EU Citizen Registration Certificate (NIE Verde)

Required registration for EU/EEA and Swiss nationals living in Spain

Citizens of the European Union, EEA (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) and Switzerland have the right to enter, live and work in Spain under EU free movement rules. However, if you plan to stay in Spain for more than 90 days, you must register in the Spanish Central Register of Foreign Nationals.

This registration results in the well-known green registration certificate — the NIE verde — which confirms your legal residence as an EU citizen in Spain and is required for many everyday administrative procedures.

At NomadTaxSpain, we guide clients through this quick but essential process, ensuring that the correct category, documents and local requirements are met from the start.

What is the EU Citizen Registration Certificate?

The EU Citizen Registration Certificate is a mandatory administrative registration for EU/EEA/Swiss nationals who intend to reside in Spain for more than three months. It is not a residence permit in the traditional sense — you already have the right to reside as an EU citizen — but it is the document that officially certifies that right in Spain.

The certificate typically includes your:

• Full name.
• Nationality.
• Spanish address.
• NIE number.
• Date of registration.

You will be asked for this certificate in many situations, including:

• Taking up employment or registering as self-employed.
• Signing a rental contract.
• Opening a bank account in Spain.
• Registering with the healthcare system.
• Completing other administrative procedures such as tax registration.

Who must register?

You must register and obtain the EU Citizen Registration Certificate if:

• You are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, and you intend to live in Spain for longer than 90 days; and
• You can demonstrate one of the following situations in Spain:
  • Employment (employee).
  • Self-employment.
  • Enrollment as a student.
  • Sufficient financial resources and full-coverage health insurance.

Spanish nationals do not have to complete this registration, as they are already included in the national register of citizens.

Requirements and documents

To obtain the EU Citizen Registration Certificate (NIE verde), you will usually need to provide the following:

• 1. Identity documentation
  • Valid passport or national ID card.
• 2. Completed application form
  • Form EX-18: “Registration in the Central Register of Foreign Nationals”.
• 3. Payment of the registration fee
  • Fee form 790/012 (around €12), duly paid, with proof of payment.
• 4. Proof of the basis for residence

  Depending on your situation:

  • Employees
    • Employment contract or firm job offer.
    • Social Security registration or pre-registration.
  • Self-employed workers
    • Registration in the Autonomous Worker System (RETA).
    • Tax registration (form 036 or 037) and professional membership where applicable.
  • Students
    • Enrollment letter from an official educational institution.
    • Public or private full-coverage health insurance.
    • Declaration of sufficient financial resources to cover living costs.
  • Financially self-sufficient applicants
    • Proof of sufficient resources (bank statements, pension payments, savings, investments, etc.).
    • Public or private full-coverage health insurance valid in Spain.
• 5. Proof of address

  In many provinces, a certificate of municipal registration (empadronamiento) at your Spanish address is required or at least strongly recommended.

• 6. Accompanying family members
  • EU/EEA/Swiss family members follow the same EX-18 registration procedure.
  • Non-EU family members must apply instead for the EU Family Member Residence Card, which is a separate process.
• 7. Foreign documents

  Documents not originally issued in Spanish may need a sworn translation into Spanish, and many foreign documents will also need to be apostilled or legalised.

How the registration process works

1. Book an appointment

   Registration is completed in person at the Police Station or Immigration Office corresponding to your province of residence. In most locations, you must book an appointment online in advance.

2. Attend the appointment

   You attend with all required documents, copies and proof of fee payment. If the file is complete and correct, the green certificate is usually issued immediately on the same day.

3. Corrections or additional documents

   If documents are missing or insufficient, the officer may ask for additional evidence or corrections, often within a short deadline.

4. Validity

   The green certificate does not have an expiry date as long as you continue to meet the conditions for residence. After five years of continuous residence, you may be eligible to apply for Permanent EU Residence.

Rights of registered EU citizens in Spain

Once registered and in possession of your EU Citizen Registration Certificate, you enjoy a wide range of rights under EU free movement rules, including:

• The right to live and work in Spain.
• The ability to register as an employee or self-employed under Spanish Social Security.
• Access to Spain's healthcare and public education systems subject to the applicable regulations.
• The right to bring eligible family members under the EU family reunification regime.
• Equality of treatment with Spanish nationals in key areas such as employment conditions and social advantages.

Common issues and practical advice

• Requirements can vary between provinces, particularly regarding proof of address and health insurance, so local guidance is important.
• Travel insurance generally does not meet the legal requirement for full medical coverage in Spain.
• Foreign financial documents often need apostille/legalisation and sworn translation, which can take time to obtain.
• Students must demonstrate both sufficient resources and adequate health insurance for the entire period of stay.
• Failing to register does not usually lead to immediate serious penalties, but it can cause complications when accessing public services, formal employment or proving legal residence for future applications (for example, permanent residence or nationality).

Why choose NomadTaxSpain?

We support EU nationals throughout the entire registration process, from choosing the correct category to completing the appointment with all documents in order.

Our service typically includes:

• Assessment of your situation and the correct EX-18 registration basis (worker, self-employed, student or self-sufficient).
• Review and preparation of all required documentation, including financial and insurance evidence.
• Coordination of apostilles, legalisations and sworn translations where necessary.
• Assistance with booking the appointment at the Police Station or Immigration Office.
• In-person support or detailed preparation for the day of the appointment.
• Follow-up and guidance for accompanying family members, both EU and non-EU.
• Post-registration services such as tax registration, padrón and healthcare registration.

Our aim is to ensure that your move to Spain as an EU citizen is fully compliant and that you can access work, housing, banking and healthcare smoothly from day one.

Start your EU Citizen Registration in Spain

If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national planning to relocate to Spain, we can help you complete your registration quickly and correctly, avoiding common mistakes and delays.

We combine immigration support with practical, on-the-ground experience so that you know exactly what to expect at every step.