Spain EU free movement

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens may live and work in Spain without a visa. Stays over 3 months require registration in the Central Register of Non-nationals within 3 months of entry, which gives a registration certificate with an NIE. ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11}

Requirements

• Citizens of EU and EEA states and of Switzerland can live in Spain without a visa or residence permit. ^{1 8}
• Stays of up to 3 months need only a valid passport or national ID card. ^{1 3}
• After 3 months, work, self-employment, study, or sufficient resources with health insurance is needed. ^{3 9}
• People not working need sufficient resources for themselves and family, assessed case by case, and public or private health insurance valid in Spain. ⁹
• Registration needs a valid ID or passport plus proof of work, study, or resources and insurance. ²
• Workers show an employer confirmation or registered contract; the self-employed show proof of their activity or social security registration. ⁹
• Students show enrolment at an accredited institution and health insurance; a valid EHIC can satisfy the insurance condition. ⁹
• Apply in person, by appointment, at the Non-nationals Office of the province or the local police station. ⁹
• Applications must be made within 3 months of the date of entry into Spain. ⁹
• A registration certificate with name, address, NIE and date of registration is issued immediately. ⁹
• Registration with the municipal council (padron) is needed to apply for residence. ⁹
• Permanent residence is acquired automatically after 5 years of continuous lawful residence. ⁴
• After 5 years of continuous legal residence the right of permanent residence is acquired; apply in person at the Non-nationals Office. ¹⁰

Stay

• No time limit; register in the Central Register of Non-nationals within 3 months of entering Spain.
• First 3 months up to 3 months: Valid ID card or passport only.
• After 3 months: Worker, self-employed person, student, or person with sufficient resources and comprehensive health insurance; registration of residence.

Nationality

Citizens of the 27 EU states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

Work

EU citizens may work as employees or self-employed persons in Spain without a work permit; posts involving public authority powers may be reserved for nationals.

Family

Family members of any nationality may join; EU, EEA and Swiss family members register in the Central Register of Non-nationals within 3 months, and non-EU family members obtain a residence card.

Checked 2026-10-10

Official sources

1. Residence rights when living abroad in the EU · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
2. Registering residence abroad after the first 3 months · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
3. Residence rights for economically inactive EU citizens · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
4. Permanent residence (after 5 years) for EU nationals · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
5. Work permits · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
6. Work in the public sector abroad · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
7. Your non-EU spouse and children's residence rights in the EU · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
8. The European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland and the North · European Parliament · checked 2026-10-10
9. Registering your residence (EU citizens) · Administración General del Estado, Government of Spain · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-03-25
10. Permanent residence (more than five years) · Administración General del Estado, Government of Spain · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-03-25
11. Registering EU family members · Administración General del Estado, Government of Spain · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-03-25