CUE in Spain: registration of EU citizen and EX-18 certificate

CUE: What is it and who needs it?

CUE is the home name of Certificado de registro de ciudadano de la Unión Europe. The political region of the National describes it as a document that confirms the introduction of a citizen of the EU, another State of the European Economic Area or Switzerland, who remains in Spain for more than three months. [2]. In Barcelona, it is often called "green NIE" (as Ajuntament calls it), but in the sense it is a certificate with a number, not a TIE card and not a resolution [6].

For readers from the CIS, the topic is most often addressed to those with second EU citizenship: for example, citizens of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Bulgaria or Romania who move to Spain. NIE, TIE and residence permit: What's the difference.

If you are less than three months away, the passport or identity card you entered is sufficient and does not count as a residence (article 6 Real Decreto 240/2007) [3]CUE registration becomes mandatory when the deadline is three months.

On what basis CUE is issued: four options

Article 7 Real Decreto 240/2007 provides four grounds for the right to live for more than three months [3]I'm not going to say "just in case" of the documents.

In each case, a passport or national identity card is issued (if the validity period has expired, a copy and a replacement application is required) and documents that support the chosen basis [3]Example: The actual work and the confirmation of funds answered different questions, and it would be a mistake to attach an account statement instead of a contract.

How to formalize CUE in Barcelona: How to proceed

1. Set the basis From the table above, and collect the documents under it: passport or identity card and article 7 confirmation [2][3].
2. Fill out the EX-18 form., «Solicitud de inscripción en el Registro Central de Extranjeros, residencia ciudadano de la UE» [2].
3. Pay the duty on the modulo 790 code 012. The police list certificado de Registro in the same line as the EU citizen's family card: 12.00 am as of October 2026 [1]Check the bag and code with the form before payment.
4. Sign up with the Cita pravia. The portal distinguishes the entries in the Officiala de Extranjería and the Politicalia, so check the name of the procedure [7]I'll give you more details: Cita previa in extranjería.
5. Be personal. The regulations require that the application be submitted by the citizen himself to the Oficina de Extranjería Province and, if she is absent, to the Commissariat [3].
6. Get a certificate. The police says it's being issued immediately. [2]Check his name, citizenship, address, NIE and date.

In Barcelona, the Office de Extranjería has two addresses: Passeig de Santa Joan 189-193 and Calle Murcia 42 [8]Which one or what cosaria will the system offer on the day you record it, the portal shows when booking.

Sufficient funds and insurance: what to confirm

For the most common reason for the relators, living on their own means, the law does not specify the amount. Article 7.7 Real Decreto 240/2007 expressly states that a fixed amount cannot be determined: the applicant ’s personal situation is taken into account, and in any case the amount may not exceed the level below which the Spanish are entitled to social assistance or the minimum pension. [3]Insurance is needed to cover all risks in Spain. [3]This is the difference between most permits for non-EU citizens, where the amounts are tied to the IPREM or SMI.

What exactly will be accepted as proof of funds and what insurance is considered sufficient in your office is not listed in public sources. Health insurance for residence permits:: The language used by non-EU citizens is different, but the logic of verification is similar.

CUE, NIE and passport: What is what

NIE is the alien's identity number, CUE is the certificate that this number is included in [3]CUE does not replace the passport: when applying for a passport or national identity card, the period of validity is checked [3]If you already have a NIE, e.g. after buying a dwelling, this does not mean that registration as an EU citizen is complete: the number can be obtained without permission and without registration. [9].

After receiving the data and save a copy of both sides of the document. Do not laminize or correct it yourself, but if you fail or lose, know the procedure for the correction or duplicate in the office that issued the document. What exactly is required for the loss of CUE, we did not find in the sources.

If the family moves: Tarjeta de Familial de ciudadano de la Unión

For family members who do not have EU citizenship, CUE is not extradited, but is registered under another procedure: Tarjeta de residencia de familia de ciudadano de la Unión, form EX-19, duty under the same modulo 790 code 012 [4]The law refers to the spouse, registered partner, descendants (up to 21 years of age or on maintenance) and the ancestors on maintenance (art. 2); other relatives and stable couple are separately described (art. 2 bis) [3].

The application is filed within three months of entry. The application forms proof of legal stay before the card is issued and the agency must issue it within three months; the positive decision is valid from the date of entry. [3]The application is accompanied by a passport, family relationship documents with apostille or legalization and translation, certificado de Registro of an EU citizen, confirmation of content if required and three photographs [3][4]B. Duration of the first card up to 5 years [3][4].

Conditions that are often forgotten: family cards are no longer valid if Spain has no more than six months of absence a year unless exceptions are applied (pregnancy, childbirth, severe illness, studies, professional transfer up to 12 consecutive months) [3]More about family: map of a relative of an EU citizenIf the connection is made through a Spanish citizen himself, the regime of another, he is dealt with by an article Residence permit for a relative of a Spanish citizen.

After CUE: Padron, taxes and permanent residence

Registration to Registro Central de Extranjeros does not replace Empadronamiento: Padrón, a municipal register of residents, mandatory for all who live in the city [6]. Ajuntament Barcelona recommends that EU citizens apply for a certificado de registro and notes that registration in the padrón is necessary for them to participate in local elections. [6]EU citizens with a certificate update the Padrón every five years, citizens not marked as EU citizens every two years [6]I'll give you more details: Empadronamiento in Barcelona.

According to article 9 of the Law 35/2006, a tax resident is considered to be a person who has spent more than 183 days in Spain in the calendar year or whose main business or economic interest centre is here. [5]This is a criterion independent of migration status, which is checked by the tax service, and if you stay long, registration gives you a way to live permanently: after five years of continuous legal residence, an EU citizen is entitled to receive certificado del derecho a residir con carácter permanente (art. 10) [3]Changes in nationality, marital status and addresses should be reported to the Office de Extranjería or the Commissariat (art. 14.2) [3].

Typical errors in registration of an EU citizen

• We'll miss three months. The deadline is from the day of entry, not from the day you found a place of residence or a job. [3].
• Trusting in the NIE deal. He does not comply with the requirement of registration of an EU citizen [9].
• Attach random discharge. Documents are selected for reasons: work, insurance, studies or family [3].
• You should be in the wrong organ. Oficina de Extranjería and Policía are different records, the title of the procedure is checked by confirmation. [7].
• Pay the wrong duty. For CUE and for Tarjeta de familiar, these are the lines of table 790-012 rather than the residence permit fee on another basis. [1].
• Waiting for one document for the whole family. Third-country relatives follow a separate procedure with their own documents [3][4].
• To file family documents without apostilles and translations. The rules require them in the right form. [3]What is apostille is dealt with in the article What is apostille?.

When Individual Review Is Needed

A review is needed if you combine several grounds (e.g. work and study) if you have a mixed family with citizens of different countries, if you have money coming from abroad and you don't understand how to show it, if you already live in Spain for more than three months without registration, or if you have citizenship from one of the EU countries and a passport from another country, then the general order may not be appropriate.

What can we help you with?

The NEXO team in Barcelona can determine your base, collect the kit under it, prepare the EX-18 form and the duty and select the correct entry. For the family, separate lists are made for the EU citizen and each accompanying member. The legal part is run by the team's lawyer. You can register through the legal team. form of consultationa description of the service on the page Documents and records of the agencies.

Frequent issues

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The source is viewed on 02.10.2026 · NEXO · Drafting Draft · Sources do not replace individual legal advice.