Becoming a resident - residencia
CONGRATULATIONS YOU FOUND IT- CLICK ON THE BOX

It is no longer a legal requirement for anyone living in Spain to have a residence permit (usually referred to as the residencia).

However, many people still apply for their residencia when they decide to make Spain their permanent home as there are benefits, including:

•    the card works as an identity card and is easier to carry than a passport
•    some financial transactions require residencia, for example taking out a mortgage

Applying for residencia
There are two types of residence certificate (previously a card until March 2007): temporary, for a stay in Spain of between 3 months and 1 year, and permanent, for up to 5 years (this can then be renewed).

You can apply for your residencia by going to the nearest national police station (comisaría de policía provincial) that has a foreigners’ department (oficina de extranjeros).  There are police stations with offices that deal with applications for residencia in Denia, Benidorm, Valencia and Alicante.  This government website lists offices in main towns that have a foreigners’ department. Click here for the list.

Documents you will need to apply for your residencia:

•    a passport valid for at least 6 months
•    at least 3 passport photographs per application
•    a completed form for each person applying for residencia (this includes children) click here for the form
•    proof you live in Spain (your property purchase contract – escritura, or your rental contract)
•    your NIE certificate
•    a medical certificate for each person applying (in some cases)

There is also a small fee (about 10 euros) which you will need to pay at a bank.

Take several photocopies of every document, including the application form as the office won’t do this for you.

Please note this is the most up to date information we can obtain.  Spanish rules do change and every office is different.  The best advice we can give is to take as many documents and photocopies of them as you think will be relevant.

Once you’ve gone through the application procedure you won’t be actually issued with your certificate for up to two months (another wait in a long queue!).  You will be given a receipt and will have to telephone the police station to check if your certificate is ready.  On collection you will have to supply a fingerprint.

Applying for your residencia can be a lengthy process – be prepared to stand in a queue for a very long time, possibly outside the office.  As with many legal procedures in Spain you have to be patient and understand that the Spanish way of doing things is different from what you’re used to.