If you move to Spain, you may need to register in the Padrón, obtain an NIE, and apply for residence. You will also need an NIE if you work or buy property in Spain, even if you do not plan to move there permanently.
WHAT IS THE “PADRÓN” OR “CERTIFICADO DE EMPADRONAMIENTO”?
The padrón is a register of people living in a municipality and helps local councils plan public services. Once registered, you receive a certificado de empadronamiento, which shows that you are registered at the town hall.
You must be registered in the padrón when moving to any municipality in Spain. Registration also provides benefits, as some services are only available to those on the padrón. These include:
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Registering with a primary care doctor
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Obtaining prescription medicines and hospital treatment
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Enrolling children in school
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Paying local taxes
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Using social services
The padrón is not the same as the electoral roll.
A Certificado de Empadronamiento is only valid for three months. If yours has expired, you do not need a new one unless you must prove where you live. Your certificate may not automatically show how long you have lived at your address. If needed, you can request the town hall to include this information.
When moving to another municipality or leaving Spain permanently, you must remove your data from the padrón by requesting it at your town hall.
WHAT IS AN NIE?
If you want to buy a house or work in Spain, for example, you must obtain a Número de Identificación de Extranjeros (NIE). You will need this even if you do not plan to live in Spain. Your NIE is your personal, non-transferable identification number and also serves as your tax identification number.
Your NIE is your “personal code” and is required to complete certain transactions in Spain.
NIEs are issued on A4 paper. You can obtain one at the nearest National Police station if you are already in Spain, or at the Spanish consulate in your home country if you are not. NIEs consist of seven numbers with a letter at the end, and the letter ‘X’ or ‘Y’ at the beginning. Your NIE acts as a personal code and remains the same for life.
Although having an NIE is essential for anyone applying to become a resident in Spain, the NIE by itself is not proof of residence.
WHAT IS “RESIDENCE”?
Residence refers to a residence permit.
A person who is a citizen of a European Union (EU) country must apply for a Certificate of Residence, showing that they are registered as a resident in Spain. This is a green paper document, either A4-sized or credit-card-sized. It does not contain a photograph and cannot be used as formal identification. The certificate shows the date your application was approved.
EU and EEA citizens need a “green certificate” as proof of residence, but it is not valid as an ID. This means you will usually need to carry your passport along with your residence certificate.
WHAT IS A T.I.E. AND WHO NEEDS IT?
If you live in Spain and are not a citizen of an EU country, you must apply for a different type of residence document called a Foreigner Identity Card (TIE).
Your TIE includes your NIE number, full name, date of birth, and nationality. It can be used as formal identification because it contains a passport-sized photo.
If you are traveling back to Spain from abroad, you will need to show your TIE at passport control. Residents in Spain and visiting EU citizens do not need to have their passport stamped, so a TIE proves that you live permanently in Spain.
Some foreign residents have a TIE with an expiration date, meaning it must be renewed before that date. If not renewed in time, you will no longer be considered a legal resident in Spain.
If you are a non-EU citizen living in Spain, you need a TIE, which is your photo ID card.
Once you have held a TIE for five years, you are considered a permanent resident in Spain.
INFORMATION FOR BRITISH RESIDENTS
British citizens living in Spain before the UK left the EU (Brexit) received a green residence certificate. You can exchange your green certificate for a TIE. Your TIE may need renewal to keep the photograph current, but you are automatically considered a permanent legal resident once you have had a green certificate, a TIE, or a combination of both for five years.
British citizens living in Spain before 2021 are not required to exchange their green residence certificate for a TIE unless they choose to. The exchange process is simple: no proof of income or status is required.
However, British residents who moved to Spain from 2021 onwards are subject to the same immigration rules as other non-EU citizens, meaning they must demonstrate a minimum income and have health insurance.
