TIE HoyPermanent EU family card — when can I apply?
Check continuous lawful residence, not just your card’s expiry. Permanent family residence uses its own EX-19 procedure.
Does my first card’s expiry prove eligibility?
No. Normally you need five continuous years of lawful residence; Article 10 also contains early-acquisition grounds.
An initial five-year plastic card is not proof that those conditions were maintained.
When do I file and what if no answer arrives?
File in the month before expiry, or within three months after, with possible late sanction (Article 11).
For this permanent family card, Criterio 6/2025 confirms positive silence after three months; request its certificate.
This is not the initial-card rule.
How continuous must residence be?
Build a dated residence history and record absences.
Articles 10.6 and 14.3 permits up to six months’ absence a year, compulsory military service, or one absence up to twelve months for listed important reasons.
After obtaining permanent residence
The permanent card is renewable every ten years.
Absences not exceeding two consecutive years do not affect its validity under Article 11.3; do not apply the initial-card conditions as its renewal test.
What to do
Prove the permanent right before selecting EX-19 permanent.
Bring
- EX-19 permanent application
- Passport, or expired passport plus renewal request
- Proof of the qualifying residence period or early ground
- Current card and relevant relationship/event proof
- Recent white-background passport photographs
- Official payment proof
Steps
- Prepare the Article 10 residence or early-acquisition proof.
- Download EX-19 and select RESIDENCIA PERMANENTE.
- File using the official permanent-card procedure at the competent office or available electronic channel.
- Pay the correct family-card issuance item in 790-012; save the payment proof.
- Save your receipt; after approval or certified positive silence follow the card-issuance step.
Basis
Article 10 establishes permanent entitlement and continuity; Article 11 governs its card. Criterio 6/2025 confirms the three-month positive-silence rule for this permanent procedure.