Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi
Question
Are there any negatives to staying a permanent resident forever in Spain? I hold a Spain Permanent Residency at the moment, is there a benefit in applying for Spanish citizenship?
Answers
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
Planning your move to Spain?
Get the free step-by-step roadmap used by 10,000+ expats — covering visas, budget, housing, and the mistakes to avoid.
Start the Moving to Spain Hub →“22 years as a resident without any problems. Can’t vote for anything but town hall, but aside from that there’s been no issue.”
“You have to keep paying and applying for your national passport. Have no say in the governance of the country.”
“There are no negatives providing you alter your mindset, think and behave like a Spaniard and you will fit right in!”
“42 years as a resident in Spain …. I really should take out Spanish nationality but I keep putting it off.”
Need an immigration lawyer?
Spainguru's vetted lawyers have helped 10,000+ expats with NLV, Digital Nomad, Student, and Golden Visa applications.
See Vetted Lawyers →“Spain taxes heavily on ALL worldwide assets. If all one has is a basic pension & no other assets (real estate, private retirement, investment accounts, etc.) then all is well. Look up Spanish wealth tax or impuesto patrimonio.”
“Anyone can pay into the Spanish health care system after their first year in Spain. It’s called Convenio Especial.”
“Minimal, mostly around voting.”
Conclusion
The feedback from residents indicates that there are minimal drawbacks to remaining a permanent resident in Spain indefinitely. Challenges include the inability to participate fully in national elections and the requirement to maintain a national passport. Adaptation to the local lifestyle and culture is beneficial.
Tax implications for worldwide assets can be considerable, so understanding fiscal responsibilities is crucial. Health care becomes accessible after the first year through the Convenio Especial program. Overall, the sentiment is that the benefits of residing in Spain outweigh the negatives, though some long-term residents contemplate naturalization.
Get your free step-by-step Spain move plan
10 emails over 2 weeks covering visas, budget, housing & the mistakes to avoid.
Join 10,000+ expats who used this roadmap.
100% free · No credit card · Unsubscribe anytime
