Residencia

Residencia is permanent and after 5 years you automatically become a permanent resident; if / when UK leaves EU though, and we move over to the TIE system, they are apparently renewable every 5 years

Un saludo, Darío

Exactly what dario said, but I'll just add to make sure your on the Padrón also,  That ensures the government and police know your here. .. hopr changing to a TIE isnt  gonna be a nightmare,  they aren't looking forward to it at the foreign office,  I went early this month. ..😕😕

Thanks   dario

They have apparently given a timeframe of around 21 months to change all 360.000 odd resident British over to TIE .... I’m sure they are not looking forward to it - despite saying it will be “practically automatic” 

With regards Padrón - you can’t get Residencia unless you have a Certificado de Empadronamiento less than 3 months old

Yeah but if you don't renew it the police come looking for you asking you to renew... well they have been here looking for English in the area this Feb. ...I renew every couple of years

Good point and well put Karen; always useful to stay up to date.  How do you renew? Just go to Ayuntamiento and ask for a Padrón extract and by doing so let them know you are still there?

so  why  if  its  permanent  why  do  you  have  to  renew  it ? 

Crossed purposes - Karen is talking about renewing her Padrón - i.e. letting Ayuntamiento know you are still where Padrón says you are.  Residencia is for life

okay  thanks   I  knew  about the  padron