First month by your situationArticle 1 of 8 · 7 min read
Your first month in Spain as an EU citizen
A step-by-step order for your first month in Spain if you are an EU citizen: no visa, but you still need to sort out your address, your registration certificate and your NIE. Written for EU, EEA and Swiss arrivals planning to stay.
Terms used
- Padrón — The padrón is the town hall's list of residents; signing up proves your address and unlocks local services.
- Cita previa — A cita previa is an appointment booked in advance, usually online, for a public office.
- NIE — The NIE is the foreigner's identification number used for tax, banking, work and contracts in Spain.
- TIE — The TIE is the residence card issued to non-EU foreigners, including family of EU citizens.
Key rules
- Visa: As an EU citizen you need no visa to move to Spain.
- Registration: If you stay more than three months, register and obtain your registration certificate within three months of arrival.
- NIE: The NIE is not legally required in month one, but your registration certificate gives it to you and most practical tasks need it.
- Padrón: Signing up has no fixed national deadline, but do it as soon as you have an address.
- Family: Non-EU family members need their own residence card, not your certificate.
The short version
You do not need a visa. You do need to do three things, each with its own timing: sign up on the padrón, register as an EU citizen, and get your NIE. The NIE comes with the registration, so in practice there are two trips to make.
Do it in this order
- Get an address and sign up on the padrón. You need a place to live first, because the padrón is tied to your address.
- Book your cita previa for the registration certificate. Appointments can fill up, so book as soon as you have your padrón papers.
- Attend, register and collect your certificate. It is normally issued on the spot.
- Use your NIE for everything that needs it.
The timeline and checklist below show the steps and what to bring.
Padrón: sign up as soon as you have an address
Everyone who lives in Spain must be on the padrón, whatever their nationality. National law sets no fixed deadline, but sign up as soon as you have a home, because many services depend on it, and the registration office may ask for your padrón certificate.
Many town halls require an appointment, and some offer online sign-up if you have a digital certificate. Requirements vary by town hall, so check yours. If you live in a home you do not own or rent, you need written permission from the householder. The documents list below gives the details. Children need a family book or birth certificate.
Registration: the three-month limit
If you stay more than three months, you must register and obtain your registration certificate within three months of arrival. You apply at the foreigners' office (oficina de extranjería) or, in many provinces, the police foreigners' office. You book the cita previa online for your province.
At the appointment you show proof that you work, are self-employed or have enough money to live on, plus health insurance (or proof of study). You also pay a small fee. The amount and the local document requirements vary, so confirm them with your office when you book.
Non-EU family members cannot use your certificate. They get their own residence card (TIE) as family of an EU citizen.
The NIE: not required by law, needed in practice
No law requires an NIE for your first month. But you will need it to open a bank account, sign a long lease or utility contracts, work or register as self-employed, file taxes, register with Social Security, or buy a car or property.
You do not need to apply separately before registering. Your registration certificate shows your NIE, so check that it appears on the certificate when you collect it.
Which order suits you
The comparison below shows how the order changes with your situation, for example if you work, study or have means.
First-month order compared across situations
Find your row
Your first-month order depends on your route into Spain, not only on your nationality. Find the row that matches you. If two rows fit, such as an employee who is also joining family, follow the shorter clock first.
| Your situation | What starts your clock | Do first | Check with |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU citizen | The day you arrive to live in Spain | Sort out your address and your registration as an EU resident | Your town hall and the local foreigners' office |
| Visa holder | The visa and your entry date | Follow the steps and deadlines printed on or sent with your visa | The consulate that issued the visa and the local foreigners' office |
| Visitor | Your entry date | Decide whether you are staying only briefly or moving. If you are moving, switch to the route that fits your plans | The consulate or the local foreigners' office, before your permitted stay runs out |
| Employee | Your contract start date and your entry date | Get the paperwork your employer needs from you, and set up your address | Your employer's HR team and your town hall |
| Family member | The status of the person you join, and your own entry date | Gather proof of the relationship, then register your address | The local foreigners' office and your town hall |
How the clocks differ
- One clock or several. Some routes run a single clock from arrival. Others run separate clocks, for example one for your address and another for your residence card.
- Who controls the start date. For employees, your employer's start date can move your plans. For visa holders, the visa decides.
- Who else is involved. Families depend on the status of the person they join, so one person's delay can hold up everyone else.
What to watch for
- Count from the date that applies to your row, not from the day you feel settled.
- Deadlines and required papers differ by town and region. Confirm the current list with your town hall or foreigners' office before you book appointments.
- Appointments can be booked weeks ahead in busy cities. Book as soon as your clock starts.
Timeline and deadlines
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Get an address and sign up on the padrón: as soon as you have a place to live; no fixed national deadline
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Book your cita previa for the registration certificate: soon after arrival, so you have an appointment in time
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Register and get your registration certificate: within three months of arrival (latest 90 days after entry date)
Documents you need
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Passport or national ID card, needed for both the registration and the padrón.
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Form EX-18, completed, for the registration certificate.
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Proof that you work, are self-employed or have enough money to live on, plus health insurance (or proof of student status).
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Fee receipt, paid with modelo 790 código 052.
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Padrón certificate, where the office asks for it.
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Padrón registration form (hoja padronal), completed.
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Proof of address, such as a rental contract, title deed or utility bill.
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Written authorisation from the householder with a copy of their ID, if you are not the owner or tenant.
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Family book or birth certificate for children.
Checklist
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Fill in form EX-18 before your appointment.
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Pay the fee with modelo 790 código 052 and keep the receipt.
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Bring your passport or ID, proof of work or means, and health insurance to the appointment.
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Collect your registration certificate, which is normally issued on the spot, and check that it shows your NIE.
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Use your NIE for the bank, a long lease, work, taxes and Social Security.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an NIE before I register as an EU citizen?
No, you do not need an NIE before registering, because the registration certificate itself shows your NIE. If you need an NIE earlier, for example for a purchase, you can ask for one at the foreigners' office or police station by cita previa with form EX-15 and the fee receipt.
Is there a deadline for signing up on the padrón?
No, national law sets no fixed deadline for signing up on the padrón (the town hall's list of residents). Do it as soon as you have an address, because many services depend on it.
What if I do not own or rent the home where I live?
If you are not the owner or tenant, the town hall asks for a written authorisation from the householder. Bring a copy of that person's ID with it.
Can my non-EU family members use the same registration certificate?
No, family members who are not EU citizens do not get this certificate. They apply for a residence card for family of an EU citizen, called a TIE.
More in First month by your situation
- Your first month in Spain on a work, residency or nomad visa
- Your first month if you arrived as a visitor planning to settle
- Your first month when your employer is relocating you
- Your first month in Spain with children
- Your first month as a retiree or remote worker
- When one of you moves first and the family follows
- Does your city change your first month in Spain?
Need certainty before you act?
For important relocation decisions, speak with a qualified human specialist.
Always verify important information with the relevant official authority or a qualified adviser before acting. This website uses large language models together with various public data sources, official government documents and other established sources. Due to the amount of data on this website, some information might be wrong. Information may also be incomplete or outdated.