EU, EEA and Swiss citizens: registering residence in Spain

A registration certificate with your NIE instead of a residence card

If you are a citizen of an EU or EEA country, or of Switzerland, and plan to stay in Spain beyond a short visit, you register at the foreigners’ office (Oficina de Extranjería) or the police station that covers your province. You receive the certificado de registro de ciudadano de la Unión, which shows your address, your NIE and your registration date. Family members from outside the EU follow a separate family-card procedure.

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How it works

Register residence as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

Get the residence certificate EU, EEA and Swiss citizens need for a longer stay.

As an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, you can live in another EU or EEA country, but for stays of more than three months you often have to register your residence and get a certificate. You usually show your passport or ID card and proof that you work, study, have enough money and health insurance, or are a family member. After five years you can apply for a document confirming permanent residence. This is separate from registering your address with the municipality, although some countries handle both at once. Swiss citizens may have their own procedure.

Also searched as

EU registration certificateresidence certificate for EU citizensEU citizen residenceEEA residence certificatepermanent residence certificateSwiss citizen residencegreen NIE certificate

At a glance

Offices
29 offices in 29 cities
Book online
At 28 of 29 offices
Apply online
Not offered
Offices for specific groups
  • For EU, EEA and Swiss citizens: 3 offices

Pick the right appointment type for your province

Where EU, EEA and Swiss citizens register in Spain

The certificate is issued inside police foreigners’ branches or selected police stations, and the appointment choices can be confusing, because a general residence appointment does not always cover EU registration.

See registration offices

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Other countries

The same task in other countries

Moving on, or comparing before you decide? See how this works elsewhere.

Where to next

Registration offices for EU citizens

Check which offices issue the EU registration certificate and which appointment each one expects.

EU registration offices in Spain

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