Long-term (permanent) residency in Spain requires 5 years of continuous, legal residence holding a valid temporary residency permit. To avoid resetting the residency clock, total time outside Spain must not exceed 10 cumulative months across the 5-year window, or 6 consecutive months in a single trip. Successful applicants receive the long-term TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero), granting the right to live and work indefinitely under conditions identical to Spanish citizens.