Appointment for the EU Registration Certificate

The document that evidences your residence in Spain if you are a citizen of the European Union, the EEA or Switzerland. We handle the appointment across Spain.

Citizens of the EU, the European Economic Area and Switzerland who will reside in Spain for more than three months must register in the Central Register of Foreign Nationals. The result is the so-called green certificate: it is not a TIE, and it carries no photograph.

Service price

A fixed fee for managing the appointment. Nothing is charged in advance: payment is requested once the appointment is confirmed and you can verify it yourself.

Official administration fees are not included: they are paid directly to the state.

Frequently asked questions

Is it compulsory for an EU citizen?

For stays of more than three months in Spain, registration in the Central Register of Foreign Nationals is compulsory. It is not required for shorter stays.

Is the green certificate the same as the TIE?

No. The TIE is the card for non-EU nationals. The registration certificate is a paper document for EU citizens, without a photograph.

Are fingerprints taken for this procedure?

No. The EU registration certificate does not require fingerprints, unlike the TIE.

What if I am a non-EU family member of an EU citizen?

In that case the procedure is the residence card for a family member of an EU citizen, which is a physical card and does require fingerprints.

Does the certificate expire?

The initial certificate has no expiry date as such, but changes of address must be reported, and after five years you can apply for the permanent one.

Last reviewed: August 2026. General information only; this is not legal advice. Requirements may vary according to current legislation and the relevant office.

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EU registration certificate: what you must evidence

Citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland who will live in Spain for more than three months must register and obtain the registration certificate, a small green certificate without a photograph. It is not a TIE.

The four usual situations

• Employed: work contract, Social Security registration, or a certificate from the employer.
• Self-employed: registration in the tax census and in the self-employed scheme.
• Not working: sufficient means for you and your family, plus health insurance with cover in Spain.
• Student: enrolment at a recognised institution, health insurance and a declaration of sufficient means.

Documents

• Form EX-18, completed and signed.
• Valid passport or national identity document, original and copy.
• The evidence for your situation from the list above.
• Receipt of the fee. This procedure has its own fee, lower than the 790-012 for cards.
• In many offices, the registration certificate (empadronamiento) of your address.

What people get wrong

• Choosing the TIE or fingerprint procedure in the appointment system instead of the EU certificate.
• Private insurance with co-payments where the office expects cover equivalent to the public system.
• Proving means with a single bank balance instead of statements showing stability.
• Assuming family members are covered: a non-EU spouse needs the EX-19 card, not this certificate.

After five years

The certificate does not expire like a card, but after five years of legal continuous residence you can apply for the permanent residence certificate. Changes of address or personal data are notified and a new certificate is issued.