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.
Key takeaways
- What it is: a document proving your periods of residence in Spain, the types of residence or stay you have held and your different permits, with exact dates.
- What it’s for: opening a bank account, proving 5 years of residence for long-term residence, supporting a nationality application, exchanging your driving licence or managing taxes with the Tax Agency or Social Security.
- Who can apply: EU and non-EU citizens living in Spain who are not in an irregular situation and have a valid professional, economic or social reason for requesting it.
- Documents: form EX-15 ticking ‘CERTIFICADO – De residente’ in section 4, your ID card or complete passport, and a document that justifies the reasons for requesting the certificate.
- How to apply: with an appointment, in person at the Immigration Office or Police Station where you are registered, or at a Spanish consulate if you apply from your country of origin.
- Timing and validity: the administration usually takes about 5 days to issue it, and it is valid for 3 months from issuance, with the possibility of renewal.
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.
Choose the date that suits you best for a consultation with our lawyers, and let us guide you step by step.
At Balcells Group we have been foreigners effortlessly moving to Spain for over 11 years. We help expats from all around the world with their immigration, business, tax and legal needs; ensuring a legally safe and enjoyable transition to the Spanish territory. Our multilingual team understands the importance of adapting to the cultural and legal specificities of our international clients. We offer a comprehensive service that combines the expertise of several generations of lawyers with the innovation needed to address today’s legal challenges, always striving to simplify processes and ensure reliable, effective results.
