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EU citizen registration certificate (green NIE)

Official name: Registration certificate for citizens of the Union (Certificado de registro de ciudadano de la Unión)

€125VAT included

+ €12 in government fees · Estimated total cost: €137

See the price breakdown

If you are a national of another European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland and will live in Spain for more than 3 months, you must register in the Central Register of Foreign Nationals. You get a certificate with your NIE (foreigner identity number): the popular “green NIE”. You apply in person, with form EX-18, within 3 months of your arrival.

In short

Who it is for
Citizens of the EU, the EEA or Switzerland who are going to live in Spain for more than 3 months
Duration
Valid as long as you still meet the conditions; after 5 years you can apply for the permanent residence certificate
Can I work?
Yes, on the same terms as Spanish nationals
Where to apply
In person, at the Immigration Office (Oficina de Extranjería) of the province or at a police station
Message us on WhatsApp
Tell us about your situation

To talk about your case, at any time (24 hours). Please don't send documents on WhatsApp: if we need any, we'll give you a secure way to send them.

Is this your procedure?

It is for you if…

  • Citizens of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland who come to live in Spain for more than 3 months (art. 7 and additional provision 3 of RD 240/2007).
  • Employees or self-employed workers in Spain (art. 7.1.a).
  • People who do not work but have sufficient resources and health insurance, including pensioners (art. 7.1.b).
  • Students enrolled at a recognised centre, with health insurance and sufficient resources (art. 7.1.c).
  • Family members who are also citizens of the EU, the EEA or Switzerland and come with or join one of the above (art. 7.1.d; Order PRE/1490/2012, art. 4).

It is not for you if…

  • Your family member does not have the nationality of an EU or EEA country or Switzerland: they need the EU family member card, not this certificate.

    See: Family of an EU citizen

  • You will be in Spain for less than 3 months: your valid passport or identity document is enough (art. 6 of RD 240/2007).

  • You are not a citizen of the EU, the EEA or Switzerland and only need a number for a financial transaction: that is the NIE allocation (art. 205 of RD 1155/2024), a different procedure.

If you were looking for…

«green NIE (NIE verde)»
It is the popular name for this certificate. The NIE is your foreigner identity number; the certificate is the document showing that you are registered as a resident.
«EU residence (residencia comunitaria)»
This certificate is sometimes called that. After 5 years of continuous legal residence you can apply for the certificate of the right of permanent residence (art. 10 of RD 240/2007).
«renew the green NIE»
The NIE is not renewed: it is your personal, unique number (art. 205 of RD 1155/2024). If your details change (address, marital status or nationality), you must report it (art. 14.2 of RD 240/2007).

Requirements

  • Have the nationality of an EU or EEA country or Switzerland.

    RD 240/2007, arts. 1 and 7; additional provision 3

  • Meet one of these conditions: work as an employee or self-employed; have sufficient resources and health insurance; study with insurance and resources; or be a family member of someone who meets them.

    RD 240/2007, art. 7.1

  • Resources: there is no fixed amount; your personal and family situation is assessed. Having more than the amount set each year by the Budget Act for entitlement to a non-contributory benefit is considered sufficient.

    RD 240/2007, art. 7.7; Order PRE/1490/2012, art. 3.2.c

  • If you do not work: public or private health insurance with cover in Spain equivalent to the National Health System.

    Order PRE/1490/2012, art. 3.2.c.1st

  • Apply in person within 3 months of entering Spain.

    RD 240/2007, art. 7.5

  • Pay the government fee, which is the same amount as the fee for the DNI (Spanish national identity card).

    RD 240/2007, art. 14.1

Documents

Guide list only. Before we start, we tell you exactly which ones you need in your case.

  • Form EX-18, filled in and signed.
  • Valid, in-date passport or national identity document. If it has expired, a copy and the renewal application.
  • If you are an employee: a hiring declaration or employment certificate from the employer, or the contract or Social Security registration.
  • If you are self-employed: registration in the census of economic activities, in the Commercial Register or with Social Security.
  • If you do not work: health insurance and proof of your resources (regular income, assets or a bank certificate, for example).
  • If you are studying: enrolment, health insurance (the European Health Insurance Card is accepted if it covers the whole period) and a responsible declaration (declaración responsable) of resources.
  • Receipt for payment of the fee.

Please don't send documents on WhatsApp or by email. If we need any, we'll give you a secure way to send them.

Deadlines

When to apply
Within 3 months of entering Spain (art. 7.5).
Issue
If your documents are complete, the rules provide for the certificate to be issued on the spot (art. 7.5 of RD 240/2007; art. 2.4 of Order PRE/1490/2012).
If something is missing
You get 10 days to complete the application. If you do not, it is treated as withdrawn (art. 2.3 of Order PRE/1490/2012).
Changes you must report
Changes of nationality, marital status or address, to the Immigration Office or the police station (art. 14.2).
Permanent residence
After 5 years of continuous legal residence you can apply for the permanent residence certificate. You lose that right if you spend more than 2 consecutive years outside Spain (art. 10).

How we work

  1. 1. You tell us about your situation

    On WhatsApp, by phone or with the form. A few lines are enough.

  2. 2. We tell you which procedure, which documents and what it costs

    Before we start, with a fixed price and government fees on top. If it isn't the right procedure for you, we tell you.

  3. 3. We prepare your application file

    We review your documents and make sure the file is complete and well explained. Once we have everything, we tell you the date it will be ready.

    Online submission on your behalf when the procedure allows it.

  4. 4. Follow-up and an update on every development

    We follow your file until the decision. If the authorities ask for anything else, we prepare it with you.

Fingerprinting for the TIE is done in person, by you: that part is yours.

In Barcelona and Catalonia

It is a national (state) procedure. In the province of Barcelona you apply in person, with the appointment (cita previa) you book yourself, at a Policía Nacional (national police) station that handles the “EU regime” (régimen comunitario): not all of them do.

Immigration in Barcelona: offices and data for the province

Frequently asked questions

Can I use the certificate to identify myself?

It is a registration certificate: it shows your name, nationality, address, NIE and the date of registration (art. 7.5 of RD 240/2007). Carry it together with your passport or national identity document.

Can I start working before I have it?

Your right to work comes from your European nationality (art. 3.2), and applying for the certificate does not stop you from carrying out your activities (art. 12.2). Even so, if you are staying more than 3 months, registering is compulsory (art. 3.3).

How much money do I need if I do not work?

There is no fixed amount: your personal and family situation is assessed. The rules consider it sufficient to have more than the amount giving entitlement to a non-contributory benefit under each year's Budget Act (Order PRE/1490/2012, art. 3.2.c).

My partner is not European. Can they apply for the same certificate?

No. Your family member from outside the EU applies for the residence card for family members of citizens of the Union, with form EX-19, within 3 months of arriving. They must provide your registration certificate with their application (art. 8 of RD 240/2007).

Review and sources

Written with the help of AI and reviewed by the Un Papel Menos team on 13 October 2026.

Last updated: .

Legislation

Sources

Related procedures

Family of an EU citizen

If your partner, father, mother or child is from another EU country and lives in Spain: a 5-year card to live and work.

€345VAT included · government fees not included

Family of a Spanish national

If you are the partner, son, daughter, father or mother of a Spanish national: 5-year residence to live and work in any sector.

€345VAT included · government fees not included

Family arraigo

For the mother, father or guardian of a child from another EU or EEA country or Switzerland. It lasts 5 years.

€395VAT included · government fees not included

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