Moving to Spain as an EU Citizen: What You Need to Settle Long-Term

pareja con cajas de carton en su nuevo hogar

Moving to Spain is not just a change of address. It is a change of life. There are several legal and administrative steps you need to take to truly establish yourself and access public resources.

Below we explain what an EU citizen needs to live in Spain on a long-term basis.

1. NIE Card (EU Registration Certificate)

If you are an EU citizen staying long-term, you must obtain the Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la Unión Europea (often referred to as the “green NIE card”). This document proves your legal residence in Spain and is required for paying taxes, accessing public services such as healthcare, changing your driver´s licence…

2. Empadronamiento (Municipal Registration)

The empadronamiento is the registration at the local town hall (Ayuntamiento) where you live. This step is essential because it proves your address in Spain and is required for access to public healthcare, school registration, social services and many immigration and administrative procedures. Even if you move later, you should always keep your empadronamiento updated.

3. Social Security Registration: Accessing Public Healthcare and Benefits

To access Spain’s public healthcare system and other state resources, you must be registered with Social Security (Seguridad Social). How you do this depends on your situation:

If You Are Going to Work in Spain:

  • You must obtain a Social Security Number.
  • Your Spanish employer will register you with Social Security.
  • Once you are registered, you can immediately apply for your public healthcare card (Tarjeta Sanitaria Individual).
  • You will also need your empadronamiento for this step.

From that moment on, you have access to Spain’s public healthcare system.

If You Are NOT Going to Work for a Spanish Company:

If you are financially independent, working remotely for a foreign company, or living off savings or income from abroad, the process is different.

  • You must obtain the S1 form from your country of origin. This document proves that you pay Social Security contributions in another EU country.
  • Spain will then recognize (transfer) those contributions, allowing you to register with Spanish Social Security.
  • Once registered, and together with your empadronamiento, you can apply for your public healthcare card.

4. Driving Licence Exchange: Do You Need to Change It?

If you hold an EU driving licence, you do not need to exchange it immediately.

However, you must exchange it in certain cases, such as:

  • When your licence expires
  • If you commit certain traffic offences
  • If your licence does not have an expiry date and you have been resident in Spain for more than two years

Knowing when and if you need to exchange your licence avoids future fines and complications.

5. Digital Certificate or Cl@ve: Your Key to Online Administration

We strongly recommend obtaining either a Digital Certificate or Cl@ve. These tools allow you to:

  • Access public administration services online
  • Sign documents digitally
  • Check Social Security, tax, and healthcare information
  • Avoid unnecessary in-person appointments

Settling in Spain: More Than Paperwork

Establishing yourself in Spain is a process. Each step builds on the previous one, and missing just one can block everything else. The good news? You don’t have to do it alone. At NIE Barcelona, we assist with almost all of the procedures described above, guiding you from arrival to full establishment.

We take this last blog post of the year to wish you a happy and prosperous 2026.

Thank you for trusting us with your relocation and administrative processes. We look forward to continuing to support you in the new year and to offering you the best possible service. Contact us!