Larga Duracion Continious Residency broken due to Covid

Member since 24 August 2024

Pablocito SanchezMember24 August 2024 09:01:06

Hello,

I have a 5-year residency card because I'm married to a Spanish citizen, and we have two children both Spanish. I plan to renew it this month, but I was out of Spain for 1 year and 8 months due to a combination of global and local lockdowns, forced quarantine, and travel restrictions in my home country. Does anyone know if this will affect my renewal or long-term residency application?

I found this information on a Spanish government website:

[FAQ SOAPI - Barcelona City Council](https://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/dretss … api-en.pdf)

> If I am outside Spanish territory without being able to return because of the COVID-19 situation, will this absence count negatively when I want to renew my permit or card?

> No. The time you were unable to return as a result of the COVID-19 situation will not count as absence to prove continuity of residence.

Has anyone else experienced this? COVID-19 was an awful experience for me. We went to our home country, which is a third-world country, to spend some quality time, but we got trapped. I lost my job, and we had just had a newborn, but we couldn’t get his basic needs met because the hospitals and doctors there were overwhelmed with COVID cases.

gwynj Bulgaria Expert

Member since 30 June 2020

gwynjBulgaria Expert25 August 2024 07:20:27

2551

@Pablocito Sanchez

Make sure you have all the documents required for your application for Permanent Residence and book an appointment. I doubt they will check your absences (and I'm sure you won't volunteer it). If you get a new padron certificate, it might even show you and the rest of the family resident since you first registered, which would be a helpful bonus.

Even if they deny it, it's not a big deal as you can simply reapply for a 5 year card.

Pablocito Sanchez Member

Member since 24 August 2024

Pablocito SanchezMember25 August 2024 15:11:38

@gwynj thanks! I think I'll just go ahead and try to apply for a larga duracion. DIfferent question, do you think this will affect my work status? I'm currently the only one working right now because my youngest kid have autism and my wife is taking care of her so Im worried that if i get denied, i might lose my job while I apply/appeal for a new residence card