Spain: Requirements and procedures for an individual, who previously had permanent residency but was absent from the country for more than 12 months, to regain his or her permanent resident status (2012-August 2013)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Publication Date | 19 September 2013 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ESP104572.E |
| Related Document(s) | Espagne : information sur les exigences et la marche à suivre pour une personne qui a perdu la résidence permanente après avoir séjourné à l'étranger durant plus de 12 mois et qui souhaite récupérer son statut de résident permanent (2012-août 2013) |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Spain: Requirements and procedures for an individual, who previously had permanent residency but was absent from the country for more than 12 months, to regain his or her permanent resident status (2012-August 2013), 19 September 2013, ESP104572.E , available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/53b13aa44.html [accessed 20 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
1. Loss of Permanent Resident Status
Several sources indicate that a permanent resident of Spain, who leaves the territory of the European Union (EU) for more than 12 months, loses his or her permanent resident status (Senior Researcher 26 Aug. 2013; Spain 26 Aug. 2013, Red Cross 27 Aug. 2013). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a lawyer of the Red Cross in Girona, who is responsible for providing support services to immigrants and refugees, added that an individual may lose his or her permanent resident status in Spain if he or she is absent from the territory of Spain for 6 years (ibid.). Article 166 of the Royal Decree 557/2011 indicates that permanent residency will expire if a person leaves Spain for 6 years or when he or she acquires the permanent residency in another EU member state (Spain 2011, Art. 166 (2), (1d)).
2. Requirements and Procedures to Regain Permanent Resident Status
Various sources indicate that according to Spanish legislation, an individual may apply to regain his or her permanent residency (Senior Researcher 26 Aug. 2013; Red Cross 27 Aug. 2013; Spain Sept. 2011 Sec. 2, 3). According to the State Secretariat for Immigration and Emigration (Secretaria de estado de inmigración y emigración), an application can be submitted to the nearest Immigration Office (Oficina de Extranjería) in Spain (Spain Sept. 2011, Sec. 5). If a person is abroad, he or she can submit an application to the nearest Spanish mission (ibid.; Red Cross 27 Aug. 2013; Senior esearcher 26 Aug. 2013). Two sources indicate that the documents must be submitted in person (Spain Sept. 2011, Sec. 5; Red Cross 27 Aug. 2013).
In order to regain permanent resident status, an individual must submit the following documents:
An application form (Spain Sept. 2011, Sec.4);
Copy of his or her passport (ibid.);
Criminal record certificate for the past five years (ibid.; Red Cross 27 Aug. 2013);
Medical certificate (ibid.; Spain Sept. 2011, Sec. 4); and
A fee (ibid., Sec. 5).
The State Secretariat for Immigration and Emigration notes that in order to regain permanent residency, a person must fulfil the following requirements:
an individual cannot be a citizen or a family member of a citizen of another EU country, European Economic Area or Switzerland;
he or she cannot be irregularly present in Spain;
he or she must have previously had permanent residency;
he or she does not have any criminal record in Spain or in countries where he or she lived for the past five years;
he or she may not be prohibited from entering Spain or other countries of the Schengen area;
he or she does not have any diseases that may have serious public health implications (ibid., Sec. 3).
Further or corroborating information on the conditions that must be met before a person can regain his or her permanent resident status could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
The processing time of applications to regain permanent residence status is approximately 3 months (ibid., Sec. 5). If the decision is positive, the permanent residence authorization for individuals who are in Spain will be valid from the date of the notification of the decision (ibid.). Individuals who are abroad will have to apply for a residence visa at the nearest mission; their authorization will be valid from the date they enter the territory of Spain (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Red Cross (Spain). 27 August 2013. Correspondence from a representative of the Red Cross in Girona, Spain to the Research Directorate.
Senior Researcher, Instituto de Políticas y Bienes Pùblicos, Spain. 26 August 2013. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.
Spain. 26 August. 2013. Consulate General of Spain, Toronto. Correspondence from an official to the Research Directorate.
_____. September 2011. "Recuperación de la titularidad de la autorización de una residencia de larga duración." Document sent to the Research Directorate by an official of the Embassy of Spain in Ottawa on 26 August 2013.
_____. 2011. Real Decreto 557/2011, de 20 de abril, por el que se aprueba el Reglamento de la Ley Orgánica 4/2000, sobre derechos y libertades de los extranjeros en España y su integración social, tras su reforma por Ley Orgánica 2/2009. [Accessed 12 Sept. 2013]
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: Attempts to contact the following were unsuccessful: Spain - Comisaría general de extranjería y fronteras, Embassy of Spain in Ottawa, Ministerio del Interior; Spanish National Research Council; and academics at the University of Barcelona.
Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; Barcelona Reporter; British Broadcasting Corporation; Centro de estudios sobre migraciones, Instituto investigación Ortega y Gasset; ecoi.net; El Mundo; El País; European Union - Europa.eu, European Commission; EUR-lex, Europol; Euroresidentes; European Migration Network; European University Institute - Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies; Factiva; Freedom House; Frontex; Human Rights Watch; International Federation for Human Rights; International Organization for Migration; Jane's Intelligence Review; La Gaceta; La Razon; Legislationline; Migrar.org; Movimiento por la Paz NGO; Para Inmigrantes; Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; Reporters Without Borders; Spain - Comisaría general de extranjería y fronteras, Consulate General of Spain in Toronto, Embassy of Spain in Ottawa, Ministerio de asuntos exteriores y de cooperación, Ministerio de empleo y seguridad social, Ministerio del interior, Oficina de atención al ciudadano, Madrid, Policía nacional, Secretaria de estado de administraciones públicas, Secretaría general de inmigración y emigración; United Nations - Refworld; United States - Department of State, Law Library of Congress.
