Resident Non EU citizens travelling outside Spain

I read recently (but cannot now find the web page) that non EU citizens who have permanent residency status in Spain, who leave Spain for longer than 6 months loose their residence status.

Does anyone know if  such a person (I have a friend who wants to know) can travel for say  6months outside the Schengen Area, then return to Spain, and then travel again, say after a month,  for another 6 months,  or if  a rule of ‘6 months outside Spain in any 12 months ‘ applies?

Thanks

I think the 6 months is only while you are waiting for the application to be processed . Once you have residency & are in receipt of the tarjeta it is no more than two years in a five year period.

Yes , here it is from the EU rules;

" The same rule applies to family members who are not nationals of a Member State and who have lived with a Union citizen for five years. The right of permanent residence is lost only in the event of more than two successive years' absence from the host Member State."

From here , scroll down to " Right of Permanent Residence "

http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/internal_market/living_and_working_in_the_internal_market/l33152_en.htm

Thanks Gus very helpful

That's a great site for general info on the EU,  I have book marked it

Regards  John