EU registration certificate
If you are European and settling in Spain, the registration certificate is your first step. We tell you what you will be asked for and go with you to the appointment.
What it involves
The EU citizen registration certificate (certificado de registro), which many people call the “green NIE” (NIE verde), is the document that proves that a citizen of the EU, the European Economic Area or Switzerland lives in Spain. To obtain it you have to show, for example, that you work, that you have sufficient means or that you study here.
Is this your case?
- You are an Italian, French or Romanian citizen and have just moved to Spain for work.
- You are European, retired and want to live part of the year in the Canary Islands or on the Costa del Sol.
- Your registration was rejected at the appointment because a document was missing.
- You want your partner or children, who are not European, to join you in Spain.
How we help
We explain which registration route fits you and which documents to prepare: contract, self-employment registration, financial means, health insurance or enrolment. We get the appointment, check that everything is complete and go with you if you need us to. If your family is not European, we coordinate their EU family member card with your registration. We can help you in Spanish, Arabic, Tamazight, French and English, at our offices in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Málaga and Barcelona or online, wherever you are in Spain.
If you only need a number for a procedure, we help you with the NIE; and for your family, with the EU family member card.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the EU registration certificate the same as the NIE?
- Not exactly. The certificate proves that you live in Spain as a European citizen and shows your NIE. You can have an NIE without being registered as a resident, for example to buy a home.
- What do I do if I don't have an employment contract in Spain?
- You can register in other ways, for example by proving sufficient financial means and health insurance, or as a student. We tell you which option fits you and which documents to prepare.
- Can my partner from outside the EU come and live with me?
- In many cases, yes, by applying for the EU family member card as your family member. The most practical approach is usually to prepare both procedures at the same time so that neither is delayed.
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Tell us about your case.
A first conversation — confidential and without obligation — to understand whether we can help, and how.
We speak Spanish, Arabic, Tamazight (Berber), French and English.