EU residents in Spain

A new legislation has done away with the requirement of residence cards for EU residents in Spain. European Union citizens will no longer be issued with residence cards.

The new decree was approved on the 16th of February 2007 by the Spanish council of Ministers and will take effect on the 28th of March 2007.

It requires all EU citizens planning to reside in Spain for longer than 3 months to register in person at the Foreigners office in their province of residence or at designated police stations.

They will be issued a certificate stating their name, address, nationality, identity number and date of registration. Those EU citizens who already have residence cards in Spain will not need to re-register until their residence card expires upon which they will be issued with a certificate.



The British Embassy recommends that British citizens in Spain always carry proof of identity; and that recommendation should be applied to all EU residents.