EU Residency in Spain for EU Citizens and Their Family Members

How to obtain Spanish residency for EU citizens and their non-EU family members: the registration certificate (certificado de registro) and the EU-family member residence card (tarjeta de residencia de familiar de ciudadano de la Unión) revealed

For European Union citizens:

What is the registration certificate (certificado de registro)?
Who needs one?
How much does it cost?
How long does it take to get one?
Where do I get one?
How long is it good for?
What do I need to do to get one?

For the non-European Union family members of EU citizens:

What is the EU-family member residence card (tarjeta de residencia de familiar de ciudadano de la Unión)?
Who is considered a family member?
Who needs one?
How much does it cost?
How long does it take to get one?
Where do I get one?
How long is it good for?
What do I need to do to get one?

European Union citizens:

What is the registration certificate (certificado de registro)?

The registration certificate is a document that certifies your residence in Spain with the Central Register of Foreigners (Registro Central de Extranjeros) and lists your name, where you live, your nationality, the date you registered, and your Foreigner’s Identity Number (the so-called NIE, which you’ll need for any number of financial transactions in Spain).

Note that getting your NIE is automatically incorporated into the registration process now and that since April 2007 the registration certificate replaces the old requirement for a residence card among EU citizens.

Who needs a registration certificate?

You need one if:

1. You are a citizen of one of the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK. (Note that these EU rules include citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, four countries that aren’t part of the EU, but who have made special agreements with the EU.);
2. You intend to live or reside in Spain for more than three months.

However, if you had a Spanish residence card before April 2007, you don’t need to get a registration certificate until your current residence card expires.

How much does a registration certificate cost?

It costs 6.70 euros, the same amount that Spaniards pay for their national ID card, the DNI (Documento Nacional de Identidad).

How long does it take to get one?

Assuming you have everything you need, the registration certificate is issued to you on the spot when you turn in your paperwork. That said, getting an appointment to turn in your paperwork varies depending on the region, and in some cases can be a matter of months.

Where do I get a registration certificate?

At the Oficina de Extranjeros or Comisaría de Policía closest to where you live or plan to live. Click here for their addresses and telephone numbers.

How long is the registration certificate good for?

In most cases, it’s good forever. However, if you move within Spain, you should get it updated, and if you move outside of Spain, you should formally give up your registration. It’s identical to the process to get the registration certificate except you’ll have to tick a different box on the form.

If you live in Spain continuously for more than five years, you can choose to get permanent residency.

What do I need to do to get a registration certificate?

You should register within three months of arriving in Spain. Here’s how:

1. Download form EX 16, fill it out, and sign it.
2. Make an appointment with the nearest Oficina de Extranjeros by phone (if you can!) or in person (make sure to get there very early). Take this opportunity to ask for a form called Modelo 790. You’ll then have to go to a bank to pay the 6.70 euros and have the form stamped for confirmation.
3. Bring your passport, the EX 16 form, and the stamped Modelo 790 to your appointment.
4. Hand your forms over when the Spanish civil servant asks for them.
5. Take your new registration certificate home with you. Congratulations, you’re now a Spanish resident!

Non-European Union family members of EU citizens:

What is the EU-family member residence card (tarjeta de residencia de familiar de ciudadano de la Unión)?

The EU-family member residence card certifies your residence in Spain as an official family member of an EU citizen. As such you have the right to enjoy the same conditions as a Spanish or EU citizen (e.g. the right to reside in Spain and the right to work).

Who is considered a family member of an EU citizen?

For the purposes of obtaining an EU-family member residence card in Spain, the family members of EU citizens are:

• Current spouses or registered domestic partners (unless separated);
• Your minor children (yours or those of your spouse or registered domestic partner);
• Dependent parents (yours or those of your spouse or registered domestic partner).

Who needs an EU-family member residence card?

You need one if:

1. You are a family member of a citizen of one of the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK;
2. You plan to join or accompany your EU family member in Spain;
3. You plan to live or reside in Spain for more than three months.

How much does an EU-family member residence card cost?

It costs 6.70 euros, the same amount that Spaniards pay for their national ID card, the DNI (Documento Nacional de Identidad).

How long does it take to get an EU-family member residence card?

In accordance with EU law, you should get your residence card within six months from the day you turn in all your paperwork, but you must make an appointment to do so. However, the time needed to first make an appointment can vary by region. 

An informant in Madrid had this to say: “In theory you can make an appointment by phone or in person, but after I called at all hours of the day for more than a month, I finally had to resign to the fact that the office never answers their phone. To make an appointment in person, you have to be among the first fifty people in line when they open their doors on any given day. The day I went I arrived almost two hours before they opened, and that was fine. A little after nine they began to hand out numbers and sort people out. Once I got my number and was allowed into the building, our group had to wait in another line inside. When it was my turn I was handed a form, an information sheet, and issued an appointment for two and a half months in the future. I had questions, but the lady motioned to the line behind me and said she didn’t have time. Two and a half months later I returned. Even though my appointment was for a certain time, I had to wait another hour and a half to turn in my paperwork, which took all of five minutes. The man went down the list asking for the different elements, which I gave him. He then fingerprinted me and said that a letter should arrive in the mail within two months with instructions on how to pick up the card from the police station. That was a month ago.”

Where do I get an EU-family member residence card?

At the Oficina de Extranjeros or Comisaría de Policía closest to where you live or plan to live. Click here for their addresses and telephone numbers.

How long is the EU-family member residence card good for?

It’s good for up to five years. If after that time you still live in Spain with your family member, you can get another one or opt for permanent residence.

What do I need to do to get an EU-family member residence card (tarjeta de residencia de familiar de ciudadano de la Unión)?

You should register within three months of arriving in Spain. Here’s how:

1. Download form EX 16, fill it out, and sign it.
2. Make an appointment with the nearest Oficina de Extranjeros by phone (if you can!) or in person (make sure you get there early). Take this opportunity to ask for a form called Modelo 790. You’ll then have to go to a bank to pay the 6.70 euros and have the form stamped for confirmation.
3. Bring the following items to your appointment:
   • Your passport.
   • Your family member’s passport (or DNI if your family member is Spanish).
   • Your family member’s registration certificate (if your family member is not Spanish).
   • The EX 16 form.
   • The stamped Modelo 790.
   • A document that establishes your family tie to the EU citizen. If the document is not in Spanish, it will need to be translated and legalized or have an apostille on it. In the case of a spouse, you’ll need to bring a marriage certificate issued from an EU country that is less than three months old. If you were married more than three months ago, you’ll have to request a new certificate for this purpose. For those who were married in Spain, you can request the certificate in person, by mail, or online from the Ministerio de Justicia.
   • Photocopies of everything listed above.
   • Three passport-sized photographs in color.
4. Hand your forms over when the Spanish civil servant asks for them. They’ll stamp your copy of the EX 16 as a record.

 

5. Wait for a letter in the mail with instructions on picking up your residence card.
6. Pick up your card. Congratulations, you’re now a Spanish resident!

Last updated 04 02 2010

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04/Feb/2010:
jensfobcn said:

To t-f-s: do you have an appointment to turn in your papers, or has your residency already been approved and you have an appointment to pick up the card? If it's the latter, the receipt that they gave you works as proof of your legal status for up to 45 days (the card can be picked up at around 30 days). If your appointment is just to turn in the initial papers, I would say that this would not be valid to extend your stay. However, if your residency is being obtained via a family member, an attorney will tell you that you cannot be denied residency status just because you are technically in Spain illegally. You just cannot leave the country while you're getting this taken care of.

Mind you, I am not an attorney, I am only speaking from personal experience.

 

11/Dec/2009:
jensfobcn said:

Thanks so much for this information, it really helped me a lot. I just completed the process (waiting for the card) but I wanted to mention that here in Barcelona there is an extra step. After Step 4, they give you a letter that says "starting on X date go X office and present: this letter, copy of EX16 (stamped in the first office), passport, 3 photos and your old residence card if you have one". I did this today; I showed up with all of that stuff and in less than 5 minutes (after waiting two hours) they gave me payment slip for 10 euros to be paid at any bank, and a tiny little piece of paper that will allow me to pick up the card in person (at another office) in 30 days.

Hope this helps someone!

 

29/Oct/2008:
Dreamer said:

Greyspaniard, this is not a reference to gaining Spanish nationality. See page 6 from "Regulations governing EU citizens in Spain": http://extranjeros.mtas.es/es/InformacionInteres/FolletosInformativos/archivos/VERSION_INGLES.pdf.

 

20/Sep/2008:
Dreamer said:

The article has been updated conerning the UK and Ireland.

Yes, UK nationals should acquire residency to stay in Spain for more than three months. See here: http://ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/living-in-spain/entry-resident-requirements.

Regarding the tax residency question, I suggest you consult with your accountant.