Moving to Spain: The Residence Permit

The following people who hold a valid identity document or national passport may live in Spain without a residence permit:

1. Nationals of EU Member States, other states party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation who are self-employed or employees, students or people entitled to permanent residence.
2. Family members of the people referred to in the previous paragraph, irrespective of nationality; their spouse, provided they are not legally separated, their descendants and those of the spouse, provided they are not legally separated, people under 21 years of age or over this age who live at their own expenses; and their ascendants and those of their spouse, provided they are not legally separated, who live at their own expenses, except for ascendants of students and their spouses.
3. Nationals of EU Member States, other States party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation who work in Spain while retaining their residence in the territory of one of these States, to which they return every day or at least once a week.
   In any of the above cases in which the interested party applies for a residence permit, however, the administrative authorities are obliged to inform them that it is not a requirement. If the interested party still submits the corresponding application they will be issued with the appropriate residence permit or a certificate of residence Oficina de Extranjeros de la Policía (the Police's foreigners' department).

Text last edited on: 06/2005

Source: European Union
© European Communities
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