You have an EU passport, a new flat in Valencia and a job offer that starts next month. Moving to Spain should be the easy part. Then the landlord asks for your NIE, the employer asks for your residence certificate, and the police appointment system shows nothing free for six weeks.
As an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen you do not need a visa to live in Spain. But if you stay longer than three months, you must register and get the EU Citizen Registration Certificate, the famous “green certificate”. Done right, it takes one appointment.
Who Needs the Green Certificate
Citizens of the 27 EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, and Switzerland who will live in Spain for more than three months. What you must prove depends on your profile:
Workers
EmployeesEmployment contract or company certificate, or social security registration Self-employedRegistration as autónomo or with the business registryNot working
Retirees and othersSufficient resources plus health insurance valid in Spain StudentsEnrolment, health insurance and a declaration of sufficient meansFor people who do not work, the law sets the reference at resources above the annual amount that gives the right to a non-contributory benefit in Spain, adjusted to your family situation. Offices look at bank balances, pensions or regular income.
The Process, Step by Step
- Register at the town hallThe empadronamiento certificate needs a rental contract or the owner’s authorisation. A holiday rental address often causes problems.
- Book the appointmentAt the Foreigners’ Office or the police, depending on the province. In big cities, book early.
- Pay the feeForm 790-012, around €12, at any bank or online.
- Attend with originals and copiesForm EX-18, passport or ID, padrón and proof for your profile.
- Leave with your certificateIt shows your NIE and address. It does not expire, but you must report a change of address.
Everyone
EX-18 form, signed Valid passport or national ID Recent padrón certificate Fee receipt 790-012If you work
Contract or employer certificate Or autónomo registration Social security number if you have itIf you do not work
Bank statements or pension proof Private insurance or an S1 form Student enrolment, if relevantExample
Klaus and Ingrid, retired teachers from Hamburg, moved to Alicante. Their German pensions cover their costs, and they obtained S1 forms so their healthcare is covered in Spain. They registered at the town hall, booked one appointment for both, and left the same morning with their two certificates.
What the Certificate Opens for You
Is Your Partner Not an EU Citizen?
Spouses, registered partners and some family members of EU citizens can get a 5-year EU family residence card, with the right to work. We recently secured one in under six weeks for a couple that moved to Valencia.
Why This Process Is Harder Than It Looks
- Registering at a holiday rental address that the town hall or the office will not accept.
- Forgetting health insurance when you do not work in Spain.
- Waiting until month three, when no appointments are left.
- Assuming family members from outside the EU can use the same certificate: they need their own card.
Want us to handle the padrón, the appointment and the file for you? See our EU registration service.
The job offer, the flat and the new life are waiting. One well-prepared appointment is all that stands between you and them.
Talk to a Lawyer Before Your Appointment
If you are moving to Spain with an EU passport, or with a partner who does not have one, that is exactly what a consultation is for. At MigratioLex, we review your specific case, not a generic checklist. We respond within 24 hours, in English, French or Spanish.
Book Your Initial ConsultationThis article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Based on Royal Decree 240/2007 and Order PRE/1490/2012. Fees and appointment systems can change and vary by province. The example is illustrative.
