General Information
Long-term resident status can be recovered by foreigners who have held a long-term residence permit in Spain and who have, moreover, been absent from European Union territory for 12 consecutive months. Also for those who have acquired EU long-term resident status in another EU Member State or have completed the period during which they committed not to return to Spain, having voluntarily agreed to return to their country of origin.
EU long-term resident status can be recovered by foreigners who have held an EU long-term residence permit in Spain and who have, moreover, been absent from European Union territory for 12 consecutive months or have acquired EU long-term resident status in another EU Member State or have been out of Spain for more than 6 years.
To obtain a long-term resident or EU long-term resident recovery visa it is first necessary to submit an application to recover the permit.
The procedure comprises two stages:
1. Recovering long-term residence or EU long-term residence
Required documents
- Application form for a long-term residence or EU long-term residence permit. Each applicant must complete and sign two visa application forms, having filled in each section of the EX-11 form. If the applicant is a minor, one of their parents must sign the application.
- Passport. A photocopy of every page of a valid, unexpired passport or travel document.
- National visa application form: Each applicant must complete and sign an official application form, filling in each of its sections. If the applicant is a minor, one of their parents must sign the application.
- Photograph: It has to be glued to the application form. A recent, passport-size, 2x2 inches, with white background. The face should be clare and visible.
- Proof of residence in the consular jurisdiction: Notarized photocopy of: State ID, Driver´s Licence or Student ID from one of the following States: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.
Proof of legal residence in the United States (Non-US passport holders): Must present one of the following documents:
- Notarized copy of Permanent Residence Card (Green Card)
- Notarized copy of Valid US visa plus a copy of the I-20 document duly signed in the endorsement
- Holders of B-1/B-2 visas cannot apply in the United States; they must apply in their country of permanent residence.
Conditions for recovering long-term residence or EU long-term residence: Documents proving that the applicant meets at least one of the criteria for regaining long-term or long-term EU residence.
Letter explaining the reasons to apply for the recovery of long-term residence. Stating the years the applicant resided in Spain and the years he has been residing abroad.
Proof of the representative's identity and capacity. If the applicant is a minor, it will be necessary to present originals and submit copies of the identity document or passport of one of their parents or of their guardian and of the document constituting proof of kinship. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
Residence permit - Form 790 Code 052. The applicant must complete and sign, a form 790 code 052 , (ticking box 2.7 Recuperación de la titularidad de una residecncia de larga duración-UE y recuperación de la titularidad de una residencia de larga duración nacional). The fee for 2026 is $25 (21,87€).
The fee can also be paid online, through the link to Form 790-052. In this case, the proof of payment obtained from the same webpage must be attached.
Financial means (only to recover EU long-term residence). Originals and a copy of each of the documents accrediting that the applicant has a steady and regular financial income that is sufficient to maintain themselves and, where applicable, their family. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
Health insurance (only to recover EU long-term residence). Original and a copy of the certificate accrediting the public or private health insurance contracted with an insurance entity authorized to operate in Spain. The insurance policy must cover all the risks insured by Spain's public health system.
- Criminal record certificate. (Validity for 6 months from da date of its issued) applicants over 18 must present original and copy of the criminal record certificate issued by FBI and legalized with the Federal Apostille of the Hague Convention requested to the Department of State in Washington DC.
- The applicant must present criminal record certificates from the countries of residence of the last 5 years
- The certificates must be translated into Spanish by a certified translator : Traductores e Intérpretes
- Local State apostille is not valid
Bilingual Medical Certificate: accrediting applicant´s good health pursuant to the 2005 International Health Regulations. It must have the Doctor's Stamp, or can be printed on medical center´s letterhead; it must not be older than 3 months. It is recommended to use our Medical certificate template
Only USPS (Express or Priority Mail) self-address prepaid envelope with tracking number.
Postal delivery authorization
Procedure
This Consulate is competent to accept only visa applications from individuals residing in the consular district: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.
- Who can apply: The application to recover long-term resident or EU long-term resident status must be submitted by the interested party, or by one of their parents if the applicant is a minor.
- Place of submission: Applications must be submitted via postal mail to Consulate General of Spain in Houston- Long-term residence recovery Visa (1800 Bering Dr. Suite 750 Houston, Texas, 77057).
- Notification: The Consular Office will inform the applicant of the decision issued by the competent Government Delegation or Sub-delegation.
- In the event of a favorable decision, the Consular Office will invite the interested party to submit the visa application.
- If the decision is not favorable, the interested party may submit an appeal for reconsideration to the Consular Office within 1 month of the day following the date on which the notification of the refusal is received. An application for judicial review may also be filed with the High Court of Justice of Madrid within the 2-month period beginning the day after the date on which the applicant receives notification of the permit refusal or of the dismissal of the reconsideration appeal.
2. Obtaining a long-term residence or EU long-term residence recovery visa
Required documents
Present original and photocopy of the following documents:
- Valid, unexpired Passport: Original Passport must have a minimum validity of 1 year and contain at least two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.
- Consular visa fees: Money order made out to the Consulate General of Spain in Houston.
US Passport holders visa fee $ 140
Other nationalities visa fee $ 106
For Nationals of Australia, Ethiopia, Canada, United Kingdom and others, different rates are applied based on reciprocity, Please check the Visa fee
When necessary to assess the application, the Consular Office may request additional documents or data and may also ask the applicant to come in for a personal interview.
Procedure
- Who can apply for a visa: Visa applications must be submitted by the applicant, or by one of their parents if the applicant is a minor.
- Place of submission: Applications must be submitted via postal mail to Consulate General of Spain in Houston- Long-term residence recovery Visa (1800 Bering Dr. Suite 750 Houston, Texas, 77057).
- Proof of receipt: The Consular Office will provide the applicant with proof of receipt of the application with a code that enables them to check the status of the dossier through the following link: https://sutramiteconsular.maec.es/Home.aspx
- Rectifying the application: The Consular Office may ask the applicant to submit any missing documents, or to provide additional documents or data that are necessary for a decision regarding the application. The applicant may also be called in for a personal interview.
- Decision period: The legal period for reaching a decision is of 3 months from the day after the application submission date, but this period may be extended if an interview or additional documents are requested.
- Collecting the visa: The Consular Office will inform the applicant regarding the procedure for the return of the passport and any other original documentation.
- Visa refusal: Visa refusals will always be notified in writing, setting forth the grounds on which the decision adopted is based.
- Appeals: If a visa is refused, the applicant may submit an appeal for reconsideration to this Consular Office within 1 month of the day following the date on which the notification of the refusal was received. An application for judicial review may also be filed with the High Court of Justice of Madrid within the 2-month period beginning the day after the date on which the applicant receives notification of the visa refusal or of the dismissal of the reconsideration appeal.
- Validity period of the visa: The visa will be valid for 365 days. You must apply for a Foreigner Identity Card within 1 month of entering Spain at the Police Station in the province where your residence permit was processed.