| Royal decree frees many expats from residency card requirements. |
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| By Eve Gallagher, and Oliver McIntyre |
The spanish government has passed a new law that will allow many european union citizens residing in spain to avoid the hassles of, soliciting or renewing the residency card.
The new royal decree, passed on February 14 and expected to come into force on March 1, exempts from the residency-card requirement any EU citizen - as well as citizens from Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland - who is living in Spain and working employed or self-employed, is a student, or a pensioner or retired person who has paid into the social security taxes. The exemption also includes the direct family members of the above mentioned. |
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| Not Applicable To All |
However, European Community members who live on, the Costa, be they retired or otherwise, who have never at any time worked in Spain will not be exempted from the residency card requirement. This exclusion is also extended to tourists and to family members belonging to third member states.
EU or EES citizens who meet the conditions set forth in the new law, and who are currently residing in Spain with a residency card, should not need to renew their card upon its expiration. Those who are not currently residing in Spain, but who move here in the future and meet the required conditions, will not need to apply for a, residency card at all. |
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| Less Paperwork On The Agenda |
The royal decree has its origin in an agreement signed in Marseilles in July 2000 by Spain, France, Germany and Italy. EU citizens in, possession of an identification or passport issued in their own country should now be able to reside in Spain and if they meet the above mentioned requirements should not need any further identification than that, which they already possess.
In the case of British citizens, a passport would be the only documentation necessary to perform monetary transactions, or to apply for a driving licence. The right to vote in Spanish or European elections would also be granted on the presentation of the passport. |
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