New Residency Requirements for EU citizens planning to live in Spain for more than three months

SPAIN (Press release from British Embassy, Madrid) The Spanish Government has introduced new residency requirements for all EU citizens – including Britons – who plan to reside in Spain for more than three months. Under the new rules, EU citizens applying for residency in Spain may be required to produce evidence of sufficient financial means to support themselves (and dependants). Applicants may also be asked for proof of private or public healthcare insurance. The Ministerial Order sets out the new requirements and some of the documentation applicants may be asked to present. A British Embassy (and therefore unofficial) translation with more detailed information is available on the UKinSpain website. All EU citizens planning to reside in Spain continue to need to register in person at the Oficina de Extranjeros (Foreigners Office) in their province of residence or at designated Police stations. More information is available on the Ministry of the Interior’s website. Ministerial Order 1490, which came into force on 10 July, attempts to clarify the entry and residence requirements for EU citizens based on the Royal Decree 240/07 of 28 March 2007 which in turn transposed into Spanish legislation the EU Directive 2004/58/EC of 29 April 2004 on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States.