Moving to Madrid as an EU citizen is an exciting adventure filled with culture, tapas, and the chance to immerse yourself in a vibrant Spanish lifestyle. However, amidst the excitement, there’s an essential administrative task you need to complete if you’re an EU citizen: obtaining your EU Residency Card, commonly known as the “Tarjeta de Residencia”. Here’s a comprehensive guide on what it is, why you need it, and how to get it, including some insider tips on securing an appointment.
What is the EU Green Card/Residency Card?
The EU Residency Card (Tarjeta de Residencia) is an official document that grants EU citizens the right to live and work in Spain for more than 3 months. This card proves your legal status in Spain and is necessary for various administrative processes because it gets you the NIE (Foreigner Identification Number) which is essential for things such as accessing healthcare, opening a bank account, and signing a rental contract. But how do you get it?
Before I share anything with you, please remember that I’m not a lawyer or immigration specialist, I’m simply sharing my tips and experiences to help you.
Steps to Get the EU Residency Card in Madrid
Prepare Your Documents:
Before we start: Note that any document that is not in Spanish has to be translated by a sworn translator. Find one here by filtering by your language and your province.
- Passport (original and copy).
- Two passport-sized photos.
- Certificado de Empadronamiento.
- Proof of health insurance. If you’re employed by an overseas company, unemployed or a student, you need the highest coverage. I recommend this one from Sanitas. If you’re employed by a Spanish company you are able to access social security so you should show your social security confirmation.
- If you’re a student you will need an education enrollment certificate
- Proof of sufficient financial means (e.g., work contract, bank statements). If you’re unemployed and wondering how much you need… It’s hard to find information, but as a standard, I would go with €10,000 or more.
- Completed application form EX-18.
- Complete the 790-012 form. Print it out and then go to any bank (ideally your own bank, as some banks only allow non-customers on certain days) and pay the fee before your appointment.
Make an Appointment (Cita Previa):
- Visit the official Spanish government website for appointments: Cita Previa and select your province from the drop down.
- If you want to attend your appointment at a specific police station select it from the first drop down.
- From the second drop down Choose “POLICÍA-CERTIFICATDO DE REGISTRO DE CUIDADANO DE LA U.E.”
- Go to through the following pages and enter your information and then click ‘Solicitar Cita’. This will show you any available appointments. It’s likely that you’ll get the message there are no appointments available, which is not uncommon. If you’re struggling to get an appointment keep reading to know the trick to getting an appointment easily.
Attend Your Appointment:
- Arrive on time with all your documents.
- You’ll have your fingerprints taken.
- You should receive your ‘card’ on the spot. I quote mark this as don’t be surprised that it’s really just a small piece of paper! Keep it safe though because this card is used to prove your residency and contains you NIE (Foreigner Identification Number) which you’ll need for lots of different processes and tasks in Spain!
Can’t Get an Appointment?
Securing an appointment can be tricky due to high demand and poorly developed Spanish systems. Here’s an insider tip: use the RobotCita bot. I don’t love promoting this, because it does cost €25 for what should essentially be a free service, and the more of us that pay, the less appointments there are on the actual platform… But from my experience it’s a mind-numbing experience trying to get an appointment, when you’re sitting there refreshing the page all day. I even saw some conspiracy theories about what time the government releases appointments and people were up at 1am trying to find one. So, if you want to quickly secure an appointment, then I do recommend using it.
While navigating the Spanish bureaucracy can be daunting, securing your EU Residency Card in Madrid is a crucial step toward fully enjoying your new life in this vibrant city. Follow the steps outlined above, make use of the RobotCita bot for a smoother appointment booking process, and soon you’ll have your residency card in hand. ¡Buena suerte y bienvenido a Madrid!
If you’ve gone through the process or have any tips to share, feel free to leave a comment below. Happy adventures in your new Spanish home!
