EU citizen registration in Spain: the registration certificate
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a visa to live in Spain, but staying longer than three months means registering. The result is the certificado de registro de ciudadano de la UE — often called the green certificate — which carries your NIE. We prepare the evidence, secure the appointment and line up the steps that depend on it.
This route suits
- EU, EEA and Swiss citizens moving to Spain for more than three months
- Employees and self-employed professionals starting work in Spain
- Retirees and others living on their own means
- Students enrolled at a Spanish institution
It’s not designed for
- Non-EU family members, who apply for a family member residence card instead
- Short stays of three months or less
- UK nationals arriving after Brexit, who generally follow non-EU routes
Key requirements
Valid passport or national ID
An in-date passport or national identity card from your EU, EEA or Swiss country of nationality.
Basis for residence
You must show one of: employment in Spain, self-employment, sufficient means plus health cover, or enrolment in studies plus health cover.
Employment or self-employment evidence
An employment contract or employer certificate, or proof of registration as self-employed (autónomo) and, where relevant, of your economic activity.
Sufficient means and health cover
If you are not working, evidence of sufficient resources and public or private health cover valid in Spain. What counts as sufficient is assessed by the office, so we confirm current expectations at consultation.
Application form and fee
The EX-18 form and payment of the corresponding fee (tasa), plus padrón registration where the office asks for it.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; we confirm your situation in a consultation.
Last reviewed: Legal basis: RD 240/2007 · Directive 2004/38/EC
How the process works
Check your basis
We confirm which category fits — worker, self-employed, own means or student — and what evidence the office will expect.
Prepare the file
We assemble and review your documents, including insurance wording and financial evidence where relevant.
Book the appointment
We secure the appointment (cita previa) at the Oficina de Extranjería or police station for your area. Where any step legally requires a colegiado professional, our named partner (abogado or gestor administrativo colegiado) handles it.
Attend and collect
You attend in person and, where everything is in order, the certificate is usually issued at the appointment.
Follow-on steps
With your certificate and NIE, we coordinate padrón, Social Security, healthcare registration, bank account and digital certificate.
After approval
The registration certificate does not expire in the same way as a residence card, but you should update it if your details or situation change. After five years of continuous legal residence, you can apply for permanent residence. We remind you when you become eligible.
Why files get refused or delayed
- Turning up without clear evidence of the basis for residence — for example, an offer letter instead of a signed contract
- Health insurance that does not give full cover in Spain when relying on own means
- Inconsistent financial evidence between bank statements and other documents
- Booking an appointment in the wrong province for your address
- Documents in another language without a translation where the office requires one
Frequently asked questions
Do EU citizens need to register in Spain?
Yes, if you plan to stay longer than three months. You apply for the registration certificate of EU citizen, which also shows your NIE. Registration is the foundation for many other steps, from healthcare to buying a car.
What is the green certificate in Spain?
It is the informal name for the certificado de registro de ciudadano de la UE, the document EU, EEA and Swiss citizens receive when they register as residents. Older versions were printed on green paper. It includes your NIE.
Can I register in Spain as an EU citizen without a job?
Yes, if you can show sufficient means and health cover valid in Spain, or that you are studying. The office assesses what counts as sufficient, so we review your evidence before the appointment.
Is the EU registration certificate the same as an NIE?
Not quite. The NIE is your identification number; the registration certificate is the document confirming you are registered as a resident, and it shows that number. Non-residents can hold an NIE without registering.
Turn this into a plan
The route finder takes two minutes. A consultation turns it into a plan.