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How to Apply for Permanent Residency in Spain 2020

So how do you apply for residency?

Take your NIE number (if you already have one), applicants passport (the original and one photocopy), your original census certificate (The empadronamiento certificate can be obtained from your local Ayuntamiento/Townhall), two passport size photos, application form EX18 and your application fee (€21.44) to the foreigner’s department (Oficina de Extranjeros) of your local police station.

If you do not have an NIE number, you will be issued with one when applying for residencia.

Before you go to the foreigner’s department, you will need to make an appointment online at https://sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es

You will need to go to the following page https://sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/icpplus/index.html and select your region.

For a full list of the documents you may or may not need to produce at your residency appointment, see the following pages.

http://extranjeros.mitramiss.gob.es (Spanish)

https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/residence/documents-formalities/registering-residence/spain/index_en.htm (English)

Proof of Income for Spanish Residency

In order to obtain residencia in Spain, you will need to have a sufficient level of income and indicate that you will not become a financial burden to the state.

There is a lot of incorrect information on the web on how much is required and this probably comes from the fact that there is no actual set amount.

Frustratingly, it may even depend on which part of the country you are in or even the official you deal with!

Under EU and Spanish law, there is no set amount that you must have deposited in your bank account. Instead, officials dealing with your residency application will look at a set of indicators to ascertain whether you are eligible or not.

The indicators are IPREM (Indicador Público de Rentas de Efectos Múltiples) Visit http://www.iprem.com.es for further information.

Also, the Annual Income Index which is used for accessing social benefits here in Spain and the minimum state pension from the Seguridad Social. Further details can be found here http://www.seg-social.es/wps/portal/wss/internet/Pensionistas/Revalorizacion/30434?changeLanguage=es

The IPREM page suggests that €537,84 per month for each individual should be enough, but the figure could well be higher.

The Seguridad Social page suggests that a minimum of around €800 per month per couple should be enough.

According to the Seguridad Social page and looking at comments from other British nationals on the British Embassy page, some have been asked to prove a pension income of €12,000 per annum for a couple and around €9,000 per annum for an individual.

The Citizens Advice Bureau in Spain suggests the following.

• Individual. 5.538,40 euros

With families.

• 2 members 9.415,28 euros
• 3 members. 13.292,16 euros
• 4 members. 17,169,04 euros

It has also been suggested that one of the quickest ways of getting residencia and bypassing any problems on income levels is to register as self-employed autonomo.

This would make sense as you would have to automatically pay around €275.00 per month which covers your social security benefits. Further info on becoming self-employed in Spain can be found here.

You may also need to complete form 790 which you will need to be signed by your bank. The form will detail your bank account details and the amount of money you currently have deposited with them. Form 790 can be obtained from the foreigner’s department of your local police station or here.

Proof of Private Health Insurance

If you are under pensionable age you will need to show proof of a private health insurance policy.

Applying for the Residents Certificate MUST be done in person you CANNOT send somebody else in your place!

The certificate will be issued immediately and is valid indefinitely IF all the paperwork is in order. Once registered you will be placed on the “Foreigners Register” or Registro Central de Extranjeros. If you were to get married, divorced, or change your address (basically if your circumstances change in any way) you would need to go through the whole process again and complete a new EX18 form.

As your residential rights also extend to your immediate family including your spouse via marriage, civil partner, children and your parents, you are also eligible to apply for a family residency certificate. You will need to complete form EX19 and take this along to your local police stations foreigners department. You will need to provide three colour passport photos and a valid passport for each applicant. A Tarjeta de Residencia de Familiar will then be issued.

You can download a copy of the EX18 and EX19 residency forms here.

Do I need to be on the Padron?

Being registered on your Town Hall’s Padron (Empadronamiento) is not a strict requirement, however, it is advisable to present proof of this along with other documents when applying as you may be asked for it. Further details can be found on our Empadronamiento page.

Once you have been resident for five years or more, you are eligible to apply for a certificate of permanent residence or Residente Permanente.

What happens to my residency status if I want to leave Spain at any point?

If you are have been legally resident in Spain for less than five years, your residency status MAY be affected if you are absent from the country for six months or more than one year at a time. However, there are some exemptions to this where one absence of up to 12 months MAY be permitted for reasons such as to study abroad, childbirth, serious illness etc.

Once you have been a permanent resident in Spain for five years or more, you will only lose your status as a resident in Spain if you are away for more than five consecutive years.

Of course — that’s what we’re here for! We’re happy to accompany you on any errand you need help with: obtaining an NIE, opening a bank account, visiting flats, etc.

Yup! We’ll help you open an account and make sure you understand your exchange rates, transaction fees, and money transfer options.

We can help you with the following;

EU/EEA and Swiss member

• Apply to jobs in Spain
• Obtain an offer letter
• Obtain a social security number
• Sign a work contract

Nationals from other countries

• Apply to jobs in Spain
• Obtain an offer letter
• Obtain a work visa through the company
• Obtain a social security number
• Sign a work contract

You will need to sign a rental agreement. Or, if you’re looking to purchase a home, you’ll need to sign a buyer’s agreement and other paperwork. We’ll provide assistance (legal and otherwise) every step of the way. Different accommodation options include: 

• Specialized classes
• Meetups/social activities
• Immerse yourself in the culture!

As a client of Only in Spain, you will have my personal number to contact me in case of any emergency, however, below I have provided you with information that will help you if ever in a situation and need to navigate on your own. 

In case of emergency…

Take into consideration that some Spanish emergency services have English-speaking staff but many don’t. If you do not speak Spanish, we´re here to support you.

All emergencies in Spain: call 112

The responder should speak a number of languages. You can also visit the Urgencias (emergency) department of any hospital. You can  reach 112, without a Spanish SIM card.

Main emergencies numbers in Spain:

SECURITY AND CRIME

• Local Police (Policia Municipal) 092
• Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) 062
• National Spanish  Police(Policia Nacional) 091
• Fire Brigade (Cuerpo de bomberos) 080 or 112

HEALTH

• Ambulance and health emergencies (Ambulancia y servicios de emergencia) 061 or 112
• Ambulance and health emergencies in Madrid (SAMUR)  905403322
• Red cross (Cruiz roja) 
• Ambulance, emergencies, intoxications): 902 222 292
• 24/7 Helpline 900 100 333 
• Donate blood 900 506 819
• Support for woman 900 100 009 and gender violence: (mujeres maltratadas): 016 | 900 116 016
• Suicide, crisis and support line: El Telefono de la Esperanza | 902 500 002

TOURIST HELPING

• Tourist helping/Emergency number 902 102 112 (in English, French, German and Italian)
• Madrid: 915 488 537 | 915 488 008
• Malaga: 951 926 161 | 951 999 818
• Ombudsmant (Defensor del pueblo) 900 101 025

CREDIT CARDS

• Visa: 900 991 124
• American Express: +34 914 004 250
• Master Card: 900 971 231 

EMERGENCIES PHRASES

SECURITY AND CRIME

1. I want to report a robbery. – Quiero denunciar un robo
2. My passport has been stolen. – Me han robado mi pasaporte.
3. My car has been stolen. – Me han robado el carro.
4. Where is the police station? — ¿Dónde está la estación de policía?
5. Here is my driver’s license. — Aquí está mi licencia de conducia.
6. Please call the police. – Por favor, llame a la policía.
7. Stop thief! – ¡Al ladron!
8. Go away! — ¡Vayase!

HEALTH

1. I don’t feel well. – Me siento mal.
2. I am Ill. – Estoy enfermo.
3. I have a fever – Tengo fiebre.
4. I’ve got a pain here. — Me duele aquí.
5. I’ve got a stomach ache. — Me duele el estómago.
6. I’ve got a headache. – Me duele la cabeza.
7. I’ve got a sore throat. – Me duele la garganta.
8. I’ e got a toothache. – Me duele la muela / el diente.
9. I am allergic to penicillin – Soy alérgico a penicilina.
10. Could you call a doctor, please? – ¿Podría Ud. llamar a un medico, por favor?
11. I need an ambulance. – Necesito una ambulancia.
12. Is there a pharmacy near here? — ¿Hay una botica cerca?
13. I have a bad cold. – Tengo un fuerte resfriado.
14. Thank you, I feel better. — Muchas gracias, me siento mejor.
15. I have an earache. — Me duele el oído.
16. My mother has diabetes. — Mi madre tiene diabetes.
17. I have a bad cough. – Tengo una fuerte tos.
18. My blood type is ___. – Mi tipo de sangre es ____.
19. He has angina (heart trouble). – Se duele el pecho.
20. He had a heart attack 4 years ago. – Tuvo un infarto hace cuatro años.
21. Can you give me a prescription? — ¿Puede Ud. darme una receta?
22. Thank you, I feel better. – Muchas gracias, me siento mejor.

FIRE BRIGADE

1. Fuego!—Fire
2. Llame a los bomberos—Call the bridage
3. Hay fuego:There´s a fire
4. El edificio esta en llamas—The buiding is on fire

OTHER

1. I am lost. — Me he perdido.
2. I have lost my wallet – He perdido mi portamonedas.
3. I have lost my passport. — He perdido mi pasaporte.
4. Can you help me? – ¿Podría Ud. ayudarme?
5. Is there a lost and found office here? — ¿Hay un oficina de objetos perdidos aquí?
6. I need help. — Necesito ayuda.
7. Help! – ¡Socorro!
8. Fire! — ¡Fuego!
9. Where are the bathrooms? – ¿Dónde están los servicios?
10. Where is the U.S. Consulate/ Embassy? — ¿Dónde está el consulado / la embajada estadounidense?