RELOCATION · EUROPEANS (EU)
Relocation to Madrid for European citizens.
Free movement doesn't mean no paperwork. Here's what needs to be managed and in what order.
UK citizens: you have your own guide → see guide for British citizens
Tell us about your caseBeing an EU citizen simplifies the process: you don't need a visa to live in Spain. But simpler is not the same as effortless. There is a step that few people know about before they arrive (the EU citizen registration certificate), there are tax decisions that are best made before changing residency, and there are practical aspects of life in Madrid that change more than you'd expect.
Aedara has coordinated the arrival of European families and professionals from Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and other EU countries. The process is more straightforward than for non-EU citizens, but it has its own order.
The step nobody tells you about
The EU citizen registration certificate is mandatory for anyone residing in Spain for more than three months. It is not the NIE, although you get it from the same authority. Without this certificate you cannot register on the municipal census, and without that registration you cannot access most services. It is the first step and it needs to be handled as soon as you arrive.
Tax residency transfer
Moving your residency from Germany, France or the Netherlands to Spain has tax implications that are best analysed before the move, not after. The moment you establish tax residency in Spain determines what you pay here and from when. The Beckham Law can also apply to European citizens under certain conditions.
Healthcare, housing and daily life
Unlike non-EU citizens, EU nationals can access the Spanish public health system once they have completed their registration. That changes the health insurance equation. As for housing, buying in Madrid as a non-resident European is more straightforward than for Americans, though it has its own steps.
The full process guide
For a complete overview from the decision to move to your first months settled in Madrid:
Have questions about your specific situation? Tell us.