NEW RESIDENCY REGULATIONS IN SPAIN.
SUMMARY OF THE MOST IMPORTANT POI8NTS
NEW RESIDENCE LAW FOR EU MEMBERS
The new Residence Law for EU member was approved with the Royal Decree 240/2007 dated 16th of February and became effective as of the 2nd of April 2007
It applies to:
EU, EEE, and Swiss citizens
Family of EU citizens from third countries.
* Spouses (either of the same or different sex – the only countries that legalize marriages of same sex are Spain, Belgium and Holland)
* Descendants and those of spouse
* Ascendants and those of spouse
With the new law, this can also be applied to common law couples that have registered their union in their National Registry for Common Law Couples. (Spain does not have a National Registry for this).
THE RESIDENCE CARD DISAPPEARS.
As from the 2nd of April, EU citizens will no longer receive a Residence Card but a Certificate of Registration in the Central Registry of Foreigners that will be given to them immediately on applying for it. To apply for this you will have to present at the National Police Station:
· Application form
· Passport or National ID card (original and copy)
· Form 790 stamped by bank justifying payment of fee of 6.70 Euros
The Certificate will be issued immediately. It has an indefinite validity. If the applicant already has a residence card they will be issued with a similar certificate with the difference that on this one it will state that the holder is a PERMANENT RESIDENT. If you don’t have an N.I.E. number when applying for the Certificate, they will give you one automatically – you don’t have to make a separate application. In the Fuengirola National Police Station, they are now working with an appointment system that has eliminated the previous queuing method. You can get an appointment by phoning the number 952 19 83 55 or by going into the offices.
N.I.E. Numbers: Non residents in Spain still have to obtain an N.I.E. number (Number of Identification for Foreigners). They will have to have this number to carry out almost any transaction in the Country. The number is also obtained via appointment at the National Police and you have to take:
· Application Form
· Passport or ID card and copy (You will have to return to collect the number in approximately three days.
Family members from non EU countries will continue to be issued with a Residence Card as before and the documents that they have to present vary slightly. These applications have to be made after the 2nd of May to the Foreign Office of the Sub Delegation of the Government in Malaga. Appointments can be made on number 952 98 03 50. The card will take approximately three months. The first Residence card will be for five years and the renewal will be for ten. Contact them for more details of documents to present.
