Reference · updated 04.07.2026
Spain residence permit glossary: extranjería in plain English
Updated: July 4, 2026 · Verified by the EuroGarant team against official sources (BOE, Ministry of Inclusion and Migration)
In short: extranjería is everything related to the legal status of foreigners in Spain: statuses, forms, certificates, government bodies. In application forms, resolutions and queues these words are never translated — you simply have to know them. Below are 65 terms explained in plain English: what each one is, why you need it and where the key nuance lies.
65extranjería terms explained in plain English
RD 1155/2024the current regulation — in force since 20.05.2025
2 yearsminimum period of residence for arraigo under the new regulation
03.04.2025golden visa abolished (Ley Orgánica 1/2025)
How to use this glossary. On-page search and alphabetical navigation both work; every term has an anchor link — handy for sharing. If you are just starting out, begin with the guide “How to Get a Residence Permit in Spain” and the grounds calculator.
Terms by topic
Six thematic groups — a quick way in if you are looking for a topic rather than a letter.
Documents and numbers
NIE · TIE · apostille · antecedentes penales · empadronamiento · NUSS · volante
Statuses and grounds
arraigo (five types) · DNV · NLV · estancia · residencia · larga duración · family reunification
Authorities and people
Extranjería · UGE-CE · Seguridad Social · gestor · abogado colegiado
Procedures and deadlines
cita previa · huellas · renovación · caducidad · silencio administrativo · recursos
Thresholds and exams
IPREM · SMI · DELE · CCSE · jura de nacionalidad
A
- Abogado colegiado (bar-registered lawyer)
- A lawyer registered with an official bar association — colegio de abogados (ICAB in Barcelona, ICAM in Madrid). Only a colegiado may act in court and formally represent you when appealing refusals. A lawyer's number can be checked in the bar's public register — a basic check before you start working together.
- Antecedentes penales (criminal record certificate)
- A certificate confirming the absence of a criminal record, from your country of citizenship and the countries where you have lived in recent years. For Spain it needs an apostille and a sworn translation. Key nuance: on the filing date the certificate must be no older than 90 days — so order it at the right moment, not first.
- Apostille (apostilla)
- A stamp certifying a document's authenticity for use abroad under the Hague Convention. It is issued in the country that produced the document (in Russia — the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Justice or civil registry office, depending on the document type). The order is strict: apostille first, then sworn translation — the document is translated together with the stamp.
- Arraigo (settlement-based residence)
- A residence permit on exceptional grounds for those already living in Spain without legal status. Under regulation RD 1155/2024 it is enough to have lived there for 2 years continuously; permitted absences — no more than a total of 90 days. There are five types: social, sociolaboral, socioformativo, familiar and segunda oportunidad.
- The most common type of arraigo: 2 years of residence, means of subsistence and proof of integration — family ties to a resident or an informe de arraigo. An employment contract is not required. The application uses form EX-10, with a maximum decision period of 3 months.
- Arraigo sociolaboral (employment-based settlement)
- A type of arraigo for those who have a job offer or a contract of at least 20 hours per week. The residence period requirements are the same as for social, but the core of the file is the employer and the contract terms. Approval grants a residence and work permit.
- Arraigo socioformativo (study-based settlement)
- Settlement through education: instead of an employment contract — enrolment in an official study or vocational training programme. Since the regulation reform, this type gives the right to work alongside your studies. Designed for those who have no job offer but do have a place on a course.
- Arraigo familiar (family settlement)
- Settlement for parents of minor EU citizens and family members of Spanish nationals. No minimum residence period is required, and the permit is issued straight away for 5 years — the “strongest” type of arraigo. The basis is documented kinship.
- Arraigo de segunda oportunidad (“second chance” settlement)
- A type of arraigo for those who held legal status in Spain but were unable to renew it. Introduced by regulation RD 1155/2024 precisely to bring such people back into legal status without leaving the country. You must prove your former status and current situation.
- Autónomo (self-employed)
- The Spanish equivalent of a sole trader / self-employed person: registration with the tax office (Hacienda) and the social security system (the RETA regime), with monthly contributions. A foreigner may work as an autónomo only if their permit includes the right to trabajo por cuenta propia (self-employment). Statuses obtained through arraigo usually include both rights — employment and running your own business.
- Autorización de regreso (return authorisation)
- A document that lets you leave Spain and come back while your TIE card is being produced or renewed. Issued by the police by cita previa — bring your passport, resguardo and proof of travel. Without it, you may not be let back in at the border with a resguardo alone.
C
- Caducidad (expiry)
- The expiry date of a card or permit — printed on the TIE itself. The renewal application must be filed within the set window before that date and within a limited period after it. An expired status with no renewal filed is a direct route to losing residence and having your accrued time reset to zero.
- Carta de invitación (letter of invitation)
- An official invitation that a Spanish resident arranges through the police in order to host a foreign guest at home. It replaces a hotel booking for a tourist trip. It has no direct bearing on residence permits, but constantly comes up in questions about relatives visiting.
- CCSE (constitution and culture exam)
- An Instituto Cervantes test on Spain's Constitution and sociocultural realities — mandatory for citizenship by residence. The standard naturalisation period for Russian citizens is 10 years, or, if married to a Spanish citizen — 1 year; work out your own dates in the citizenship calculator, and the conditions in the guide on citizenship.
- Certificado de empadronamiento (registration certificate)
- An official registration certificate from the town hall — signed and stamped, unlike the simple volante. Requested for “serious” procedures: citizenship, courts, certain Extranjería filings. The histórico version shows the full history of your registrations — a key document for arraigo.
- Cita previa (prior appointment)
- An appointment with a government office: the police, Extranjería, a consulate. Without a cita most procedures physically cannot begin, and free slots in big cities are scarce. Booking is free of charge on official websites; the “sale of citas” by intermediaries is a grey area the authorities regularly complain about.
- Contrato indefinido (permanent contract)
- An employment contract with no end date. In immigration files it carries noticeably more weight than a temporary one: it shows income stability for renewals, arraigo sociolaboral and family reunification. The legal work routes open to Russians are covered in the overview “Working in Spain”.
- Convalidación (credit recognition)
- Recognition of individual subjects or periods of foreign study so you can continue studying at a Spanish university. Not to be confused with homologación — recognition of a degree as a whole. Relevant for students transferring to Spain without finishing their programme at home.
- Cuenta ajena (salaried employment)
- Literally “on someone else's account” — working for an employer under an employment contract. Permits of the residencia y trabajo por cuenta ajena type are tied to employment and the employer's social security contributions. The opposite is cuenta propia.
- Cuenta propia (self-employment)
- Working for yourself: autónomo, your own business. A por cuenta propia permit requires you to show the project's viability and sufficient funds. A number of statuses — for example those obtained through arraigo — include both rights at once: employment and your own business.
D
- DELE (Spanish language exam)
- The official Instituto Cervantes exam certifying your level of Spanish. For citizenship, non-Spanish-speaking applicants need at least level A2. The certificate never expires — you can take it early, long before you accumulate the required residence period.
- DNI (Spanish national ID)
- Documento Nacional de Identidad — the internal identity document of Spanish citizens. Foreigners do not have a DNI: their identifiers are the NIE number and the TIE card. If a form or website asks for a DNI, a foreign resident enters their NIE.
- DNV — visado de nómada digital (digital nomad visa)
- A visa and residence permit for remote work for companies and clients outside Spain; the legal basis is Ley 14/2013. The income threshold is 200% SMI, which in 2026 means €2,760–2,850/month. Requirements, taxes and the filing route — in our breakdown of the DNV.
E
- Empadronamiento (residence registration)
- Registration in the municipal register of residents under law Ley 7/1985 — available regardless of immigration status. It opens access to healthcare and schooling, is required for the informe de arraigo, and records your residence history. How to register and which documents to bring — in the guide on empadronamiento.
- Estancia (stay)
- A stay status — as opposed to residencia (residence): the typical example is study (estancia por estudios). A study estancia counts towards long-term residence at only 50%, and does not count towards citizenship at all; students may work up to 30 h/week. Details — in the guide on the student residence permit.
- EX-10 (arraigo application form)
- The application form for permits on exceptional grounds — all types of arraigo and humanitarian grounds. Filed with the Oficina de Extranjería together with your file. An outdated version of the form is a classic minor cause of a requerimiento (request for corrections).
- EX-15 (NIE application form)
- The application form for obtaining an NIE number and related certificates. It is filed together with payment of the tasa using form 790-012. The three ways of getting an NIE — police, consulate, authorised representative — are covered in the guide on the NIE.
- EX-17 (TIE application form)
- The application form for issuing the TIE card — filled in for your fingerprints appointment. Along with it you will need photos 32×26 mm, the paid tasa and the underlying document (visa or approval resolution).
- Extranjería / Oficina de Extranjería (immigration office)
- The territorial body that handles most residence applications inside Spain: arraigo, reunification, renewals. There is an office in every province, and jurisdiction is determined by where you are registered. Not to be confused with the police, who deal with NIE, TIE and fingerprints.
F
- Formularios EX (EX application forms)
- The family of official application forms for permits. The number depends on the procedure: EX-10 — exceptional circumstances, EX-15 — NIE, EX-17 — TIE, EX-02 — family reunification. The forms are free to download from the ministry's website — no one should ever charge you for the forms themselves.
G
- Gestor / gestoría (administrative agent)
- Specialists in paperwork routine: they fill in forms, book citas, handle taxes and bookkeeping. A gestor is not a lawyer: complex cases, refusals and appeals are outside their remit. For standard procedures they are a workable option; for contested ones, look for an abogado colegiado.
- Golden visa (investor visa — abolished)
- The investor residence permit, abolished 03.04.2025 by law Ley Orgánica 1/2025. A property purchase of 500 000 € or more no longer grants a residence permit; cards issued earlier remain valid. What to choose instead — in our breakdown of the golden visa.
H
- Homologación (degree recognition)
- Recognition of a foreign degree as equivalent to a Spanish one. Mandatory for regulated professions — medicine, law, engineering — and for public service. The process is not quick: allow months and file your documents in advance, without waiting for a job offer.
- Huellas / toma de huellas (fingerprinting)
- Having your fingerprints taken at the police station — the final step before the TIE card is issued. Bring: form EX-17, photos, the paid tasa, your passport and the approval resolution. Afterwards you receive a resguardo; the card is usually ready in 30–45 days.
I
- Informe de arraigo (integration report)
- A report from the autonomous community or town hall confirming the applicant's roots in Spain for arraigo social when there are no family ties to a resident. They assess length of residence, housing, means, courses and social connections; an interview is usually held.
- Informe de vivienda (housing report)
- Informe de adecuación de vivienda — a report on the suitability of your housing, mandatory for family reunification. The town hall or autonomous community checks the floor area, number of rooms and number of occupants. Without it, a reagrupación file is considered incomplete.
- IPREM (income index)
- The base reference figure from which immigration income thresholds are calculated. Frozen in 2026: €600/month, or €7,200/year. IPREM underpins the NLV (threshold of 400% IPREM), the student residence permit and family reunification; all the thresholds are gathered on the page “Residence Permit Figures 2026”.
J
- Jura de nacionalidad (citizenship oath)
- The final act of naturalisation: once your application is approved, you swear allegiance to the King and the Constitution and declare renunciation of your previous citizenship (for most countries without special agreements the renunciation is declarative in nature). Processing of the application itself takes on average 1–2 years. There is also a limited period for taking the oath after approval — missing it voids the result.
L
- Larga duración (long-term residence, permanent residence)
- An indefinite status after 5 years of legal residence — Spain's equivalent of permanent residence. Absence limits over the period: continuously — no more than 6 months, in total — 10 months. The card is renewed as a formality and the right to work is full; conditions and rights — in the guide on permanent residence.
N
- NIE (foreigner identity number)
- Número de Identidad de Extranjero — a foreigner's personal number for any official dealings: taxes, banking, property purchases, work. The number never expires and does not by itself grant the right to live in Spain. To obtain it: form EX-15 plus tasa 790-012 — around 9,84 €; the full guide — “How to Get an NIE”.
- NLV — residencia no lucrativa (non-lucrative residence permit)
- A residence permit for those living on passive income or savings who do not plan to work in Spain. The threshold is 400% IPREM, i.e. €2,400/month, plus €600/month for each family member. Who it suits and how to prove funds — in our breakdown of the NLV.
- Número de la Seguridad Social (social security number, NUSS)
- Your number in the social security system — without it, legal work and contribution payments are impossible. Issued once, online or at a TGSS office, and stays the same for life. Not to be confused with the NIE: they are different numbers in different systems.
P
- Padrón (municipal register of residents)
- The register you are “entered into” through empadronamiento. Foreigners without permanent residence must confirm their entry (the ENCSARP procedure) every 2 years — otherwise it is cancelled and your recorded history is interrupted. The volante and certificado are generated from padrón data.
- Pareja de hecho (registered partnership)
- An officially registered union without marriage, recognised by immigration law. The partner of an EU or Spanish citizen can apply for a tarjeta comunitaria on the same footing as a spouse. Registration rules differ between autonomous communities: cohabitation requirements and registers are local.
- Presencia efectiva (effective presence)
- Actual — not merely “on paper” — residence in the country; this is exactly what is checked for arraigo, renewals and citizenship. It is proven with documents bearing a date and your name: padrón, medical records, bank transactions, contracts, memberships. Registration without traces of real life is a frequent reason for refusal.
- Prórroga de estancia (extension of stay)
- An exceptional procedure for extending a short-term stay beyond the limit of 90 days without leaving — on force majeure or humanitarian grounds. Approvals are rare and reluctant. For long-term life in Spain the right route is a type D visa and a residence permit, not extending tourist status.
R
- Reagrupación familiar (family reunification)
- The right of a resident with a renewed status to bring over a spouse, children and, in some cases, parents. Income: €900/month for a family of two plus €300/month for each additional member; the application uses form EX-02. A mandatory attachment is the informe de vivienda.
- Recurso de reposición (appeal to the same authority)
- An optional appeal against a refusal, filed with the same body that issued it. The filing deadline is one month from notification. The alternative is to go straight to court via the administrative route (recurso contencioso-administrativo); the resolution itself always states which option is available.
- Recurso de alzada (appeal to a higher authority)
- An appeal to the body one rank higher — for example, against an Extranjería decision, to the Delegación del Gobierno. The deadline is one month; filing keeps the administrative route open before going to court. For contested refusals it makes sense to bring in an abogado colegiado at this stage.
- Régimen comunitario (EU regime)
- The legal regime for EU citizens and their family members — softer than the general regime (régimen general): lower income requirements, its own forms and timelines. Accessible to Russian speakers through marriage, pareja de hecho or kinship with an EU citizen. The regime's key document is the tarjeta comunitaria.
- Reglamento de Extranjería (immigration regulation)
- The current regulation on foreigners — RD 1155/2024, in force since 20.05.2025. It sets the current rules for arraigo, reunification and renewals; files assembled under the old rules get rejected. A step-by-step route under the new rules — in the guide “How to Get a Residence Permit”.
- Renovación (residence permit renewal)
- Re-issuing a permit for a new term. Filed within the set window around the caducidad date; an application filed on time automatically keeps your stay legal until the decision. Deadlines, income thresholds and common mistakes — in the guide on renewing a residence permit.
- Resguardo (proof-of-filing receipt)
- Confirmation that a file has been submitted or fingerprints taken. A resguardo for a filed renewal confirms the legality of your stay while it is being processed. For trips abroad a resguardo alone is not enough — get an autorización de regreso.
- Residencia (residence)
- A residence status — as opposed to estancia (a stay). It can be temporary (temporal) or long-term (larga duración), with or without the right to work. The type of residencia also determines how your time accrues towards permanent residence and citizenship.
S
- The state social insurance system: pensions, sick pay, public healthcare. An employer registers the employee (alta); an autónomo pays contributions themselves. All your time in the system is recorded and visible in the vida laboral statement.
- Seguro médico sin copagos (health insurance without co-payments)
- Full-coverage health insurance with no co-payments — a mandatory condition for the NLV, student and several other visas while you have no access to public healthcare. The policy must be from a company operating in Spain, with no deductibles or waiting periods. Don't forget to include it in your file — check yourself with the document checklist generator.
- Silencio administrativo (administrative silence)
- A legal fiction for when the authority fails to respond within the set deadline: positivo — the application is deemed approved, negativo — deemed refused. In immigration procedures the regime depends on the application type, so “just waiting” without understanding your silencio is risky. A telling example of this mechanism at work is the extraordinary regularisation of 2026.
- SMI (minimum wage)
- Salario Mínimo Interprofesional — the minimum interprofessional wage, in 2026 — €1,221/month in 14 payments. The digital nomad visa threshold is calculated from the SMI: 200% SMI. Year-by-year changes and all the thresholds — on the page “Residence Permit Figures 2026”.
T
- Tarjeta comunitaria (EU citizen family member card)
- The resident card under the régimen comunitario — for spouses, partners and relatives of EU citizens living in Spain. Issued straight away for 5 years and includes the full right to work. The basis is marriage, pareja de hecho or documented kinship.
- Tasa (government fee)
- A fee for processing an application or issuing a document. The key forms: 790-012 — police procedures (NIE, TIE), 790-052 — permits via Extranjería. Paid at a bank using a printed slip, and the receipt goes into your file; amounts and cost items — in the overview of residence permit costs.
- TIE (residence card)
- Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero — a foreigner's physical card with photo, NIE number and permit type. After entry or approval you have 1 month to apply; the tasa for issuance is around 16 €. Booking, fingerprints, collection and renewal — in the guide on the TIE card.
U
- UGE-CE (large companies unit)
- Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos — the Madrid-based body that handles applications under law Ley 14/2013: digital nomads, highly qualified professionals, entrepreneurs. It works online with all of Spain, and decision times are shorter than at a regular Extranjería office. This is where DNV files submitted from inside the country go.
V
- Vida laboral (employment history)
- Informe de vida laboral — an official social security statement of your entire employment history in Spain: every alta and baja with dates. Requested online in a couple of minutes. Needed for renewals, mortgages, arraigo and any disputes over accrued time.
- Visado D (national visa)
- An entry visa for stays longer than 90 days — for residence, study or work. Issued at the consulate in your country of residence; at the time of application your passport must remain valid for at least another 1 year. Visa types and how they differ from Schengen — in the overview “Visa to Spain”.
- Volante de empadronamiento (registration slip)
- A simple informational registration slip — issued by the town hall quickly, without an official's signature. For most everyday needs a volante is enough; for citizenship-level procedures or courts a certificado is requested. The full history of your addresses is shown by the histórico version.
The basic route: the terms in the right order
How these same words line up into a legalisation path — from your first number to indefinite status.
- NIE — get your personal foreigner number: form EX-15 plus tasa 790-012 (around €9.84). Without it, neither banking, nor taxes, nor transactions will work.
- Grounds and visado D — choose a status (for example, DNV — 200% SMI threshold, or NLV — 400% IPREM) and obtain a national visa at the consulate.
- Empadronamiento — register at the town hall on arrival: registration opens access to healthcare and schooling and records your residence history.
- TIE and huellas — within 1 month, apply for the card (form EX-17) and give your fingerprints; the card is usually ready in 30–45 days.
- Renovación → larga duración — renew your status on time, and after 5 years of legal residence apply for indefinite residence.
Not to be confused: similar terms
Six pairs that are most often mixed up in forms and conversations with the authorities.
NIE ↔ NUSS
NIE is the foreigner's identifier; NUSS is the social security number. Different numbers in different systems.
Estancia ↔ Residencia
Stay versus residence: a study estancia counts towards permanent residence at only 50%, and towards citizenship not at all.
Volante ↔ Certificado
A volante is a quick informational slip; a certificado is signed and stamped, for citizenship and courts.
Homologación ↔ Convalidación
Homologación recognises a degree as a whole; convalidación — individual subjects and periods of study.
Gestor ↔ Abogado colegiado
A gestor handles paperwork routine and appointments; refusals, appeals and courts are strictly for a bar-registered lawyer.
Extranjería ↔ Police
Extranjería processes residence applications; the police handle NIE, TIE and fingerprints.
Can't find a term? It is most likely covered in a dedicated article: thresholds and amounts — in the Residence Permit Figures 2026, documents — in the checklist generator, grounds — in the calculator. Or write to us — we'll point you in the right direction and add the term to the glossary.
The terms make sense, but what to do next doesn't?
At a free case review we will translate your case from the language of extranjería into an action plan: which ground is realistic in your situation, which forms and certificates you will need, and in what order. Our support is a single turnkey package, with payment in three stages:
Free consultation
50%an advance — we take your case on
75%another 25% — once the work is completed
100%the remaining 25% — after you receive your residence permit
We take care of all the EX forms, tasas, sworn translations and cita previa bookings from this glossary — on your side, a valid passport is enough.
Official sources: BOE — Real Decreto 1155/2024 (Reglamento de Extranjería) · Ministry of Inclusion and Migration — application forms (EX) · National Police — tasa 790-012