome for your residency application. The most common reasons for rejection include:

• Lack of proof of stable legal income.
• Insufficient funds in bank accounts, even if they meet minimum requirements.
• Submitting a rental contract instead of a registry extract from the property register in Spain.

There may also be more obvious reasons:

• Any violations within EU countries (even traffic fines).
• Incorrect or misleading information was provided during the interview.
• Overstaying permitted visa duration.

Most negative responses are issued in response to applications for a national visa category D. This visa allows you to stay in Spain for more than 180 days a year and can then lead to obtaining permanent residency. Often, students who plan to study in Spain apply for this visa. However, rejections can occur for various reasons, such as the accreditation level of the chosen university not meeting the requirements or the educational program having insufficient academic hours per week (less than 20), among other factors. Therefore, it is crucial to consult with qualified specialists who have extensive practical experience in this area.

Is There a Chance to Obtain Residency or PR in Spain After a Rejection?

Only serious violations can prevent you from reapplying for residency after a rejection. In most cases, you simply need to identify the reasons for rejection, address them, and avoid repeating them in the future. If an applicant is denied, they can appeal the decision (provided they have sufficient arguments in their favor). There are two options for this:

1. Send a request for reconsideration to the consulate that issued the previous decision (within one month of receiving the notification).
2. File an appeal with the Supreme Court of Spain (within two months of receiving the notification).

Naturally, the first option is simpler and more commonly used. However, it is often challenging to convince the consular officer, who has already reviewed your documents, that there were no violations. In such cases, applicants are usually called for an interview at the consulate. The second option involves a lengthy review process. The procedure for obtaining PR after a rejection is similar.

To save time, it is best to consult with immigration specialists from the outset. The company "GARANT Immigration" can help you quickly obtain residency in the desired European country.