Go Back  British Expats > Living & Moving Abroad > Europe > Spain
Reload this Page >

Residencia card

Wikiposts

Residencia card

Thread Tools
 
Old Nov 8th 2018 | 8:54 am
  #1  
Thread Starter
Just Joined
 
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 7
EA3EWO is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Residencia card

I have a green credit card size Residencia card permanant resident I've been told by my bank LA Caixa I need to change it for a plastic one with photo, is this correct.
Terry.
 
Old Nov 8th 2018 | 9:19 am
  #2  
Fred James's Avatar
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 11,231
From: Granada Costa
Fred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Residencia card

No, the residency document never has a photo and it also states that it cannot be used for ID purposes. The only cards that have a photo are those issued to non EU residents, or the non EU family members of an EU citizen.

The guy in the bank is talking rubbish, not unusual in Spain.
 
Old Nov 8th 2018 | 7:03 pm
  #3  
Banned
 
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 213
From: Costa Blanca
Johncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Residencia card

Hi Fred

I've still got the green A4 document from several years back. Is that OK or does it need updating. There is no expiry date.
 
Old Nov 8th 2018 | 7:12 pm
  #4  
Thread Starter
Just Joined
 
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 7
EA3EWO is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: Residencia card

Hi Fred. When I lived in Catalunya We had a plastic residences card with photo on, it was then changed to a A4 size piece of paper, then when we moved to Valencia we changed it for the green credit card size.
 
Old Nov 8th 2018 | 7:38 pm
  #5  
EsuriJohn's Avatar
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,912
From: Puente Esuri
EsuriJohn has a reputation beyond reputeEsuriJohn has a reputation beyond reputeEsuriJohn has a reputation beyond reputeEsuriJohn has a reputation beyond reputeEsuriJohn has a reputation beyond reputeEsuriJohn has a reputation beyond reputeEsuriJohn has a reputation beyond reputeEsuriJohn has a reputation beyond reputeEsuriJohn has a reputation beyond reputeEsuriJohn has a reputation beyond reputeEsuriJohn has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Residencia card

Originally Posted by Johncarzx
Hi Fred

I've still got the green A4 document from several years back. Is that OK or does it need updating. There is no expiry date.
If it says “Residencia Permanante” towards the bottom that’s all you need. If not you should get a new one at a cost of €10 ish. Not strictly necessary but in the present chaos a wise precaution.
 
Old Nov 8th 2018 | 7:54 pm
  #6  
Fred James's Avatar
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 11,231
From: Granada Costa
Fred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Residencia card

Originally Posted by Johncarzx
Hi Fred

I've still got the green A4 document from several years back. Is that OK or does it need updating. There is no expiry date.
I still use my A4 version. They will probably charge another €10 to change it so I can't be bothered. We hopefully will get proper ID cards after Brexit.
 
Old Nov 8th 2018 | 9:14 pm
  #7  
BE Enthusiast
 
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 323
Dondurma has a reputation beyond reputeDondurma has a reputation beyond reputeDondurma has a reputation beyond reputeDondurma has a reputation beyond reputeDondurma has a reputation beyond reputeDondurma has a reputation beyond reputeDondurma has a reputation beyond reputeDondurma has a reputation beyond reputeDondurma has a reputation beyond reputeDondurma has a reputation beyond reputeDondurma has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Residencia card

Originally Posted by EsuriJohn

If it says “Residencia Permanante” towards the bottom that’s all you need. If not you should get a new one at a cost of €10 ish. Not strictly necessary but in the present chaos a wise precaution.

I only got mine a few weeks ago and there's no mention of permanante nor indeed any time limit
 
Old Nov 8th 2018 | 10:53 pm
  #8  
snikpoh's Avatar
Retired and loving it!
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,212
From: Ontinyent - Valencia region (campo)
snikpoh has a reputation beyond reputesnikpoh has a reputation beyond reputesnikpoh has a reputation beyond reputesnikpoh has a reputation beyond reputesnikpoh has a reputation beyond reputesnikpoh has a reputation beyond reputesnikpoh has a reputation beyond reputesnikpoh has a reputation beyond reputesnikpoh has a reputation beyond reputesnikpoh has a reputation beyond reputesnikpoh has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Residencia card

Originally Posted by Dondurma
I only got mine a few weeks ago and there's no mention of permanante nor indeed any time limit

After 5 years you can, if you so wish, change it to one that says permenent. However, like Fred, I can't be bothered.

With Brexit looming (in some form or other) it may well all change anyway.
 
Old Nov 9th 2018 | 12:16 am
  #9  
BE Enthusiast
 
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 323
Dondurma has a reputation beyond reputeDondurma has a reputation beyond reputeDondurma has a reputation beyond reputeDondurma has a reputation beyond reputeDondurma has a reputation beyond reputeDondurma has a reputation beyond reputeDondurma has a reputation beyond reputeDondurma has a reputation beyond reputeDondurma has a reputation beyond reputeDondurma has a reputation beyond reputeDondurma has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Residencia card

Not for me it won't......I'm Irish
 
Old Nov 9th 2018 | 2:13 am
  #10  
BE Forum Addict
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,670
From: Costa Blanca
spainrico has a reputation beyond reputespainrico has a reputation beyond reputespainrico has a reputation beyond reputespainrico has a reputation beyond reputespainrico has a reputation beyond reputespainrico has a reputation beyond reputespainrico has a reputation beyond reputespainrico has a reputation beyond reputespainrico has a reputation beyond reputespainrico has a reputation beyond reputespainrico has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Residencia card

I know many people think that being fiscally resident and making a tax declaracion is more proof of residency than a residencia but the system was to renew it after the first 5 years and have the con caracter permanente inscribed on the form - I prefer belt and braces so I renewed mine (many years ago) when my first 5 years were up - this is also the opinion of

Madrid-based lawyer Margaret Hauschild Rey, who specializes in citizenship and civil law (quoted in an article in El Pais)'

  • Ensure that on your green residency card, it says: “Residente comunitario con carácter permanente” (permanent EU resident). This will justify on an official basis that you have been living in Spain for more than five consecutive years, which currently gives you the right to have permanent residency as a European citizen. If the card does not say this and you have lived in Spain for more than five years, get an appointment to renew your residency card and make sure that the new version states that you are a permanent resident.
https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/10/23...62_501829.html
 
Old Nov 9th 2018 | 2:38 am
  #11  
Banned
 
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 213
From: Costa Blanca
Johncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Residencia card

But shortly non of us Brits will be European citizens, so we will all change to non EU resident status, or have I got this all wrong?

Last edited by Johncarzx; Nov 9th 2018 at 3:11 am.
 
Old Nov 9th 2018 | 5:47 am
  #12  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 6,173
bobd22 has a reputation beyond reputebobd22 has a reputation beyond reputebobd22 has a reputation beyond reputebobd22 has a reputation beyond reputebobd22 has a reputation beyond reputebobd22 has a reputation beyond reputebobd22 has a reputation beyond reputebobd22 has a reputation beyond reputebobd22 has a reputation beyond reputebobd22 has a reputation beyond reputebobd22 has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Residencia card

This link seems to outline the situation quite well. Obviously not an official government post but some good info.

https://www.spanishsolutions.net/blo...ing-residency/
 
Old Nov 9th 2018 | 8:46 am
  #13  
Fred James's Avatar
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 11,231
From: Granada Costa
Fred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond reputeFred James has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Residencia card

It’s worth pointing out that ANYONE who has legally resided in Spain for 5 years or more, has gained the right of permanent residency. The fact that we are currently registered on a list of EU citizens and soon will not be EU citizens is irrelevant.

What will happen (may happen) is that we will have to conform to the paperwork requirements that currently apply to non EU citizens, in that we will have to have proper foreigners ID cards, just as we originally had to up to the point where the EU came up with the current residency rules which decreed that you could not be forced to have foreigners residency cards.

i think that is one positive thing that might come out of Brexit for us!
 
Old Nov 9th 2018 | 8:40 pm
  #14  
Banned
 
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 213
From: Costa Blanca
Johncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond reputeJohncarzx has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Residencia card

Lets hope Spain does not treat us like the UK treats them.

Currently, EU citizens applying to become a permanent resident in the U.K. have to fill in an 85-page form (!), pay a £65 fee, and prove that they’ve been residing in the country for over five years and that they’ve been covered with health insurance for the whole time.
 
Old Nov 9th 2018 | 9:16 pm
  #15  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 6,173
bobd22 has a reputation beyond reputebobd22 has a reputation beyond reputebobd22 has a reputation beyond reputebobd22 has a reputation beyond reputebobd22 has a reputation beyond reputebobd22 has a reputation beyond reputebobd22 has a reputation beyond reputebobd22 has a reputation beyond reputebobd22 has a reputation beyond reputebobd22 has a reputation beyond reputebobd22 has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Residencia card

John I don't think that is totally correct? If someone is legally resident in the UK they are entitled to UK state provided health care? That being the case majority will not have health insurance or indeed have needed it. The rules do differ for those from outside the EU. One important thing is the guidelines do state that those legally resident for 5 years can apply for this "settled status" those resident but under 5 years can remain and apply once they have the required 5 years. They must meet the requirements set identity conviction history etc but no mention of proving health care insurance, maybe that is those who stay after ? Date waiting to comply with 5 years will have to go private unless paid under equivlent of s1. However legally that was how it has been in Spain until the change this summer? My understanding so long as there is a deal done is it has been agreed in the last stage that the same or very similar must apply to UK residents resident in the EU with the same agreed terms re close family members not currently resident being applied. Here's the UK government link on settled status for EU Nationals resident in UK.
https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu...settled-status
Overall my view is legalise your position now. Many expats seem to burry their heads when Brexit is mentioned as if by not speaking of it then it will go away? It won't it's with us but if you ignore it then you may well miss something important, ignorance may be bliss but as always is no excuse if you then get it wrong. Those with 5 or more years residency with or without it actually being stamped on the card (the date obtained is on there) probably have nothing other than bit of paperwork possibly to worry about. Those resident under 5 years but legally resident probably similar but may have another bit of paperwork to do to achieve the 5 years. Those clever people that have or are flying under the radar? Well who knows but the clock is ticking if come 30 March they say you are illegal and not welcome blame yourselves no one else. It is confusing but there is information available so be prepared.
 


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service - Your Privacy Choices

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.