Live abroad

General procedures

Man interviewing, with paper in front of him and pen in his hand

The enrollment register for Spaniards abroad is kept at the consular offices, and in certain cases, at the consular sections of the Diplomatic Missions of Spain.

Spaniards who habitually reside abroad must register in the one corresponding to the demarcation in which they have their domicile.

Similarly, those who are in a consular demarcation on a temporary basis (without the intention of establishing their residence there) may register as non-residents, keeping their registration in the padrón and the electoral census of the Spanish municipality of origin (or in other locations corresponding to the Consular Office or Section where you have your habitual residence).
Registration will allow them to renew their documentation, to be able to prove that they are residents abroad and to participate in the electoral processes that are convened in Spain, as well as to request consular assistance in situations of need.

Consular registration registration: registration as a resident or as an absent resident (or non-resident). Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation

Residency procedures abroad

Hand holding a stamp about to stamp a sheet If you are going to travel to a country outside the European Union, you must find out about the entry requirements and whether a visa is required through the consular services of each country on the portal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

At reside in another country of the European Union It is also required to carry out certain procedures, which you can consult on the Your Europe Portal. European Comission.

Driving license abroad

Black conlor car traveling on a highway The international driving license is necessary to be able to drive temporarily through the territory of countries that are not members of the European Union and that have not adopted the permit model provided for in the Geneva or Vienna Conventions. The model and requirements of the international driving license are adapted to the provisions of the Geneva International Convention of September 19, 1949.

International driving license. General direction of traffic. Ministry of Interior

In order to drive in other countries outside the European Union with a driving license issued in Spain, we must know if it is necessary to process the exchange of permits. You can find this information on the website of the General Directorate of Traffic.
Permit exchanges. General direction of traffic. Ministry of Interior

Exchanges of permits from the EU and the European Economic Area. General direction of traffic. Ministry of Interior

Appointment request. General direction of traffic. Ministry of Interior

Driving licenses issued in any Member State of the European Union or in States party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area in accordance with community regulations will remain valid in Spain, under the conditions in which they had been issued in their place of origin, with the exception that the age required for driving will correspond to that required to obtain the equivalent Spanish permit.
Driving licenses in the European Union and the European Economic Area. General direction of traffic. Ministry of Interior

Vehicles, driving license, insurance and registration. Your Europe Citizens. European Comission

Legalisation of documents

Pen writing Legalization is an administrative act by which a public document is granted validity, verifying the authenticity of the signature placed on a document and the quality with which the authority signing the document has acted.

Legalization of public documents issued by Spanish authorities so that they are valid abroad. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation. Government of Spain.

Legalization of documents issued by the Community of Madrid. Portal of the Community of Madrid.

Legalization of non-university academic documents issued by the Community of Madrid. Portal of the Community of Madrid.

Legalization of university academic documents that must take effect abroad. Ministry of Universities. Government of Spain.

Taxation of residents abroad

Euro banknote picture puzzle When you reside in a foreign country, you have to be clear about whether you are a tax resident in that country or in Spain.
Usually, tax residence is determined for the entire calendar year, and you can be a tax resident in Spain or in a foreign country, but not both at the same time.
You are a resident in Spain if any of these conditions are met:

Stay more than 183 days, during the calendar year, in Spanish territory.
That the main nucleus or the base of your economic activities or interests, directly or indirectly, is in Spain.
That your spouse (not legally separated) and your dependent minor children habitually reside in Spain.

Otherwise, you will be considered a non-resident in Spain for tax purposes.

To find out about the rules and procedures you must carry out, you can consult the website of the Tax Agency.

Taxation for non-residents. Tax agency. Government of Spain

Taxation for displaced workers. Tax agency. Government of Spain

Nationality

Contour of the province of Madrid with a flag of Spain inside as a background Spanish nationality is the basic procedure necessary to be able to be a full Spanish citizen. It is the quality that a person acquires determined by the link or relationship that unites him with the Spanish State.

Spanish nationality can be acquired in different ways:

Nationality by residence
Nationality by naturalization card
Nationality for Spaniards of origin
Nationality by possession of state
Nationality by option
Nationality through the Democratic Memory Law

Acquisition of Spanish nationality. Ministry of Justice

Acquisition of Spanish nationality. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation

Loss of nationality. Ministry of Justice

Anyone who has lost Spanish nationality—whether they are Spanish by origin or not—due to legally established circumstances may recover it by complying with certain requirements.
Recovery of nationality. Ministry of Justice

People who have dual nationality enjoy the full legal status of nationals of both States, without being simultaneously subject to the legislation of both, for which means are articulated to give preference to one of the nationalities.
Double nationality. Ministry of Justice

Healthcare

Provision for reason of need and health care in temporary displacements to Spain

Healthcare worker holds a patient's hands

This benefit covers:

Health care for beneficiaries of the benefit due to necessity, in those countries of residence that lack such coverage or when its content and scope are insufficient
Health care for returned Spaniards of origin and residents abroad temporarily displaced to Spain

Health care due to necessity, in those countries of residence that lack such coverage or when its content and scope are insufficient. Ministry of Labor and Social Economy

Health care for returning Spaniards of origin and residents abroad temporarily displaced to Spain. Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations

Healthcare in European Union countries

Nurse taking a patient's blood pressure

If you move to another EU country, you can receive health care under the same conditions as other residents of that country. However, European health and social security systems vary from country to country and knowing what health system pay for your treatment depends on your specific situation.

In the Health area of the Your Europe Portal of the European Commission you will find information on the right you have to receive medical treatment in other EU countries. You can also find out about the procedures you must follow or what to do if you need unforeseen treatment during a temporary stay in another EU country, for example, on vacation, business trips or short periods of study in other European Union countries. .

Agreement for workers abroad

European sanitary card

blue and white color card

The European Health Card is the personal and non-transferable document that certifies the right to receive the health benefits that are necessary, from a medical point of view, during a temporary stay in the territory of the European Economic Area or Switzerland. This document is granted taking into account the nature of the benefits and the duration of the planned stay, in accordance with the legislation of the country of stay and regardless of whether the purpose of the stay is tourism, a professional activity or studies.

European sanitary card. Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration

Travel insurance for young people (Youth Card)

Benefits and subsidies

Benefits and subsidies from the General State Administration

Pregnant woman You can consult the benefits and subsidies of the General State Administration for Spaniards abroad in the Portal of Spanish Citizenship Abroad and on the website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation.

Services and aid of the Community of Madrid

The Community of Madrid is in the process of preparing new aid for 2024.

Additionally, you can consult the website of the Foundation +34.

The role of embassies and consulates

An embassy it is the permanent diplomatic mission of one country in another, and its maximum representative is the ambassador. Embassies are, for real purposes, the territory of their country of origin.

Consulates fulfill more restricted activities than embassies, and their main task is to help and protect the interests of the citizens of their country in that foreign country.

Embassies and consulates

Consult the embassies and consulates of Spain

Embassies

La embassy —or diplomatic mission— has the function of representing a Government in the territory of another country. Its ultimate goal is to maintain cordial and friendly bilateral relations with the Government of the country where it is located; In addition, it carries out promotion and rapprochement work between both countries at all levels.

Among the activities it carries out, it transmits messages from its Government to that of the country of residence, and vice versa, informs its country of origin of relevant events of all kinds that occur in that foreign territory, prepares visits and treaties, and promotes everything related to the country it represents (gastronomy, culture, science, etc.).

Functions of embassies

Represent the State before the country in which the diplomatic mission is located.
Protect the interests of the country it represents in the territory where it is located.
Engage in negotiations and reach agreements with the foreign country where it is located.
Inform yourself in a legal and lawful manner of the events that happen in the State in which the embassy is located, and inform the State it represents of them.
Promote and encourage good relations at all levels (political, economic, social) between both states, helping as much as possible to create a cordial and friendly atmosphere between them — and foster friendly relations with the State where the embassy is located in all sectors of Spanish Foreign Action—.
Cooperate with the Permanent Representations of Spain to the EU to coordinate a common Foreign Action strategy.

Embassies and consulates. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation

Consulates

Un consulate is the representation of the Public Administration of a country in a foreign territory, and its work is especially oriented towards the protection of Spanish citizens abroad.

Features

Carry out procedures and renew passports and other types of official documents.
Issue consular discharges.
Offer your collaboration to process the DNI to Spaniards residing abroad (which is only processed in Spain, after certification by the consulate).
Keep a record of civil events, such as births, deaths, marriages, etc.
Inform compatriots about matters relating to Social Security.
Communicate to the Spanish Administration all kinds of issues (pensions, judicial and criminal certificates, etc.).
Offer assistance and financial aid in emergency or indigent situations to their fellow citizens.
Pay attention to compatriots subjected to legal cases or in prison.
Establish visas.
Carry out procedures regarding the nationals of their country who have disappeared in that foreign territory.
Establish evacuation plans for compatriots in case of emergency or crisis.

Attention XNUMX-hour: A consulate does not lend money, does not serve as a travel agency, does not find work for its nationals, does not offer help or assistance personnel, nor can it exempt a compatriot from compliance with the law of that country or territory.

Types of consulates and their members

Career Consulates:

General Consulate: It has all the general powers of a consulate, and they are located in the most important cities of a country.
Ordinary Consulate.

honorary consulate. Led by an honorary consul, it is created by Order of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation. It is attached to the consulate general, but with limited powers. It cannot issue visas or passports itself, nor can it process most information, only transmit it.

The officers of a consulate may be career (full-time government employees who are citizens of the country they represent) or honorary (they receive an honorary salary from the country they represent, and may be resident citizens of the country in which the consulate is located). embassy).

Embassies and consulates. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation

How to vote from abroad

If you reside permanently abroad, or if you reside in Spain, but are temporarily abroad, and wish to participate in the electoral processes in Spain:

Electoral census
National Institute of Statistics
I vote from outside Spain
Ministry of Interior
Provincial delegations of the Electoral Census Office
National Institute of Statistics

Portal of Spanish Citizenship Abroad

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Go to the Portal of Spanish Citizenship Abroad

Electronic administration

Every day, you can do more online procedures with administrations Spanish public companies with all legal and security guarantees.

Administration of the Community of Madrid

General State Administration

local administrations

Electronic certificate and signature

Square made from circles and legend The Community of Madrid makes it possible for citizens to obtain in certain registries the Citizen AC certificate, issued by Camerfirma, which may be accredited in the so-called Electronic Signature Accreditation Points.

Information on electronic certificates and signature of the Government of Spain

Electronic signature

Electronic identity and signature

VALIDATE (Online certificate validation service, and verification and generation of electronic signatures)

CERES (Spanish Certification), of the National Currency and Stamp Factory

Files, by country

Reside in Africa

reside in America

reside in Asia

Reside in Europe

Reside in Oceania

Residing in Morocco
Residing in South Africa

World map with Africa highlighted in red

Residing in Argentina

Residing in Bolivia

Residing in Brazil

Residing in Canada

Residing in Chile

Residing in Colombia

Residing in Costa Rica

Residing in Cuba

Residing in Ecuador

Residing in the United States

Residing in Mexico

Residing in Peru

Residing in Uruguay

Residing in Venezuela

World map with America highlighted in red

Residing in Saudi Arabia

Residing in China

Reside in South Korea

Reside in the United Arab Emirates

Reside in India

Residing in Israel

Live in Japan

Residing in Kazakhstan

Residing in Singapore

World map highlighting Asia

In the countries of the European Union

reside in Germany

reside in Austria

Reside in Belgium

Reside in Bulgaria

Reside in Cyprus

Reside in Croatia

Reside in Denmark

Reside in Slovakia

Reside in Slovenia

Reside in Spain (Reside in Madrid)

Residing in Estonia

reside in Finland

Reside in France

Reside in Greece

Reside in Hungary

Reside in Ireland

Reside in Italy

Reside in Latvia

Reside in Lithuania

Reside in Luxembourg

reside in Malta

Residing in the Netherlands

Reside in Poland

Reside in Portugal

Residing in the Czech Republic

Reside in Romania

reside in Sweden

In the countries of the European Economic Area and in Switzerland

The European Economic Area (EEA) is made up of the EU countries and Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Many of the rights granted to citizens of the European Union apply to both these countries and Switzerland.

Reside in Iceland

Reside in Norway

Reside in Switzerland