The Legal Requirements for Living and Working in Spain
As a British Citizen - you, your spouse (providing you are not legally separated) along with your or your wife's decendants (if they are under 21 years of age) or over if they are economically dependant need an up to date passport to enter Spain.
EU citizens are entitled to enter, leave and freely circulate in Spanish territory and to carry out any activity either as self-employed or as employed under the same considerations as Spanish nationals, however they cannot become civil servants unless they obtain Spanish nationality.
For stays of less than three months the only requirement is a valid identity document i.e. passport issued by the country of their origin.
For stays of more than 3 months but up to a year a certificate of registration must be applied for. The old residence card is now no longer issued and those of you who already have one, will need to apply for the certificate only when the card is expired.
For details of the documents required have a look here
Rights of Residence
The right of residence for more than six months remains subject to certain conditions.
Applicants must:
• either be engaged in economic activity (on an employed or self-employed basis);
• or have sufficient resources and sickness insurance to ensure that they do not become a burden on the social services of the host Member State during their stay. The Member States may not specify a minimum amount which they deem sufficient, but they must take account of personal circumstances;
• or be following vocational training as a student and have sufficient resources and sickness insurance to ensure that they do not become a burden on the social services of the host Member State during their stay;
• or be a family member of a Union citizen who falls into one of the above categories.
With regard to freedom of movement and residency within the EU, the following webpage sets out the principles, guidelines and summary of the regulations:
For full information on rights and the 3 and 6 month ruling please see here…
http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l33152.htm
COMMUNITY RESIDENCE CERTIFICATE or Certificate of Registration (which is what it actually is now although applied for on the old residence certificate form) should be applied for if you intend to spend more that three months here in Spain
So... All EU citizens must apply in person within 3 months of entry by presenting a valid passport, completing
the application form and paying the set fee.
There is also provision for non-EU family members, who have entered on valid passports and visas (where required), to reside with EU
citizens, providing they too register in person at the Oficina de Extranjeros or designated Police stations within 3 months of entry. They will be issued with Tarjetas de Residencia de Familiar de Cuidadano de la Union (Residency cards for family members of EU citizens).
Additional documents will be required for this type of residency.
IMPORTANT NOTE: To obtain the new certificate you must be registered on the Padron at your local town hall.
The "padrón" or "certificado de empadronamiento" refers to the process of registering with the town hall as a resident of your municipality. The process is simple and does not require that you have your residency papers in order.
It is important for all residents in a municipality to register in order for the local government to receive the proper amount of funds necessary to run the city and maintain services. Whether you are purchasing property or renting a home, it is in both your own and your community's interest to go down to the town hall and register.
This way, your services in your local own can continue ot be funded as the town grows and will not suffer just because ex-pat foreign residents do not register for the "padrón" and therefore do not count when it comes time for the central government to allocate budgets to their local municipalities.
Being on this register also allows you to vote in local elections
You will usually require a rental contract or other proof ie a copy of your deeds or a utility bill to prove that you are living here.