The EU Citizen Registration Certificate is the legal document that you must request if you are a citizen of the EU or Switzerland and want to settle in Spain to live and reside for more than 90 days.
This certificate, intended only for Europeans, is really a foreigner identity card (Spanish acronym TIE) and it enables you to reside and work legally in Spain. The certificate includes a foreigner identity number (Spanish acronym NIE).
What is the foreigner identity card (Spanish acronym TIE)?
Once the application process is completed, the applicant obtains a European Union Citizen Registration Certificate –also called foreigner identity card (Spanish acronym TIE)– which is issued immediately after verification of the corresponding requirements. The certificate attests to the EU citizen's registration in the central register of foreign nationals.
The certificate contains the name, nationality, and address of the registered person, as well as the assignment of a foreigner identity number (Spanish acronym NIE) and the date of registration.
In order to be correctly identified before the authorities, a passport must be carried along with the Certificate or TIE.
Where should Certificated applications be submitted?
Applications for an EU Citizen Registration Certificate are to be submitted in person at the police station of the place of residence.
Documentation required to request the TIE
- Two copies of the official application form (EX–18) duly filled out and signed by the EU citizen.
- Valid and current passport or national identity document. In the event that it has expired, a copy of the expired document and the renewal application must be provided.
- Rental contract or property title.
- Census registration in the municipality where the foreigner has decided to settle.
- Health insurance (public or private) contracted in Spain or in another country as long as it provides complete coverage in Spain (in the event that no economic activity is carried out in Spain).
- Document that proves the foreigner's sufficient financial means.
Depending on the case:
- Foreigners working for someone else: employment contract.
- Foreigners working for themselves: registration as a self-employed worker.
- Pensioners: certificate to that effect.
- Students: enrolment in a public or private education centre.
- If no economic activity is carried out in Spain: bank certificates, property titles, certified checks, documentation proving investment income, and/or credit cards (with a certificate from the bank proving the amount available as credit on said cards).
For family members of an EU citizen:
- Legalised documentation to prove the family relationship with the EU citizen.
- Documentation proving financial dependency.
- Documentation proving that the EU-citizen family member is either an employee or self-employed, or that he or she has sufficient financial means and health insurance, or that he or she is a student, or that he or she has sufficient means for himself and for the family members that he or she is responsible for, as well as health insurance.
