The Green Residency Certificate, also referred to as the Certificado de Residencia, is a credit card-sized document of a verdant hue. It is a mandatory requirement for EU and EEA citizens intending to reside in Spain for a period exceeding three months, serving as the official confirmation of residency. Obtaining this certificate is essential and should be completed within the initial 90 days of arrival.
To secure the Green Residency Certificate, EU/EEA nationals must satisfy at least ONE of the following criteria:
The application process takes place at the local Comisaria (Police station), where the certificate is issued on the same day. This document includes your NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero), a unique identification number for foreigners in Spain. If you don't already possess an NIE, one will be assigned to you during the application process.
While the Green Residency Certificate itself does not have an expiry date, it can be exchanged for a "Permanente" (permanent) version after five years of continuous residency. This type of certificate was initially issued in a green A4 format in 2007 but transitioned to the current credit card size in 2012.
As the EU has now rolled out the new Entry/Exit System (EES) when crossing the border into the Schengen zone, stamping is no longer happening. If you are resident in the EU from a non EU/EEA country, you need to have a recognised biometric resident ID — in Spain this is the TIE photocard (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero). If you have the old pre-Brexit green certificate or small green card, you should swap this for a shiny new TIE as soon as possible, otherwise you might get flagged as an overstayer. For more info email us at brexit@yourspanishpaperwork.com.
Should you require help in obtaining one, please get in touch:
WhatsApp: +34 689 735 224
Email: resi@yourspanishpaperwork.com
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