The resident (or non-resident) certificate is the document that allows foreigners to justify and accredit (as well as verify) their residency periods in Spain, as well as the types of residence or stay they have had in Spain since they arrived in the country, and the different typologies of permits they have been with exact dates.
In this article you will find out how to apply for it step by step, as well as the different uses of this important document and its main requirements.
When do I need a residence certificate?
The residence certificate can be very useful for you as a foreigner in Spain to:
- Open a bank account
- Apply for Spanish nationality, if you have to submit an appeal to prove your legal and continuous residence in the country
- Obtain permanent or long-term residence (proving 5 years of residence in Spain)
- Exchange your driving license
- Manage taxes and payments with the Tax Agency or Social Security
- Simply verify how long you have actually been resident in Spain, and what has been the exact duration of your different residency cards
Note that both EU citizens living in Spain and non-EU citizens can apply for this certificate.
Requirements to apply for the residence certificate
There are only 2 main requirements you must meet if you wish to apply for this certificate:
- Firstly, demonstrate that you have sufficient and valid reason for its attainment. Among the reasons listed are professional, economic, or social interests that you may have as a foreigner in Spain.
- Secondly, you must not be in an irregular situation.
On the other hand, we could consider as the third requirement the need to provide the legally required documentation. More specifically, we are talking about:
- The application form EX-15, in which you will have to check the option “CERTIFICADO – De residente” in section 4) when filling it out
- ID card or copy of your complete passport, although a travel document or “cédula de inscripción” will also be valid in case you are unable to present any of the first two documents
- And, finally, the document that justifies the reasons for which you are requesting the resident certificate
As you can see, it is a document that you will be able to obtain without much hassle. You will simply have to follow the process described below.
Step-by-step application process: Where and How to apply for the certificate
This procedure is quite simple and fast.
It must be done by the interested foreigner himself, and it will be done in person at the Immigration Office or Police Station that corresponds to him depending on where he is registered.
However, it is also possible to do it from the country of origin, in this case at the Spanish diplomatic mission or consular office.
- After making an appointment, you must go to the immigration office with all the documentation we have seen above, and also include the payment of a small fee of about 7€ (in this case, fee 790/052, section 6.6).
- In the case of processing it at the Police Station, the associated fee will be the form 790/012.
After submitting all the documentation, the administration usually takes about 5 days to issue a favorable response and finish with the application, makeing the resident or non-resident certificate available to the applicant (depending on what has been requested).
What is its validity?
Once obtained, this document will be valid for 3 months from its issuance, and it can be renewed if needed.
If you have any doubts or need legal assistance in any immigration or citizenship issue, our immigration lawyers are at your complete disposal.
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