EU Residency Certificate (for EU Citizens) in Spain

Citizens of EU countries, of the wider European Economic Area (EEA) and of Switzerland who plan to live in Spain for more than three months must register there. Registering is a legal duty, and not doing it can cause problems. It can be hard to do if you do not know the local system or do not speak Spanish well.

What you need

• Citizenship of an EU or EEA country, or of Switzerland.
• A valid passport or national ID card. If yours has expired, a copy plus proof that you have applied for a new one.
• To meet the other conditions set out in Spanish rules (Royal Decree 240/2007).

How it works

You must register in person at the foreigners' office for your province, or at the police station that deals with this. It must be done within three months of arriving. The registration certificate is handed to you straight away.

What the service includes

• A talk about your needs and timing.
• Checking your ID documents and that you meet the conditions.
• Help filling in the application form (form EX18).
• Help paying the official fee (form 790, code 012) and keeping proof of payment.
• Help when you hand in the application in person.
• Follow-up to make sure the certificate is issued, and guidance if anything goes wrong.