How to register for the

Central Registry of Foreigners (Certificado de registro de ciudadano de la Unión and NIE)

Registration in theCentral Registry of Foreigners (Certificado de registro de ciudadano de la Unión and NIE)

The NIE is the identification number for non-resident foreigners. It is a personal and unique number assigned by the General Directorate of Police to foreigners. It is not sufficient to reside in Spain for more than 3 months.
For students who are citizens of the European Union, you need the "Certificado de registro de ciudadano de la Unión".
The process can only be started once you are in Spain at the beginning of the school year.

The "Certificado de registro de ciudadano de la Unión" is a compulsory document for residence in Spain. It also enables you to obtain an NIE number. This number appears on all public documents sent or transmitted to foreign citizens in Spain, on all requests to the administration, and on most deeds between private individuals of a socio-economic or professional nature.

The NIE without "certificado de registro de ciudadano de la UE" is only valid for non-residents and therefore does not apply to students who will be living and residing in Spain for more than 3 months.

Why do I need the "certificado de registro de ciudadano de la UE"?

This process may seem tedious and unnecessary. However, it is compulsory for all foreigners residing in Spain for more than 3 months and, above all, it will allow you to obtain the famous number commonly called NIE, "Numero de Identificación de los Extranjeros". It is not required by the universities but it is necessary to live in Spain.

You MUST also provide your "certificado de registro de ciudadano de la UE" when you have completed your studies in Spain to obtain certain official documents that you will need to present in France to validate your Spanish diploma.

Without the "certificado de registro de ciudadano de la UE", you can't open a telephone and/or Internet line, you can't take out a gas or electricity contract, you can't hold a bank account in Spain and you can't obtain certain official documents validating your studies in Spain and... for the "certificado de registro de ciudadano de la UE", you need a European social security card (the one given to you in France is only valid for 2 years after it is issued, so apply for your "certificado de registro de ciudadano de la UE" when you arrive in Spain to save yourself a lot of trouble later!).

 

Can a minor obtain a "certificado de registro de ciudadano de la UE"?

 

To obtain a "certificado de registro de ciudadano de la UE", a minor needs a guardian, legally registered in Spain. This is a tedious and costly process. We therefore advise students under 18 to wait until they have passed their 18th birthday before taking this step. Even if you don't come of age until after your 3-month stay in Spain, don't worry. You can do it as soon as you turn 18.

 

How to obtain the "certificado de registro de ciudadano de la UE"?

FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE IN MADRID ONLY, youcan contact our partners

Easy Gestion Madrid (French speaking service)

1- Easy Gestion Madrid is first and foremost the provision of our experience, which is our greatest strength.
2 EGM is first and foremost a mother who knows the constraints of sending her child abroad and offers you services that perfectly match your needs.
3 Our service of individual accompaniment of the student is effective and human so thathe begins his studies in Spain in the greatest serenity.

Presentation EGM 2021

I contact EASY GESTION MADRID

 

FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE IN VALENCE ONLY:

Contact Ruth Mendez to manage your Certificado de registro de ciudadano de la UE (NIE).

It also handles accommodation, town hall registration (Padrón) and Spanish social security (compulsory for internships in Spain).

Full details and prices are available here: Valencia Accommodation

 

I contact Ruth Mendez

 

You can also contact Carolina Sancho of CSS Consulting. She is also based in Valencia and will be able to help you in this process.

Contact Carolina Sancho

 

FOR STUDENTS IN ALICANTE ONLY :

Contact Nathalie FERRER to manage your Certificado de registro de ciudadano de la UE (NIE). She'll take care of it for you.

It will be possible to talk to her in French. 

Contact Nathalie Ferrer

You can try to do this yourself by following the instructions given on the Spanish National Police website at the following links, depending on where you live:

MADRID

VALENCE

VALLADOLID

CANARIAS

  1. You will need to complete form EX-18 available on this site and pay taxes by completing form 790 - Código 012.
  1. You will need to provide information such as: your passport number, a Spanish telephone number, your personal details, your address in Spain (or, if applicable, your address in your country of origin), the address where you wish to receive the "certificado de registro de ciudadano de la UE", the reason why you are requesting the "certificado de registro de ciudadano de la UE", identification of the administration requesting the "certificado de registro de ciudadano de la UE", and proof of identity.

For full information on the "certificado de registro de ciudadano de la UE", if you are registered with FEEDUC you can download the help document at the bottom of the page.

 

 

Apply for NIE to live and study in Spain - EGM

For complete information on the "Certificado de registro de ciudadano de la Unión" and the NIE, register or log in to download the NIE document to print out with explanations in 2 languages.