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EU Registration Certificate in Spain (2026): EX-18, Fee and Documents

Jules

Editor

Updated: October 2026 | Found helpful by 5 others

An EU citizen residing in Spain for more than 3 months needs the certificado de registro de ciudadano de la Union, not a TIE, and applies on form EX-18: apply within 3 months of entry. The fee is EUR 12 as of October 2026, paid with the modelo 790 form, and you prove one condition: work or self-employment, sufficient means plus health insurance, or student enrolment.

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What Does the EU Registration Involve?

EU registration certificate under Real Decreto 240/2007; fee from Orden PJC/617/2025, October 2026.
Local termCertificado de registro de ciudadano de la Union
AuthorityPolicia Nacional / Oficinas de Extranjeria
Who must applyAn EU citizen residing in Spain for more than 3 months
DeadlineApply within 3 months of entry
Documents
  • Form EX-18
  • Passport or national ID
  • Paid tasa (modelo 790)
  • Evidence of the condition: work or self-employment, or means plus health insurance, or student enrolment
Fee 2026EUR 12 (Tasa modelo 790; EU citizen and EU family line; check the amount on the generated form)
ChannelCita previa at Extranjeria or Policia; normally issued at the appointment if the file is complete
CaveatThe rules are national; appointment supply varies by province.

Which Condition Do You Register Under?

Real Decreto 240/2007 lets you register under one of three conditions, and each needs different evidence. Choose the one that matches your real situation: the means route is for people who are not actually working.

ConditionEvidenceWatch out for
Worker or self-employedEvidence of the work or self-employment, such as Social Security recordsUse this route when you are actually working in Spain
Sufficient means plus health insuranceProof of sufficient means and health insurance coverThe route for people who are not actually working
StudentEnrolment, health insurance and a declaration of sufficient meansA padron certificate alone does not prove student condition

Registering on the municipal padron is a separate step and does not prove student condition. See padron registration in Spain.

How Do You Apply for the Certificate?

  1. Complete form EX-18. Fill in form EX-18, the application for the certificado de registro de ciudadano de la Union.
  2. Pay the fee with modelo 790. Pay the EUR 12 tasa with the modelo 790 form the office generates, and check the amount printed on the generated form.
  3. Book the appointment. Cita previa at Extranjeria or Policia. The rules are national; appointment supply varies by province.
  4. Bring your ID and evidence. Bring your passport or national ID, the paid tasa and the evidence for your condition: work or self-employment, means plus health insurance, or student enrolment. The certificate is normally issued at the appointment if the file is complete.

A NIE is often printed automatically on the TIE or EU certificate, so a separate application may not be needed. See NIE, TIE and NIF in Spain.

Illustration of a passport, an entry stamp, and a document, for Spanish visa and residence permit applications.
Passport, stamp, permit: your Spanish immigration path.

Why Do EU Citizens Not Get a TIE?

  • EU citizens receive the EU registration certificate, not a TIE. The TIE and its fingerprint appointment belong to non-EU authorisations.
  • EU family members who are not EU citizens follow the Real Decreto 240/2007 route (the EU family card), not the ordinary non-EU family regime.
  • The order of steps: address evidence and the padron where required usually come before the EU registration, then the Social Security number and health entitlement. See living in Spain: arrival admin.

Which Route Fits Your Situation?

Worked scenarios, October 2026. The winner is the condition that matches your real situation.
#SituationBest answerRunner-upWhyRuled out
B1EU employee arriving for >3 monthsEX-18 + work/Social Security evidence + EUR 12 feeMeans+insurance route only if not actually workingWorker condition matches realityTIE: EU citizens receive EU certificate, not TIE
B2EU student >3 monthsEX-18 + enrolment + insurance + means declarationWorker route if genuinely employedStudent evidence matches RD 240/2007Padrón alone: does not prove student condition

Frequently Asked Questions

What documents do EU citizens need for registration in Spain?

EU citizens registering in Spain need Form EX-18; Passport or national ID; Paid tasa (modelo 790); Evidence of the condition: work or self-employment, or means plus health insurance, or student enrolment, as of October 2026. The evidence depends on your condition: a worker shows work or Social Security records, a student shows enrolment, health insurance and a means declaration, and others show sufficient means plus health insurance.

How much does the EU registration certificate cost in Spain?

The EU registration certificate (certificado de registro de ciudadano de la Union) costs EUR 12 in October 2026, under Orden PJC/617/2025. You pay it with the modelo 790 form the office generates; check the amount on the generated form before paying.

Do EU citizens need a TIE in Spain?

No. EU citizens living in Spain receive the EU registration certificate from the Policia Nacional or the Oficinas de Extranjeria, not a TIE, as of October 2026. Family members who are not EU citizens follow the Real Decreto 240/2007 route (the EU family card), not the ordinary non-EU family regime.

When do EU citizens have to register in Spain?

An EU citizen residing in Spain for more than 3 months must register: apply within 3 months of entry under Real Decreto 240/2007, as of October 2026. The rules are national, but appointment supply varies by province, so book the cita previa early.

Does a padron certificate prove I am a student for the EU certificate?

No. For the Spanish EU registration certificate, the padron alone does not prove student condition. A student shows enrolment, health insurance and a declaration of sufficient means with form EX-18 and the EUR 12 fee (October 2026).

Sources

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Updated

  • Published: EU registration certificate in Spain (EX-18, EUR 12, 3-month rule)