The residency permit (Tarjeta de Residencia) is a credit card-sized card which shows all of the holder's personal details including the NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) number.

There are two types of residency: 

1. the temporary residence permit is for people who intend staying in Spain for more than three months but less than a year 
2. the "ordinary residence" permit is for a minimum stay of 12 months. This permit can be renewed after five years

Permanent residence is available to people who have worked in the Spanish system for more than three years and leave a job due to a permanent disability or having reached retirement age.

Below is information for EU and non-EU citizens on who should register for residency, and how. 

European Union Citizens

As of March 2007 EU citizens will no longer be issued with a residency card but do still need to register at the Foreigner's offices (Oficinas de Extranjería) if they intend to stay in Spain for over three months. European Union citizens are issued with a certificate stating their name, address in Spain, nationality, identity number and date of registration.

•  EU, EEA and Swiss Citizens form (RD 240/2007): Click here (PDF)

EU citizens who currently hold a residency card do not need to re-register until the card expires, when they will be issued with a certificate.

People not needing a residence certificate: 

• People living and working legally in Spain and paying contributions to the Spanish Social Security system
• Retired workers, who have moved to Spain, lived there for more three years and paid into the Spanish Social system for 12 months prior to retiring. See the Age Concern Espana website (in English) which provides advice and support for pensioners in Spain
• Students
• EU national dependants of an EU national
• Fully declared self-employed workers who are paying into the Spanish Social Security system (see this page of the Seguridad Social website) 

People who need to apply for and carry a residence card: 

• Pensioners who are retiring to Spain (See the Age Concern España website)
• Dependants of an EU or Spanish citizen where the dependants are not EU citizens (See Europa website)
• Anyone planning to live in Spain and not earn an income (living off investments and/or savings)

UK Citizens

• The UK government provides comprehensive advice for UK citizens moving to Spain: See the British Embassy website
• For information about the Spanish Social Security system (in English) see Spanish government Seguridad Social website

Non-EU Citizens

Citizens of non-EU countries wanting to stay in Spain for more than three months must have a residency permit. It should be applied for within 30 days of arriving in the country. The application should be addressed to the Foreigners' Office (Oficina de Extranjeros) or, depending on where the nearest office is, the local police station.

Non-EU residents are allowed to stay in Spain for a year on an initial permit (residencia), which can be renewed, and lasts up to 5 years.

Before departure for Spain a Visado de Residencia must be requested from the Spanish Embassy of the home country. This is different to the standard three-month tourist visa in that it allows for the residency application process to begin. It is unlikely that the residency process can begin with a tourist visa only.

The Spanish government Social Security department website has comprehensive information (in English): see Seguridad Social.

US Citizens

US citizens who are travelling to Spain for less than 90 days (three months) do not need a visa, however those wishing to stay longer will need to contact the Spanish Embassy in Washington before leaving.

While it is not essential, the US Embassy in Spain strongly recommends that citizens register with their embassy or consulate on arrival in Spain.

Australian Citizens

Australian Citizens planning to live or work in Spain should apply for the appropriate visa before leaving Australia. Applications should be made to a Spanish Consulate or Embassy in Australia.

• See the Spanish Embassy in Canberra website

If you have not applied for a residence visa (Visado de Residencia) before arriving in Spain you will be given a standard 3-month tourist visa on arrival. This visa does not allow you to work or stay longer than three months. Residency may be hard to get if you are in the country on a tourist visa only. For further information, contact the Ministry of the Interior toll free in Spain (Spanish only) Tel: 900 150 000. 

For other Non EU citizens wishing to travel or move to Spain, see your local Spanish Embassy for advice in your home country. To find the contact details of your local Spanish Embassy in your home country see this page of the Spain Info website and select the country where you wish to find the Embassy.

How to Apply for a Residence Permit (Tarjeta de Residencia)

• Go to a local Foreigners' Office (Officina de Extranjeros). See this web link to find your nearest one: Click here  
• A form will be supplied and the application processed. (Form 037 for EU nationals, Form 120 for non EU citizens who have employment, Form 140 non-EU citizens who are not employed)

Check with the local office exactly what documentation is required. This can vary depending on the location and there is no definitive list. That said, expect to need at least some of the following:

EU Citizens:

• Valid passport with a photocopy
• 3 passport size photos (colour) with your name written on the back
• The completed application form and 3 copies of it
• Proof of address in Spain (title deeds of property/rental contract)
• Money to pay the administration fee! The fee is different for EU and non-EU citizens

Further documentation may be required by EU citizens and will certainly be needed by non-EU Citizens. 

The list includes: 

• Employees must produce a copy of their job contract or a certificate of employment.
• Persons setting up in a self-employed capacity must provide documents which show that they meet the same conditions as are required of Spanish nationals and that they have applied for the same authorisation that Spanish citizens need in order to carry on the activity. The evidence may be provided by any appropriate means
• Proof of financial status for those not intending on working.
• Proof of enrolment for students
• Proof of no criminal record (Certificado de Antecedentes Penales). This is more likely to be asked of a non-EU citizen. Contact your embassy or local home police department for a copy.
• Medical Certificate, proving a clean bill of health.
• Consular inscription, a letter from the home consulate
• Spanish medical insurance
• Marriage Certificate and a translation
• Birth certificates for children under 18 and translations
• Service providers must produce certificates from the authorities in their home member state or the member state from which they come, showing that they hold all the qualifications or diplomas required for carrying on the activity and that they normally carry on such an activity in their home member state or the member state from which they come.
• Money to pay the administration fee! The fee is different for EU and non-EU citizens. 

Depending on the requirements of the office you are registering with you may need certified translations of documents.

Once the application for a residence permit has been received, you will be given a copy of the application stamped by the receiving office. Usually a permit will be issued within three to four months. Resident permits may be renewed at the Foreigners' Office (Officina de Extranjeros).

EU Frontier Workers

Frontier workers (people working in Spain but living in an EU member state to which they return at least once a week) should apply for a Frontier Worker's Card at the Foreign Residents Office or local police station. 

To find out the relevant authority in each case, contact the mayor's office in the municipality of residency, a police station (dial 091), the government delegate's office (Delegación del Gobierno) or the government sub-delegate's office (Subdelegación del Gobierno) in your province. 

• For information on entry and residence requirements and procedures Tel: 900 150 000 (free call)
• Or see Spanish Ministry of the Interior (in Spanish): Ministerio del Interior website

This generally only applies to people living in the border regions who will be regularly passing through the border checks, Portugal, Andorra and France, (and Morocco).

The NIE Number

All foreigners need to have a foreigners tax identification number, an NIE (Numero de Identificatión de Extranjero), regardless of whether they are obliged to have a residency card or not.

• Anyone with financial, professional or social interests in Spain, will need a personal and exclusive number to identify them
• An NIE code is essential when buying property, opening a bank account, starting a business, use short-term employment agencies or receive social security benefits
• The NIE number is both a Social Security number, and a tax identification number
• Applications for an NIE can be made at a police station with a foreigners department, or by contacting the local regional government, either in person or the form is often downloadable or available on request from the website. (See AngloINFO INFOrmation page: Foreigner's Identification Number (NIE) in Spain)
• Once registered in Spain you will receive an NIE number whether you are an EU citizen or not
• This number will appear in every document issued and in the residence permit

To obtain the "NIE" it will be necessary to present the following documents:

• An application form which is available at the Foreigner's Office (Oficina de Extranjeros)
• Your identity card or original passport and with photocopy
• You may be asked to provide certified documentation stating the reasons for applying for the NIE

The office will then give you a date to collect the NIE.

Further Information

• The Catalonia Generalitat runs an immigration information service.
  Immigration Information Line 
  Open: Monday to Friday 09:00-17:00 (English spoken) 
  Call from Catalonia: 012
  Call from outside Catalonia: 902 400 012
  From outside the country: 00 34 902 400 12

• Spanish Ministry of the Interior (in Spanish): Ministerio del Interior website

• European Union: Europa website

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