EU registration certificate in Spain (the green NIE)

Before you start

• Valid passport or national ID card
• Proof that you work, are self-employed, study, or have sufficient resources and health insurance

Documents you need

• Valid passport or national ID card

  If it has expired, a copy plus proof that you applied to renew it.

  required

• Form EX-18 in duplicate

  required

• Proof of payment of the €12 fee

  required

• Workers: contract, employer's certificate or social security registration

  optional

• Students and people not working: health insurance covering Spain

  optional

• Students and people not working: proof of sufficient resources

  optional

Step by step

1. 1

   Step 1: Check which residence condition you meet

   You must meet at least one of these conditions:

   • Employee or self-employed in Spain.
   • Sufficient resources for yourself and your family so you do not become a burden on social assistance, plus health insurance with full cover in Spain (public or private, from Spain or another country).
   • Student at a recognised or publicly funded institution, with health insurance covering Spain and a signed statement that you have sufficient resources.
   • Family member accompanying or joining an EU citizen who meets one of the conditions above.

   There is no fixed income figure in the decree; the authorities assess your personal situation, and the threshold cannot exceed the level of social assistance for Spaniards or the minimum Social Security pension.

2. 2

   Step 2: If you will work, get your social security number first

   Barcelona International Welcome advises workers to request their social security number and be registered by their employer before the appointment, because registration with Social Security (or the employer's certificate) is the usual proof of work. See Social security number in Spain.

3. 3

   Step 3: Prepare your documents

   • Form EX-18 in duplicate, completed and signed.
   • Your valid passport or national ID card (originals and copies).
   • Proof of your situation:
     • Employees: an employer's statement or certificate with the company's name, address, tax number and social security account code, or a contract registered with the public employment service, or proof of registration with Social Security.
     • Posted workers: your contract with the employer abroad, your last payslips and the A1 certificate.
     • Self-employed: registration with the Tax Agency, the Companies Register or Social Security.
     • Not working: proof of health insurance with full cover in Spain and proof of sufficient resources.
     • Students: proof of enrolment, health insurance (a European Health Insurance Card valid for your stay is accepted) and a statement of sufficient resources.
   • Documents not in Spanish usually need a sworn translation; multilingual EU standard forms do not.
4. 4

   Step 4: Pay the fee and book the appointment

   Fill in Modelo 790, código 012 choosing the option for the EU registration certificate (certificado de registro de residente comunitario), and pay €12 (2026) at a bank or by direct debit before the appointment.

   Book on the government's cita previa system: select your province, then the National Police procedure for the EU citizen registration certificate (certificado de registro de ciudadano de la UE). You receive a confirmation by email.

5. 5

   Step 5: Attend in person and receive the certificate

   Go to the police station or foreigners' office shown on your booking. If everything is correct, the certificate is issued on the spot. Keep it with your passport or ID card: it is a paper document without a photo, so you always need your ID as well.

6. 6

   Step 6: Register your non-EU family members

   Family members who are not EU citizens and stay more than three months must apply, within three months of entry, for a residence card of a family member of a Union citizen (tarjeta de residencia de familiar de ciudadano de la Unión). They show their passport, proof of the family relationship, your registration certificate and, where relevant, proof of dependency. They receive a receipt that proves lawful residence until the card is issued; the card is normally valid for five years.

Watch out

Common mistakes

• Assuming that a stand-alone "white NIE" obtained earlier replaces the registration certificate. It does not.
• Arriving without the fee receipt or with the wrong procedure selected on the 790 form.
• Bringing travel insurance as proof of health cover. The insurance must give full cover in Spain.

Tips

• Ask for an employer's certificate early; HR departments in Spain are used to providing it.
• Register in the padrón as well; you need it for public health care and school places even though the certificate itself does not always require it.
• Keep the certificate safe and make a scan; replacing it means another appointment.

Frequently asked questions

Editorial answers written by our team, based on the sources below.

Official links

In your plan

• Get your EU registration certificateAdd to plan
• Register your non-EU family membersAdd to plan
• Check what free movement means for you in SpainAdd to plan
• Book your police appointment for the TIE or EU certificateAdd to plan
• Arrange health cover for your first monthsAdd to plan
• Plan for long-term residence or Spanish nationalityAdd to plan

Sources

Written and checked by HomiStart editorial against the official sources below. Next scheduled check: 6 Apr 2027.