EU citizens (including British Citizens) who wish to stay in Spain for longer than 3 months should register in person at the Oficina de Extranjeros in their province of residence or at designated Police stations where they will be issued wth a "Certificado de la Ciudadano de la Union por Extranjeros" ("Certificate of Residence for Foreigners”) stating their name, address, nationality, NIE number (Número de Identificación Extranjeros) and date of registration (it does not carry a photo of the holder.)

There are three forms to fill in including a form for the Bank to pay for the “Certificate of Residence for Foreigners”.

You need to produce:

Your NIE form - original and photocopy
Your valid passport and photocopy
Your valid padron certificate (from your Town Hall - see below)

- A pensioner retiring to Spain (who has never worked there)

- A person of independent means (i.e. not employed or self-employed)

- A non-EU national dependant of an EU or Spanish national

Registering on the Padron at your Town Hall

The padrón is a list of people who live in a town. All residents in Spain are - officially - required to add themselves to the padrón (a process called "empadronarse" in Spanish) and this can be done by filling in a form at the padrón office of your local town hall. To complete the process you will need to take the following with you:

- Official ID (e.g. passport)
- NIE or residence certificate/card
- a recent utility bill in your name
- house deeds or copy of rental contract

Registering on the padrón is not only an official requirement, it also brings a number of benefits such as access to some aspects of social care (after a certain period of time), potential reductions in a number of charges and taxes, discounts on courses/activities organised by the Town Hall and also voting rights in local and European elections. The padrón certificate is also required for other things such as healthcare, education and obtaining Spanish number plates for your car.

Residence cards

Residence cards (as distinct from the Certificate of Residence for Foreigners) are no longer required for EU citizens although they are available if desired. There are two types of residence card in Spain:

- Temporary residence card - if you intend to stay between 3 months and 1 year

- Permanent residence card - if you intend to stay between 1 and 5 years. Valid for a maximum of 5 years and renewable after that.

To apply for a residence card, collect an application form from your nearest National Police Station (Comisaría de Policía Nacional) or Foreigner's Office (Oficina de Extranjeros). Once completed, submit the forms to either the Foreigner's Office or a National Police Station with a Foreigners' department, together with 3 passport size photographs, your passport (valid for at least six months) and a photocopy of it, medical certificate (if required) and proof of financial support. Cards are issued at the discretion of the Spanish authorities.

To assist you with paperwork, you may wish to enlist the services of an official known as a 'Gestor'. Although not a lawyer, the Gestor will get you the desired result with minimum hassle - particularly recommended for those without fluent Spanish or simply baffled by the Spanish administration system! Fees are usually reasonable but find out the total cost before you engage them, as results are not immediate. Sometimes the Gestor will ask for the whole fee in advance. Your nearest Gestor's office (known as Gestorias) can be found in the Spanish Yellow Pages: http://www.paginasamarillas.es

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