Long-term residence (general)

What to have to hand

1. Cl@ve or certificado digital to submit online at the Ministry’s sede.
2. Passport and TIE (current) and clear copies.
3. Modelo EX-11 ready to sign and upload.
4. Proof of payment for tasa 790-052 for the authorisation.
5. An email you check often (you’ll get notices and requerimientos).

Documentation

1. Modelo EX-11 (Autorización de residencia de larga duración) signed.
2. Full passport (copy all pages; bring original in case they ask).
3. TIE/NIE current (copy and original to compare data).
4. Certificado de empadronamiento recent (less than 3 months; useful for notifications and for the Policía).
5. Proof of payment for tasa 790-052 (autorización de larga duración).
6. When granted: resolución favorable, Modelo EX-17, photo 32x26 mm white background, tasa 790-012 for fingerprints.

Step by step

1. Confirm you meet 5 years of continuous legal residence. Note: absences outside Spain must not exceed 10 months in total nor 6 consecutive months in those 5 years.
2. Fill EX-11 and pay tasa 790-052 (download the PDF, fill it and keep the receipt).
3. File online at sede.inclusion.gob.es with Cl@ve/certificado: upload EX-11, passport, TIE, empadronamiento and the tax receipt. If you prefer in person, book an appointment at sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/icpplus/ and hand everything in at your Oficina de Extranjería.
4. Wait for the decision. If you get a requerimiento, upload what they ask through registro within the term (usually 10 days). Not replying = file closed.
5. If approved: pay 790-012 and book fingerprints at sede.policia.gob.es. Take EX-17, photo, passport, previous TIE and the resolución.
6. Fingerprints and collection: they take fingerprints, give you a receipt and you return to pick up the TIE in 2–4 weeks (depends on the comisaría).

Time-savers

1. Upload legible PDFs and try to have one file per document (fewer requerimientos).
2. Recent empadronamiento: many police stations want it for fingerprints; don’t leave it to the last day.
3. Fingerprint appointment: try early morning and use Chrome; if the site fails, keep trying.
4. Check your absences with stamps and tickets. If unsure, attach a short statement explaining trips (avoid doubts on continuity).
5. Keep everything: tax receipts, submission receipts and emails. If something gets lost, you can resend without panic.

Common mistakes that can mess up your application

1. Mixing up the fees: 790-052 is for the authorisation; 790-012 is only for the card. Attaching the wrong receipt = guaranteed requerimiento.
2. Bad photos: wrong size or background = you lose the fingerprint appointment.
3. Long absences: more than 10 months accumulated or 6 consecutive in 5 years = refusal. Don’t try to hide it.
4. Not replying to requerimientos: 10 days fly by. If you don’t upload what they ask, they archive the file.
5. Trying to submit without Cl@ve/certificado: without electronic ID, you can’t do the online submission.