The green NIE: what the EU registration certificate is and how to get it
The green paper that proves you live in Spain: who has to apply, which documents you need for your situation and where almost everyone gets stuck.
The «green NIE» is really the EU citizen registration certificate: the green paper that proves you live in Spain. Citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland staying longer than three months have to apply for it, in person, in the province where they live, with form EX-18. It is issued at the appointment itself, has your NIE printed on it and the fee is €12.
People call it the green NIE, the green card or the residencia, and that is where most of the confusion comes from: it is not a different NIE, and it is not an identity card. It is your entry in the Central Register of Foreign Nationals, with the NIE inside.
Do I need it?
- Yes, if you are a citizen of the EU, the EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) or Switzerland and you are going to live in Spain for more than three months.
- No, if you are only buying a property, inheriting or doing a one-off transaction without moving: the NIE (EX-15) is enough.
- It is not for you if you are not from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland. Other foreign residents hold a TIE, including British nationals who arrived after 2020.
Which documents you need
In every case:
- Form EX-18, completed and signed, original and copy.
- Your valid passport or national identity card, original and copy.
- Proof of payment of the 790 012 fee, €12.
And, depending on your situation, one of these sets, which are the ones laid down in article 7 of Royal Decree 240/2007:
| If you are… | What you have to prove |
|---|---|
| An employee | Your contract or a certificate from the employer, or your social security registration |
| Self-employed | Your registration in the tax census of economic activities or in the self-employed scheme (RETA) |
| Retired or not working | Health insurance with cover equivalent to the public system (if you draw a pension from another EU country, form S1) and sufficient funds for you and your family |
| A student | Your enrolment, health insurance (the European Health Insurance Card is valid if it covers your whole stay) and a declaration that you have sufficient funds |
| A family member of an EU citizen | The relationship, and that the person you are joining meets one of the cases above |
Where almost everyone gets stuck
With people who are not working. The law sets no fixed amount of funds: each case is assessed on its own, and the benchmark is the non-contributory pension, €8,803.20 a year in 2026. In practice many offices ask for a bank statement and turn down insurance with co-payments or waiting periods, so it is worth asking your insurer for a certificate stating it has neither. Many also ask for the padrón certificate.
How to apply, step by step
- Register on the padrón at your town hall. The law does not require it, but many offices ask for it and it is better to bring it.
- Fill in the EX-18, which you download as an editable PDF from the Ministry of Inclusion forms page.
- Generate and pay the 790 012 fee on the National Police website, choosing the registration certificate.
- Book the appointment on the government's online system, in your province, under the EU citizen registration certificate procedure. It is a different appointment from the NIE one.
- Attend in person with everything. If the file is complete, you leave with the certificate.
It has to be in person and in the province where you live: it cannot be filed online or through a representative. The deadline is three months from your arrival in Spain. You can still register after that, but it is better not to leave it late.
If you'd rather we handled it, our green NIE service takes care of the whole procedure online, and you follow it on your own page.
After the certificate
- It does not expire, but it is not an identity document: always carry it with your passport or ID card.
- If you change address or marital status, you have to report it.
- After five years of continuous residence you can apply for the permanent residence certificate.
Frequently asked questions
This guide is general information about the procedure, accurate as of the date shown. Fees and the criteria of each immigration office change; for a question about your own case, email us at info@niexpress.es, and if you would rather we handled it, open your application.