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Why
do I need a Residence Card?
A residence card (Residencia) used to be required by anyone wishing to live in Spain more than six months out of the year.
Contrary to what some people believe, irrespective of whether you have the new style residence paper or not, if you remain in Spain for more than 182 days in a calendar year you will be regarded as a resident for tax purposes, thus liable to pay income tax on your world-wide income.
A residence credential useful to have as it is often requested as an identification when purchasing goods with credit card or setting up a contract with a utility company. This credential however is no longer obligatory for EU nationals and others.
According to the ROYAL DECREE 240/2007, the following persons may reside in Spain without proof of Residence:
*Citizens of Members States of the EU (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Chec Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, Letonia, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal, Poland, United Kingdom and Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden) or countries, which are part of the European Economic Area Agreement (EEA)(Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland) who are employed or self employed or who are entitled to the right to reside permanently.
This also applies to the above mentioned groups’:
*spouses
*common law partner
*direct descendents
*direct ascendants
If you do not fall into one of the above categories, you must apply for a Spanish residence permit. Check with the Ministry of the Interior for information regarding current requirements.
How to Apply for residency
Residence permits are applied for at the national police station (comisaria de polica nacional) with a foreigner's department (departamento de extranjeros). This must be done with one month of entering Spain.
The “Ministerio del Interior” website offers updated information regarding the paperwork required.
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