Culebronchris

I am British, I was born in the UK. I have lived in Spain for about twelve years now and for most of that time I have worked on temporary contracts with Spanish employers. I also have a UK Teachers' Pension. I'm 63 so not quite yet retired.

I have one of the old style, bits of A4 paper (Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la Unión) dated as valid from 15th June 2006

I have heard that EU citizens had the right of residence in Spain after living here for five years but I just read, on a UK Government website "After five years residence registration you are entitled to apply for a certificate of permanent residence in Spain."

I had a quick look at a Spanish Government website which outlines the procedure for applying for this permanent residence (Certificado de residencia permanente de ciudadano de la UE).

So my understanding was that the process was automatic but it looks as though I actually need to fill in the EX18 and go to the police and prove that I have worked and whatnot.

Is that a correct reading of the situation and is it something that I need to do?

I'm sure this will have been a topic of conversation here before but I couldn't find anything that related to UK/EU citizens.

snikpoh

My dates are very similar to yours.

My 'interpretation' on the situation is that it IS automatic. However, if you would like a piece of paper to say 'permanent' then you can certainly apply for one - but it's quite optional.

I won't be bothering as I don't need a piece of paper to say how long I've been here and that I'm not a permanent resident but I do understand that everyone is different.

EsuriJohn

It is automatic under current EU FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT RULES but things might change post 2019. We did ours in October just to be safe and are in an eight month queue for Irish citizenship to counter potential tax changes. The CAB Spain has lots of good stuff on this so check that out for the requirements when you go for your EX18 appointment..

teuchterpete

We went to Seville for our residency last year, and were told it was only temporary, with a further permanent application needed after 5 years, others say that it is not necessary as it will become permanent under eu law. any Idea which is correct?
Pete

spainrico

Good question and one I was discussing recently with a friend who went to a solicitor and was told that the most important thing for residents is to declare for tax and establish a record of paying tax.
Having said that I did apply after my first 5 years and my green sheet does say:

....con caracter permanente en Espana....

which I think gives 'belt and braces'

None of us know what the future holds regarding rules and regs so I think belt and braces is the best policy.

Loafing Along

Also make sure you are registered on the Padron

rachelk

I had a residency ID card issued in 2005. When it was ready to expire at 5 years I went to get the green certificate and it does indeed say permanent on it (though it also says something like 'como comunitario' and of course, post-brexit, we won't be comunitarios any more).

Loafing Along

Exactly "As a citizen of the Union" in big letters at the top..
Then at the bottom "Permanent Community Resident in Spain from ...

Culebronchris

Just my luck. My green bit of paper is obviously of a different design and it mentions nothing about permanency.

rachelk

Does it have an expiry date on it?

The bank once asked to see mine and wondered why it didn't have a date. Only more recently amid brexit concerns did I notice the word permanent.

Loafing Along

Curious, have just checked on the web "certificado de residencia España dibujo"
and amazing to see some of the examples don't have the word "permanente" included, thought they were standard across the country

Loafing Along

Mine does not , only an issue date and the date of my first residence in Spain

rachelk

Interesting. Would it depend whether or not you got your green cert on arrival or after 5 years on expiry of the card?

spainrico

Your first residency certificate will not include the word permanent, it is when you renew it (after minimum 5 years) that the ....con caracter permanente en Espana.... is added.

rachelk

Yes, I never had one initially, only once my card expired.

I'm hoping that one positive effect of brexit will be that we'll get the cards back