How to apply for Spanish residency

Raymundo Larraín Nesbitt, February, 1. 2019

Lawyer Raymundo Larraín explains how to attain Spanish residency.

Photo credit: Wikipaedia, CC BY-SA 4.0, Oggy afid.

By Raymundo Larraín Nesbitt
Lawyer - Abogado
1^st of February 2019

EDIT: March 2019. Due to Brexit-related issues, this procedure has become convoluted and it is strongly advised you hire our residency service: Spanish residency

The following procedure we explain below is only for registration of fellow EU nationals i.e. British national. Any national of a country outwith the EU, cannot follow what we explain below.

British nationals may enter Spanish territory without a visa as we are within the Schengen Area. However, should you remain in Spain for more than 3 consecutive months - by law - you must apply for Spanish residency (residencia, in Spanish). As a EU national, this requires you attain a Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la Unión (Registry for citizens members of the Union). The procedure is extremely easy and straightforward.

You must make an appointment at your local the Oficina de Extranjeros (normally 2 weeks' waiting time) and bring the following with you:

Passport in force.
Two copies of the official form (EX-18) completed in Spanish and signed by the EU-national.
Depending on your situation:

Employed: signed job contract & other proof.
Self-employed: proof of registration in the register of economic activities (Registro de Actividades Económicas), enrolled in Social Security.
Unemployed: prove of hiring private healthcare cover and having sufficient financial means to support yourself and your family.
Students: prove of being enrolled in an academic course, proof of health cover (public or private), proof you have sufficient financial means to support yourself.
Pensioners: proof of health cover.

If you meet all the above requirements, you will be issued shortly after with a certificate member of the Union.

So why is all this relevant you may ask? Because post-Brexit, if you did not register yourself as a member of the Union, you will be stripped off a series of rights and entitlements to which you would otherwise be entitled. You may also be regarded as an illegal alien in EU territory by the Authorities, which may even lead to your deportation to your country of origin.

After five years of continued and legal residence, you may apply for permanent residency or residencia permanente. This allows you unconditional residency in Spain.

After ten years of continued and legal residence, you may opt for Spanish nationality (optional).

We can offer you this legal service: Spanish residency

Larraín Nesbitt Lawyers, small on fees, big on service.

Larraín Nesbitt Lawyers is a law firm specialized in taxation, inheritance, conveyancing, and litigation. We will be very pleased to discuss your matter with you. You can contact us by e-mail at info@larrainnesbitt.com, by telephone on 952 19 22 88 or by completing our contact form.

Legal services Larraín Nesbitt Lawyers can offer you

Spanish residency (EU nationals)
Conveyancing – Buying
Conveyancing – Selling
NIE Number (Tax Identification Number)
Will writing service (Spanish will)
Wealth Tax
Tax form 720
Holiday Rental Accounting Service (HRAS)
Spanish Resident Income Tax (IRPF)

Brexit-related articles

Spain: register your residency – UK Government
Living in Spain – UK Government
How to Apply for Healthcare in Spain – 8th November 2014
Brexit and You – 21^st February 2018
Brexit and Spanish Residency – 21^st September 2018
How to apply for Spanish residency - 1st February 2019
8 tips for Brexit – 21^st February 2019

Please note the information provided in this blog post is of general interest only and is not to be construed or intended as substitute for professional legal advice. This article may be posted freely in websites or other social media so long as the author is duly credited. Plagiarizing, whether in whole or in part, this article without crediting the author may result in criminal prosecution. VOV.