EU Residency in Spain for EU Citizens, Their Spouses and Family Members
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Posted by Dreamer
How to obtain Spanish residency for EU citizens, their spouses 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 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 spouses and 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 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 (also called a NIE, which you’ll need for any number of financial transactions you make in Spain).
You should be aware that the registration certificate is literally a piece of paper. While it does officially prove your Spanish residency, it is not a valid form of identification in Spain – only your own national passport is acceptable as ID.
Who needs a registration certificate?
You need one if:
- 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.);
- You intend to live or reside in Spain for more than three months.
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.
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 then 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:
- Download the EX-18 form, fill it out, and sign it.
- Make an appointment with the nearest Oficina de Extranjeros by phone (if you can!) or in person (make sure to get there very early).
- Bring your passport and the EX-18 form to your appointment.
- Hand your forms over when the Spanish civil servant asks for them.
- Take your new registration certificate home with you. Congratulations, you’re now a Spanish resident!
…Continue reading PART 2 of
EU Residency in Spain for EU Citizens, Their Spouses and Family Members, Certificate of Registration
Last updated 08 01 2012


greyspaniard said:
In the notes on the Registration Certificate it says that if you have lived in Spain for more than 5 years you can apply for permanent residence - this a new one on me, having lived here fro 10 years.
Can anyone explain or is it a reference to taking nationality?