Seven residency words that confuse foreigners in Spain
Permanent or long-term residency? NIE or TIE? 'Alta' or 'baja'? There are several common words and terminology to do with residency processes in Spain that get almost everyone in a muddle.
Tarjeta Permanente and Tarjeta de larga duración
When you become a resident in Spain you will probably get a residency authorisation called residencia temporal (temporary residency), which gives you the right to live in Spain for a period of time which runs more than 90 days to up to five years depending on the authorisation.
You will be able to apply for long-term residency once you have lived in Spain for more than five years legally and continuously.
There are three types of long-term residency cards in Spain: Larga Duración, Larga Duración UE and Permanente.
The terms residencia de larga duración (long-term residency) and residencia permanente (permanent residency) are often used interchangeably - even by Spanish authorities - but they are slightly different.
Both types of residency are technically valid indefinitely. However, the larga duración card is valid for five years and the permanente for ten years. They then have to be renewed, even though your residency status isn't at risk if you forget to do so or do it late.
Even though they give this indefinite residency status, an absence from Spain for one continuous year can result in losing your larga duración residency, and with the permanente residency the maximum absence is two years. Therefore, neither offer permanent residency no matter the circumstances.
As for the Larga Duración UE residency, they're still meant for non-EU nationals (as are the two others), even though the name would suggest they award long-term residency status to EU nationals. The main difference this residency status has with the larga duración and permanente is that it technically makes it easier to be accepted to live and work in another EU country.
READ ALSO - EX-11: How to get your long-term residency card in Spain
NIE and TIE
For years, many Spaniards and foreigners have wrongly referred to the EU green residency certificates (Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la Unión) as NIEs.
A NIE is just your Número de Identidad de Extranjero or foreign identity number, which is included on the green residency certificate. There is a document which isn't a residency certificate and contains the NIE number and is more aptly referred to as NIE, but this is a white document.
More recently have been confusing the NIE with the TIE as well. The TIE is the Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero, the biometric residency card that's given to third country nationals residing in Spain. The TIE includes the NIE number, but again NIE and TIE are not interchangeable terms.
READ ALSO:
- The differences between Spain's NIE and TIE and what you can do with each
- GUIDE: How foreigners can apply for their TIE residency card in Spain
Arraigo
The word arriago simply means ties or roots to something. These type of residency authorisations are issued in exceptional circumstances if you have certain ties to Spain, even though the word arriago on its own doesn’t clearly indicate that.
There are various types of arriago authorisations such as laboral, social or familiar (work, social and family).
READ ALSO - Arraigo: How Spain’s residency under special circumstances works
Régimen Comunitario and Régimen general
No doubt you’ve seen these terms several times if you’ve been looking at residency documents and permission to live in Spain and you’ve more than likely been pretty confused as to what they mean.
Simply put, the Régimen Comunitario refers to the European Union as Spain is part of the ‘community’, so it relates to residency matters covered under EU/EEA/Switzerland rules. Usually, the Spanish residency status of EU nationals and their family members who move to Spain would be dealt with under the Régimen Comunitario.
The Régimen general on the other hand usually covers residency matters of foreigners from third countries that are not EU member states. In this case, it's Spain's extranjería (foreign affairs) department that sets the rules, not the EU's.
Residency authorisations are of course very different for those from EU countries and those who are not. EU/EEA/Swiss nationals fall under the Régimen Comunitario and don't have to get an authorisation to live and work in Spain, although they do have to register at the Registro Central de Extranjeros (Central Registry of Foreigners) in their first three months in Spain.
Foreigners from third countries do require an authorisation to live and work in Spain, bring over family members, live in Spain with the non lucrative visa and so on, all of which falls under the Régimen General rules.
Darse de alta and darse de baja
Literally these phrases mean ‘give yourself up’ or ‘give yourself down’ but it has nothing to do with 'giving yourself' up to the police or anything for that matter.
They actually mean to register or to de-register. You will have likely seen these terms if for example you’re self-employed and are required to darte alta como autónomo, which means to register or sign up to Spain’s freelance system.
Likewise, if you darte de baja on the padrón for example, it means you're deregistering from the town hall.
These terms can also apply to residency, darse de alta como residente or darse de baja como residente.
READ ALSO: How do I officially give up my Spanish residency?
En trámite
Tramitar or solicitar is the verb you use when you are applying or processing your application, while ‘En trámite’ is the status given when it’s being processed by the authorities.
For example, if you want to check on the status of your application, you will often see the words ‘En trámite’, which means they're dealing with it but haven't completed the process yet. At this stage, all you can typically do is wait and see if your outcome is favourable or not.
Modelo
If you have to fill out any type form in Spain you will see this word. It’s usually the word modelo followed by a number such as Modelo 790. Confusingly the word modelo in Spanish doesn’t actually mean form, this should be formulario instead.
But the word is used for all types of documents you’ll have to complete throughout your entire time in Spain, from presenting your taxes to applying for benefits, becoming self-employed and renewing your residency cards. In this scenario, it’s nothing to do with a model or a prototype at all.
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Tarjeta Permanente and Tarjeta de larga duración
When you become a resident in Spain you will probably get a residency authorisation called residencia temporal (temporary residency), which gives you the right to live in Spain for a period of time which runs more than 90 days to up to five years depending on the authorisation.
You will be able to apply for long-term residency once you have lived in Spain for more than five years legally and continuously.
There are three types of long-term residency cards in Spain: Larga Duración, Larga Duración UE and Permanente.
The terms residencia de larga duración (long-term residency) and residencia permanente (permanent residency) are often used interchangeably - even by Spanish authorities - but they are slightly different.
Both types of residency are technically valid indefinitely. However, the larga duración card is valid for five years and the permanente for ten years. They then have to be renewed, even though your residency status isn't at risk if you forget to do so or do it late.
Even though they give this indefinite residency status, an absence from Spain for one continuous year can result in losing your larga duración residency, and with the permanente residency the maximum absence is two years. Therefore, neither offer permanent residency no matter the circumstances.
As for the Larga Duración UE residency, they're still meant for non-EU nationals (as are the two others), even though the name would suggest they award long-term residency status to EU nationals. The main difference this residency status has with the larga duración and permanente is that it technically makes it easier to be accepted to live and work in another EU country.
READ ALSO - EX-11: How to get your long-term residency card in Spain
NIE and TIE
For years, many Spaniards and foreigners have wrongly referred to the EU green residency certificates (Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la Unión) as NIEs.
A NIE is just your Número de Identidad de Extranjero or foreign identity number, which is included on the green residency certificate. There is a document which isn't a residency certificate and contains the NIE number and is more aptly referred to as NIE, but this is a white document.
More recently have been confusing the NIE with the TIE as well. The TIE is the Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero, the biometric residency card that's given to third country nationals residing in Spain. The TIE includes the NIE number, but again NIE and TIE are not interchangeable terms.
READ ALSO:
- The differences between Spain's NIE and TIE and what you can do with each
- GUIDE: How foreigners can apply for their TIE residency card in Spain
Arraigo
The word arriago simply means ties or roots to something. These type of residency authorisations are issued in exceptional circumstances if you have certain ties to Spain, even though the word arriago on its own doesn’t clearly indicate that.
There are various types of arriago authorisations such as laboral, social or familiar (work, social and family).
READ ALSO - Arraigo: How Spain’s residency under special circumstances works
Régimen Comunitario and Régimen general
No doubt you’ve seen these terms several times if you’ve been looking at residency documents and permission to live in Spain and you’ve more than likely been pretty confused as to what they mean.
Simply put, the Régimen Comunitario refers to the European Union as Spain is part of the ‘community’, so it relates to residency matters covered under EU/EEA/Switzerland rules. Usually, the Spanish residency status of EU nationals and their family members who move to Spain would be dealt with under the Régimen Comunitario.
The Régimen general on the other hand usually covers residency matters of foreigners from third countries that are not EU member states. In this case, it's Spain's extranjería (foreign affairs) department that sets the rules, not the EU's.
Residency authorisations are of course very different for those from EU countries and those who are not. EU/EEA/Swiss nationals fall under the Régimen Comunitario and don't have to get an authorisation to live and work in Spain, although they do have to register at the Registro Central de Extranjeros (Central Registry of Foreigners) in their first three months in Spain.
Foreigners from third countries do require an authorisation to live and work in Spain, bring over family members, live in Spain with the non lucrative visa and so on, all of which falls under the Régimen General rules.
Darse de alta and darse de baja
Literally these phrases mean ‘give yourself up’ or ‘give yourself down’ but it has nothing to do with 'giving yourself' up to the police or anything for that matter.
They actually mean to register or to de-register. You will have likely seen these terms if for example you’re self-employed and are required to darte alta como autónomo, which means to register or sign up to Spain’s freelance system.
Likewise, if you darte de baja on the padrón for example, it means you're deregistering from the town hall.
These terms can also apply to residency, darse de alta como residente or darse de baja como residente.
READ ALSO: How do I officially give up my Spanish residency?
En trámite
Tramitar or solicitar is the verb you use when you are applying or processing your application, while ‘En trámite’ is the status given when it’s being processed by the authorities.
For example, if you want to check on the status of your application, you will often see the words ‘En trámite’, which means they're dealing with it but haven't completed the process yet. At this stage, all you can typically do is wait and see if your outcome is favourable or not.
Modelo
If you have to fill out any type form in Spain you will see this word. It’s usually the word modelo followed by a number such as Modelo 790. Confusingly the word modelo in Spanish doesn’t actually mean form, this should be formulario instead.
But the word is used for all types of documents you’ll have to complete throughout your entire time in Spain, from presenting your taxes to applying for benefits, becoming self-employed and renewing your residency cards. In this scenario, it’s nothing to do with a model or a prototype at all.
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